Make Hunting and Fishing Constitutional Rights in Washington State

[TheHunt]

I would support this as well.

[huntrights]

How strange that this gets posted now. I have an ongoing dialogue with one of our Legislators to sponsor a new bill to make Hunting and fishing a right.

It should happen for the upcoming Biennium.

Based on the response to the initial post, I would say there is support in the hunting community to seriously pursue this endeavor.  Educating the hunting and fishing community of the fact that our hunting and fishing "rights" are actually considered privileges in this state is an important step to get people to understand we need Constitutional protection of these activities or the “anti’s” will continue to chip away at them.  As mentioned in the NRA-ILA article, the model for proposing Constitutional rights to hunt and fish seems to improve with experience gained in each state:


http://www.nraila.org/hunting/articles/four-more-states-propose-right-to-hunt.aspx 


“… Our most recent effort focused on Arizona. NRA worked diligently with game and fish department officials for three months prior to the legislative session to arrive at mutually acceptable language. The commission voted 4-1 to support the amendment. Arizona’s language is excellent. Word by word, NRA’s model seems to improve with the experience garnered in each state.


With that said, there are six core tenets that we believe should be a part of any comprehensive constitutional protection regardless of how the specific language reads once the negotiations are over. These tenets are:


•  Recognition of an individual right to hunt, fish and harvest game

•  Preservation of the state’s power to regulate these activities for scientific— not political or emotional—reasons (the 19th century showed us what happens when there is little or no regulation)

•  Preemption of the kind of local regulation that frustrates comprehensive, statewide wildlife management

•  Protection of traditional hunting methods like archery tackle and bird dogs

•  Recognition of hunting and fishing as a preferred means of managing wildlife in order to protect against dangerous contraception schemes and unwarranted use of government “sharpshooters”

•  Clarification that private property rights are not affected or diminished


Arizona Proposition 109
Hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife

Section 36 A. The citizens of this state have a right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife lawfully. Wildlife belongs to this state and is held in trust for the benefit of the citizens of this state.

B. Exclusive authority to enact laws to regulate the manner, methods or seasons for hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife is vested in the legislature, which may delegate rule-making authority to a game and fish commission. No law shall be enacted and no rule shall be adopted that unreasonably restricts hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife or the use of traditional means and methods. Laws and rules authorized under this section shall have the purpose of wildlife conservation and management and preserving the future of hunting and fishing.

C. Lawful public hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.

D. This section shall not be construed to modify any provision of common law or statutes relating to trespass or property rights. …”

I encourage you to read the entire article.

That said, Killbilly has indicated there are conversations taking place with one of our legislators regarding this subject; that is great news.  This will be an incremental process that must be pursued carefully with help from those that have traveled the path.  Obviously we need the support of the public.  As we build momentum, we will need the help of the NRA as they are the most experienced in working with state fish and wildlife departments on this subject.  As Killbilly also mentioned, the process may take some time.  Keep your eyes on this post as the efforts continue; add to it as you learn more about these efforts in our state and around the country. 

As with all efforts to protect our freedoms, each and every one of you will need to step up to the plate and give your support.  The most important first step for all is to believe we can make it happen.  We can make it happen because it is the right thing to do.  You must have confidence in the power of a united front of hunters and fishermen.  Get the word out to your family, friends, and colleagues; this effort must become a goal for all of them.

[All-Day]

 Very good thread!  Getting a bill to assure the right to fish and hunt will be a MAMMOTH endeavor. Look at all the effort it took just to beat down a simple County no shooting ordinance. You will have to look at what it will change and who will oppose it. The commercial fishing industry and the tribes for two. The State constitution will have to be changed. It can be done but will take the efforts of ALL clubs, organizations and all fisherman and hunters. Just getting them together will be quite an undertaking. It will take time and money. Lots of both. This in a time that we don't have the support of parents and grand parents like thirty years ago. Hunting and fishing is used by the WFWD as a tool for conservation and although this would pretty much guarantee our fishing and hunting privileges, I would support a bill of rights making them a RIGHT. It would surely make the County Commissioners a bit more cautious in their future zoning plans.

Kurt   

[Humptulips]

You cannot make a Constutional Amendment through the Initative process. It has to go through the Legislature with a 2/3 yes vote and then it would go to the public and require a simple majority vote.

