Make Hunting and Fishing Constitutional Rights in Washington State

[pianoman9701]

And when someone who really deserves to fry under Lacey is arrested, they get off. Topsy-turvy.

[huntrights]

A comment for clarification of purpose:

The basic premise of the topic “Make Hunting and Fishing Constitutional Rights in Washington State” is that hunting and fishing are currently considered privileges in Washington State.  People have the right to hunt, fish, trap, farm, and ranch.  This is not just an issue about protecting and defending "sporting activities", "hobbies", or "recreational pastimes"; it's about protecting our heritage and traditions that have been at the core of our survival since mankind walked this earth.  It's about the right of pursuing sustenance (food) from sources other than grocery stores and restaurants by hunting, fishing, trapping, farming, and ranching.  Until recently, there would have been no question that people had the right to hunt, fish, trap, farm, and ranch. 

Anti-hunting sentiment seems to have arisen due to the relative abundance of food in the developed world and the ease of obtaining it from sources like nearby grocery stores, farm stands, or restaurants.  Many people have become so detached from the task of providing food for themselves that they don’t think about the fact that the acts of others to harvest, process (clean), package, and prepare land animals, fish, plants, and associated byproducts are what provides them with food for their consumption and survival. 

However, it is also critical to understand that our wildlife needs to be responsibly managed to ensure healthy and sustainable wildlife populations now and for future generations. 

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation has been the foundation of the most successful wildlife management system in the world – it is our model of wildlife management.  The basic principles of the model are nicely presented by the Boone and Crockett Club and others:

•   “In the Public Trust – Wildlife belongs to the people and managed in trust for the people by government agencies.”

•   “Prohibition on Commerce of Dead Wildlife – It will be illegal to sell the meat of any wild animal in North America.”

•   “Allocation of Wildlife is by Law – Laws developed by the people and enforced by government agencies will regulate the proper use of wildlife resources.”

•   “Opportunity for All – Every citizen has the freedom to hunt and fish.”

•   “Non-frivolous Use – In North America we can legally kill certain wildlife for legitimate purposes under strict guidelines for food and fur, in self-defense, or property protection. Laws are in place to restrict casual killing, killing for commercial purposes, wasting of game, and mistreating wildlife.”

•   “International Resources – Because wildlife and fish freely migrate across boundaries between states, provinces, and countries they are considered an international resource.”

•   “Managed by Science – The best science available will be used as a base for informed decision making in wildlife management.”

What is driving anti-hunting and animal-rights organizations, and biased anti-hunting politicians to undermine the most successful wildlife conservation system in the world?  The people of this country should not allow extremist ideologies to destroy wildlife management based on sound and unbiased science and the basic principles set forth in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.  The emotionally-based diatribe and propaganda disseminated by these organizations and the anti-hunting bias of some politicians needs to be recognized for what it is and they need to be exposed as the very real threats they are to our rights to hunt and fish.

It is important for people understand why making hunting and fishing Constitutional rights is so important.  Exposing the attacks on hunting and fishing by the various anti-hunting and animal-rights organizations and biased politicians are important to show that the threats to these rights are very real.  The recent example of abuse of political power to support what appears to be a blatant anti-hunting agenda prompted the statement:

“Sound and unbiased science should be the foundation and mandate of wildlife management, not the politicized opinions and abuse of power by anti-hunting politicians.  Know who they are and VOTE them out of office.”

Excerpt from SCI article "L 671 Puts Nebraska’s Hunting Heritage At Risk"

http://firstforhunters.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/l-671-puts-nebraskas-hunting-heritage-at-risk/

"Washington D.C. – Safari Club International criticizes State Senator Ernie Chambers. Nebraska L 671, seeks to eliminate the science-based management of mountain lions in Nebraska. This bill jeopardizes the future of Nebraska’s hunting heritage and for the conservation efforts of their fish and wildlife resources by eliminating mountain lion hunting. Declaring his “repugnance” over the inception of Nebraska’s inaugural lion hunt, Senator Chambers declared to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission that he would “oppose every proposal it brings to the Legislature as long as it allows mountain lions to be hunted.”" [Bold emphasis added]

Based on the SCI article, there appears to be anti-hunting sentiment that guides the actions of the senator mentioned in the article.

We, as hunters and anglers, need to do as much as possible to encourage all citizens to VOTE for representatives that will uphold their Oath of Office and will protect and defend our rights to hunt and fish (currently privileges in Washington State).


Please take a few minutes to visit the following websites to gain a deeper understanding of The North American Wildlife Conservation Model and why hunting is conservation:

"The North American Wildlife Conservation Model"
http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/HuntingIsConservation/NorthAmericanWildlifeConservationModel.aspx

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Sportsmen, and the Boone and Crockett Club
http://www.boone-crockett.org/conservation/conservation_NAM.asp?area=conservation

The North American Wildlife Conservation Model
http://www.montanawildlife.com/publications/frontpage.pdf

"25 Reasons Why Hunting Is Conservation"
http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/HuntingIsConservation/25ReasonsWhyHuntingIsConservation.aspx

There are a couple of national organizations that are actively engaged in fighting for our rights to hunt and fish: the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) and Safari Club International (SCI).  Please consider joining and supporting the efforts of both organizations.

