A newspaper says a Lancaster County lawmaker is proposing to strip deputy game wardens of much of their power following an encounter his son had with a deputy in December in York County.

Republican state Sen. Gibson Armstrong says the state Game Commission's nearly 400 deputy wildlife conservation officers have arrest powers, but have insufficient law enforcement training. He likens them to "cowboys with guns."

Armstrong is the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman. His amendment would take away deputies' powers to go on private property, stop and inspect vehicles, or search people. They wouldn't be able to operate state law enforcement vehicles with lights and sirens.

The amendment is on a bill dealing with elk-hunting licenses the committee sent to the full Senate on Wednesday.

Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser says the changes would badly hurt game law enforcement, particularly during hunting season.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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