I actually think you would have better luck in the Legislature then convincing the public.

[Mudman]

A 2/3rds vote in this state!!!

[huntrights]

People have the right to hunt, fish, trap, farm, and ranch.  This is not just an issue about protecting and defending "sporting" activities or "hobbies"; 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) by hunting, fishing, trapping, farming, and ranching.   

The current anti-hunting and anti-fishing sentiment appears to be an emotional byproduct of prosperity.  People in this country and in other developed countries have easy access to all the food they could ever want via grocery stores, restaurants, mini-markets, etc.  Most people are meat eaters, but yet many of those meat eaters have anti-hunting attitudes.  Of course those people are hypocrites because they are merely paying someone else to harvest, clean, package, and deliver their favorite meats to the local retail outlets where they shop or eat. 

There are also others that have become so disconnected from reality that they don’t know that chicken wings were part of a whole chicken that was once alive, or they think milk comes from factories not realizing there are dairy cows involved.  This is no joke folks; there are people out there like this.

Some of the comments in this thread have undertones of looking at this endeavor as a nearly impossible task.  If people start out on a quest of any kind with their minds preset to failure, they will most certainly fail.  Landing on the moon was viewed as an impossible task until people made up their minds it could be done by working together; we got there.  Know what the goal is, and why it is there.  This will be a long term goal, and not an easy one to attain.  A key phrase mentioned several times is “working together”; this ties in to a very well-known phrase: “United we stand, divided we fall”.  Change that a bit for this situation: “United we succeed, divided we fail”.  Be ready to work together on this, and be unwavering in your resolve to succeed.

[TheHunt]

I would vote for adding hunting and fishing to the constitution.

[Humptulips]

I think the thing that discourages me is the antis don't have to outlaw hunting or fishing to take it away. Look what happened to trapping. If we had a constitutional amendment to guarentee trapping it wouldn't have changed anything. We can still trap. They just took away our tools. Same thing with houndmen. You can still hunt bear and cats but that sounds pretty hollow if you have an empty dog box in the back of the truck.

I'd have to see the language. Take a lot of thought to get the wording right.

[huntrights]

I think the thing that discourages me is the antis don't have to outlaw hunting or fishing to take it away. Look what happened to trapping. If we had a constitutional amendment to guarentee trapping it wouldn't have changed anything. We can still trap. They just took away our tools. Same thing with houndmen. You can still hunt bear and cats but that sounds pretty hollow if you have an empty dog box in the back of the truck.

I'd have to see the language. Take a lot of thought to get the wording right.

They (the anti's) are chipping away at our freedoms a little at a time; many people don't realize that.  The key to our success is to get us ALL of us involved to push back against these attacks with a unified front.  We all must work together; ALL of us must take a stand.  There is no room for APATHY.  Those of you that believe others will fight the battles for you better wake up and stand with the rest of us to fight for what you believe in.  The threats to our freedoms to hunt and fish are greater than ever before. 

All hunters and fishermen, regardless of the tools they use, absolutely must work together in this state and around the country to protect our rights.  An attack on one of us is an attack on ALL of us.  We ALL must respond to these attacks as if each and every one of them affects each of us directly.

“United we stand, divided we fall”, or “United we succeed, divided we fail.”  Every hunter and fisherman out there needs to decide if they are going to fight for their rights, or if they will do nothing until the problem is in their back yard and it’s too late.  The freedoms lost with using hounds for hunting bear and cougar, and the trapping losses have been due to emotionally based propaganda disseminated by animal rights groups; there is no sound/valid science behind these regulations.

There are several local, state, and national organizations that are trying to fight for our rights, but they can’t operate without funding or a strong membership.  Those of you reading this forum string should ask yourselves how many of them do you belong to, or contribute to.  Here are a few to consider: National Rifle Association, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Second Amendment Foundation, Freedom Foundation, Washington Waterfowl Association, Thurston County Farm Bureau, Washington for Wildlife, Safari Club International, Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation, and Hunter’s Heritage Council.  These are just some of the organizations that I know of that have stepped up to the plate to help bad proposed legislation or regulations.