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA)
http://www.ussportsmen.org/

     Individual memberships:
    http://www.ussportsmen.org/join/individual-membership/

     Business memberships:
     http://www.ussportsmen.org/join/business-memberships/

     Club memberships:
     http://www.ussportsmen.org/join/club-membership/

Safari Club International (SCI)
http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/home/
http://member.scifirstforhunters.org/join/

[huntrights]

"Sportsmen push for constitutional hunting and fishing rights"
Posted  May 8, 2014

http://m.thedailyworld.com/newswire/nation-world/sportsmen-push-constitutional-hunting-and-fishing-rights

[dmv9]

Okay, so I see a lot of links and articles. But what are the action items? What should we be doing?

Thanks for pushing this.

[scottcrb]

 
 is there a petition to sign ?

[huntrights]

Okay, so I see a lot of links and articles. But what are the action items? What should we be doing?

Thanks for pushing this.

The action items are to read the articles, understand the threats, learn about how other states have enshrined hunting and fishing in their state Constitutions, learn how the anti-hunting/fishing and animal-rights organizations use emotionally-based diatribe and propaganda to support their agenda, have an arsenal of facts to counter the anti's propaganda when this is finally pursued in Washington, etc.  When the time is right for Washington, hunters and anglers need to be very familiar with this topic; getting people engaged and educated about any complex and controversial subject takes a long time via forums like Hunting-Washington, email communications, face-to-face conversations, organization meetings, etc.  We need to answer questions like "Why was the Right to Hunt and Fish defeated in Arizona (Proposition 109) in 2010?  Where did hunters and anglers go wrong?  Arizona has a lot of sportsmen; where did the message to people get confused?  The intent of sharing all of this information in the forum is to get the information out there and to get people thinking about the importance of taking this step.  All hunters and anglers don't participate in this forum so hopefully those that do will help pass on the information.  We need to keep this on our radar.

When the time comes to rally the masses, hopefully we will be ready.  Much depends on the makeup of the legislature; all hunters and anglers need to remember how important the correct representation is when it comes time to VOTE.  Support candidates that will uphold their Oath of Office and will protect and defend our rights to hunt and fish.

[huntrights]

November is approaching fast.  Remember to support and VOTE for candidates that will uphold their Oath of Office and will protect and defend our rights to hunt and fish.  Too many of our elected representatives are driven purely by partisan politics and personal agendas, and do not act in the best interests of their constituencies.  This state has been politically unhealthy and biased for too long; it's time to bring balance to our political landscape so We the People can truly be represented again.  Making hunting and fishing Constitutional rights in Washington state will depend a great deal on bringing back political balance and true representation in our state.  This is not an "R" and "D" debate, it's about VOTING the right people into office, and VOTING the "political hacks" out of office.

[huntrights]

"Amendment seeks to make hunting, fishing 'constitutional rights'"
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/article_3e97429c-4f5c-11e4-bed8-170aa1c1d09f.html

Keep this on your radar folks.  We need to bring some balance into Washington's political landscape this November in order to move closer to this goal; that means VOTE the "right" way.  VOTE only for candidates that will uphold their Oath of Office and will support and defend our rights to hunt and fish.

ALSO:

VOTE YES on I-591 (Protect Our Gun Rights)

VOTE NO on I-594 (The Anti-Gun Initiative)

[huntrights]

Read the last update from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL):

"State Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish"
9/26/2014

http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/state-constitutional-right-to-hunt-and-fish.aspx

NRA-ILA
"Mississippi: Amendment seeks to make hunting, fishing 'constitutional rights'"
http://www.nraila.org/270656]http://www.nraila.org/270656

"Amendments give Alabama voters chance to further enshrine rights to hunt, fish and own guns in state constitution"
http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2014/10/amendments_give_alabama_voters.html

[csaaphill]

THis might be of some interest to those that want this, and I have taken action on this before when available.
http://protecttheharvest.com/

[huntrights]

"Alabama: Voters approve hunting and fishing amendment"
http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/in-the-news/2014/11/alabama-voters-approve-hunting-and-fishing-amendment.aspx

"Alabama Elections 2014 | Voters approve hunting and fishing amendment"
http://www.abc3340.com/story/27278626/alabama-elections-2014-voters-approve-hunting-and-fishing-amendment

"Mississippi: Hunting and fishing amendment given overwhelming support"
http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/in-the-news/2014/11/mississippi-hunting-and-fishing-amendment-given-overwhelming-support.aspx

"Hunting and fishing amendment given overwhelming support"
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/11/04/hunting-amendment-passes/18510285/

[huntrights]

"State Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish"
"11/12/2014
Compiled by Douglas Shinkle"
http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/state-constitutional-right-to-hunt-and-fish.aspx

Excerpt from the web page:
"2014 Update

Mississippi became the 18th state with a constitutional right to hunt and fish provision with 88 percent of voters in favor of the amendment. Alabama voters, nearly 80 percent of them, refined already existing language, adding that hunting and fishing are the “preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.”   

Eight states— Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia—considered bills in 2014 proposing the creation of a state constitutional amendment to protect the right to hunt and fish. The Indiana legislature adopted a resolution calling for an amendment establishing the right to hunt and fish in their constitution, but it must also pass in the 2015 or 2016 legislative session to be placed on the ballot. Legislation in Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania is pending, while Missouri and West Virginia’s bills failed."

[huntrights]

Keep it on the radar for Washington.

"2016 Ballot Measure: Constitutional Amendment for the Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife"

http://oregonoutdoorcouncil.org/2016-ballot-measure-constitutional-amendment-for-the-right-to-hunt-fish-and-harvest-wildlife/

[csaaphill]

too bad that people on IFISH wont go for it though. I seen an article there a while back and tmost were saying no they wouldn't support it.
Has Washington been picking this up again latly?

[huntrights]

Hunters and anglers should support this effort if it is presented and written in the right way.  There is a lot of work yet to be done.