County Government Attempts to Restrict Hunting in Virginia Constitutional Clash; Nelson County's Tactics Include Attempting to Subpoena Personal Information on Orion Sporting Group's Hunters and Firearms Owners.

LOVINGSTON, Va. -- In a continuing legal battle over the constitutional rights of hunters, a local government is attempting to redefine hunting in a hearing next week in Nelson County, Virginia. The right to hunt in Virginia, like many other states, is protected and legislated by the state according to the Virginia constitution.

On April 13, 2005, the Honorable Michael J. Gamble, will hear the county's motion to dismiss a private hunting preserve's lawsuit on the basis that hunting is limited to chasing or killing of live animals.

In 2001, Orion Sporting Group LLC originally opened its shotgun sports center and corporate training facility in Nelson County. In order to expand its operation, Orion decided to relocate to a larger tract of land in rural, central Virginia adding a licensed hunting preserve to its operations.

"County government officials encouraged Orion, a multi-million dollar operation, to remain in Nelson County," said Morris Peterson, Orion's Managing Director. "It was not until after Orion purchased its 450-acre estate in Nelson County when local government denied Orion's conditional use permit to reopen its successful, existing shotgun sports-center operations."

"In March, the local government attempted to repress firearm safety and training, and now Nelson County is attempting to redefine the hunting experience to the detriment of Virginia hunters," Peterson continued. "Orion is in a fight for the rights of Virginia hunters. But the county wants to restrict the constitutionally protected rights of hunters by narrowly defining hunting and denigrate it into a sterile blood sport."

Stephen Halbrook, Orion's lead legal counsel, added, the county contends that the right to hunt and harvest game does not protect the right to learn to hunt live game safely, proficiently and humanely, nor does it involve the practice of hunting.

The county has now filed a subpoena for a list of the gun owners and hunters who were interested in Orion's advertised pheasant hunts in March.

"Orion considers all personal client information confidential. We believe that the subpoena would be an intrusion of privacy rights and unconstitutional," said Peterson. "Orion is in the process of filing a motion to prevent Nelson County from obtaining this information."

Orion has retained former Virginia Attorney General, Anthony F. Troy, of the law firm Troutman Sanders LLP to oppose the subpoena. Troy has argued constitutional issues in many appellate courts including the Supreme Court of the United States.

In March, Nelson County attempted to prevent Orion's hunter safety procedures by filing a request for an injunction against Orion, which was later dismissed by Judge Gamble. After the March 24, 2005 hearing, Nelson County filed a motion for summary judgment asking Judge Gamble to redefine hunting narrowly and dismiss Orion's lawsuit over the constitutional right to hunt. The hearing will take place on April 13, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. at the Lovingston Courthouse in Nelson County.

Orion's right to hunt legal case against Nelson County goes to trial on April 20, 2005. To view the brief on the right to hunt filed in the lawsuit Orion Sporting Group LLC. v. Nelson County visit www.stephenhalbrook.com.

About Orion

Orion is an International Sporting Estate situated on 450 acres, offering a diverse landscape containing open fields, rolling wooded terrain, deep forest, creeks, a scenic lake, and over one half mile of picturesque James River frontage. The Orion Estate plans to use this rural property to develop a sporting facility, where sportsmen and women, and outdoor enthusiasts can experience the splendor of the Virginia countryside and traditional sporting lifestyles. The Orion Estate is composed of a licensed hunting preserve, shooting grounds including a multi-disciplined shotgun sports center, event grounds and corporate training facility all presented in a distinctive rural atmosphere along the banks of the historic James River in the piedmont of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For more information visit the Orion Estate website at www.OrionEstate.com or contact Mr. James Slaughter, General Manager at [phone].