A united, organized effort put forth by individuals, and pro-hunting/pro-fishing organizations can make hunting and fishing Constitutional rights in our state.  The same united, organized efforts by the same individuals and organizations can successfully fight against unjustified attacks on our hunting and fishing freedoms if we mobilize as soon as the threats are known.  We have lost bits and pieces of our freedoms because we have not been operating as a unified group.
 

[Mudman]

I think this is a great thing to try.  Didnt we alow these same rights to Indians in treaty.  Why dont we deserve the similar rights.  Could this argument be helpfull?

[pianoman9701]

I stated this at the beginning of this thread:

"Hunting, fishing, and foraging for food are GOD given rights, not privileges; we merely manage the harvest to ensure there is enough for the future.  Even if you don’t want to make a religious connection to the activities, the fact is: Mankind has been hunting, fishing, and foraging for food since the beginning of mankind." 

The current anti-hunting and anti-fishing sentiment is an emotional byproduct of prosperity; people in this country and in other developed countries have easy access to all the food they could ever want via grocery stores, restaurants, minimarkets, etc.  Most people are meat eaters, but yet many of those meat eaters have anti-hunting attitudes.  Of course those people are hypocrites because they are merely paying someone else to harvest, clean, package, and deliver their favorite meats to the local retail outlets where they shop or eat. 

There are also others that have become so disconnected that they don’t know that chicken wings were part of a whole chicken that was once alive, or they think milk comes from factories not realizing there are dairy cows involved.  This is no joke folks; there are people out there like this.

Some of the comments I have read in this thread have undertones of looking at this endeavor as a nearly impossible task.  If people start out on a quest of any kind with their minds preset to failure, they will most certainly fail.  Landing on the moon was viewed as an impossible task until people made up their minds it could be done by working together; we got there and I watched it happen.  Many people said there was no way we would defeat the proposed Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance and we would have to fight it in court.  Instead of giving up, we worked together and successfully defeated the proposed ordinance.  Know what the goal is, and why it is there.  This will be a long term goal, and not an easy one to attain.  A key phrase mentioned several times is “working together”; this ties in to a very well-known phrase: “United we stand, divided we fall”.  We can change that a bit for our situation: “United we succeed, divided we fail”.  Be ready to work together on this, and be unwavering in your resolve to succeed.

Like it or not, according to state law, they are privileges. A change to the state constitution is the only thing that makes them a right, legally. Hunters need to get involved to make our hunting and fishing privileges a right.

[All-Day]

Well said jshunt. It will be big effort but NOT impossible. Several States have added a fishing and hunting right to their constitution. We already have a coalition of organizations that jshunt listed. Now we need to plan, have meetings and talk. What states have already amended? I will try and get a copy from Kentucky. If you are who I think you are jshunt, you probably have a copy of the rights amendment! I agree that apathy will slow this effort. I also believe that hunting and fishing is our right .
I did not mean to sound so discouraging in my last post and was politely corrected today! Thank you.

[bearpaw]

jshunt, you are on the right track.... 

may I suggest a small change in language:

•  Protection of traditional hunting methods like archery tackle and bird hunting dogs

[All-Day]

ArticleXXIII, Amendments, Washington State Constitution; HOW MADE. Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in either branch of the legislature; and if the same shall be agreed to by TWO-THIRDS of the members elected to EACH of the two houses, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals, with the ayes and noes thereon, and be submitted to the qualified electors of the State for their approval, at the next general election: and if the people approve and ratify such amendment or amendments, by a majority of the electors voting thereon, the same shall become part of this Constitution, and proclamation thereof shall be made by the Governor: PROVIDED, that if more than one amendment be submitted they shall be submitted in a manner that the people may vote for or against such amendments separately. The legislature shall also cause notice of the amendments that are to be submitted to the people to be published at least FOUR times during the four weeks next preceding the election in EVERY legal newspaper in the State: Provided that failure of any newspaper to publish this notice shall not be interpreted as affecting the outcome of the election. (Amendment 37, 1961 Senate Joint Resolution No.25, Page 2753, approved Nov, 1962)

[buckfvr]

It is infinetly easier for the bureaucrats of our state to control our " privileges" , than it could ever be to control our rights.  That is why it will be a fight of epic proportions, but one we must engage.