Arkansas Hunting Rights Amendment 2010

Here's a hunting update that's interesting for this area:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates 33 states saw declines in hunting license sales over the last two decades.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/dec/12/hunting-traditions-sag-land-desire-disappear/

This amendment passed and the vote wasn't even close.

http://www.katv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13433081

For - 386,775 (82.89%)

Against - 79,859 (17.11%)

http://www.votenaturally.org/electionresults/index.php?ac:show:trackit=1&add=1&elecid=&contestid=1&countyid=0&pollid=0

this is a funny amendment in my opinion. why is something like this needed. it is happening in other states not just arkansas. for some reason it strikes me funny that an amendment like this would be needed and all the time and money being spent on it. prolly overkill but still fun to watch the passion. i hunt on occassion and have no worries about my right to hunt being taken away. people have too much time on their hands, actually its big money interests always involved in these type of amendments who care nothing for the people or issue at hand. take that to the bank.

Links of historical interest on Amendent 25 that will help to understand this new proposed Amendment

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=2653

http://www.agfc.com/aboutagfc/Pages/AboutAmendments.aspx

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:sLu6c3LvufQJ:staging.arkleg.state.ar.us/data/BudgetSummaries2007/Game%26Fish/Vol2Game%26FishMainDoc.pdf+arkansas+amendment+35+1944&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShKXBwPxJwr5Mw1b3znA7uv33scZqcUvnzylmFzBPHzmMLl_z8goKV4GuVR_5CZtQfrDL112BbJHbUZqS-NgDBJMwrU3gNcqsgvzPlpRLVelpo7AddKMvXfaKgvfIjFAurHRp42&sig=AHIEtbR_h5I4UNIjaZeKGHkaCx5nQlrcxg

http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/newsroom/index.php?do:newsDetail=1&news_id=143

http://www.wildlifeofficer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:arkansas-game-and-fish-regulations&catid=47:spring-2008&Itemid=68

http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4214

The text of:

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 3
AMENDING THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE FOR
A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH, TRAP, AND
HARVEST WILDLIFE.

can be found at http://www.votenaturally.org/2010_elections/sjr3.html

or in pdf form at http://www.votenaturally.org/2010_elections/sjr3.pdf

The entire text is as follows:

Referred Constitutional Amendments:

Issue No. 1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 3

AMENDING THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH, TRAP,
AND HARVEST WILDLIFE.

Subtitle
AMENDING THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO CREATE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH, TRAP, AND HARVEST WILDLIFE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AND BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A MAJORITY OF ALL MEMBERS ELECTED TO EACH HOUSE AGREEING THERETO:

That the following is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, and upon being submitted to the electors of the state for approval or rejection at the next general election for Senators and Representatives, if a majority of the electors voting thereon at the election adopt the amendment, the amendment shall become a part of the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, to wit:

SECTION 1. (a)(1) Citizens of the state of Arkansas have a right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest wildlife.
(2) The right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest wildlife shall be subject only t 1 o regulations that promote sound wildlife conservation and management and are consistent with Amendment 35 of the Arkansas Constitution.
(b) Public hunting, fishing, and trapping shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling nonthreatened
species and citizens may use traditional methods for harvesting wildlife.
(c) Nothing in this amendment shall be construed to alter, repeal, or modify:
(1) Any provision of Amendment 35 to the Arkansas Constitution;
(2) Any common law or statute relating to trespass, private property rights, eminent domain, public ownership of
property, or any law concerning firearms unrelated to hunting; or
(3) The sovereign immunity of the State of Arkansas.

There is a proposed amendment to the Arkansas State Constitution that will be on the November ballot. Many are unaware of this, however Arkansas voters will be asked to vote on this in less than 1 month.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Arkansas_Hunting_Rights_Amendment,_Issue_1_(2010)

http://www.examiner.com/outdoor-recreation-in-rochester/arkansas-to-vote-on-state-constitution-amendment-to-protect-hunters-rights

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20101007/LIFE06/10070316/Protecting+right+to+hunt++fish+on+Arkansas+ballot

Is this a way to head off any attempts to restrict hunting rights in Arkansas? Is this needed?

Could it backfire on opponents of this buy opening up a can of worms whereas soon as something goes into writing, there will be anti-hunting groups that will want to interpret the law in the manner that they see fit?

Should "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" apply here?

Is this really needed or is it a smart tactic to get out in front of the anti-hunting groups early?

Very interesting item to vote on this November and not many Arkansans are aware of it.