By Louie Stout
In case you havent heard, Indiana sportsmen are closer to having a Constitutional right to fish and hunt.
Wait a minute, you say; dont we already have that right?
Of course we do. But backers of proposed legislation at the statehouse believe nailing those rights to the constitution gives sportsmen protection from anti-hunting groups that would dearly love to deny those rights.
The Indiana Senate passed SJR 0007 by a 38-10 vote this week, sending the proposed amendment to the House for its approval. If passed, Hoosiers will vote on it in next years state election.
It likely will. The same proposal sailed through the General Assembly two years ago. Under law, a Constitutional amendment must be approved by two separate Legislatures before going on a statewide ballot.
The proposed amendment Provides that the people have a right to hunt, fish, harvest game, or engage in the agricultural or commercial production of meat, fish, poultry, or dairy products, which is a valued part of our heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good, subject to laws prescribed by the general assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the general assembly. Provides that hunting and fishing are the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. Provides that this constitutional amendment does not limit the application of any laws relating to trespass or property rights.
If successful, Indiana would join 17 states that have added similar constitutional amendments in recent years.
Oddly enough, Michigan, one of the nations most popular hunting and fishing states, isnt one of them.
Bill sponsor Senator Brent Steele, R-Bedford, said the amendment would protect Indianas $8 billion a year in agricultural products sold, and more than 950,000 residents who hunt or fish each year, from animal-rights groups trying to impose more limits. The amendment continues to give authority to state agencies to regulate hunting and fishing.
"You think (anti-groups) haven't spread their tentacles?" Steele said in an Associated Press story this week. "I merely ask you to go to your computers and look them up."
If the referendum goes public, expect heavily financed anti-groups to bombard the state with a media campaign filled with lies and misconceptions to sway votes of those who dont fish and hunt.
Antis spent millions a few years ago when a dove hunting referendum was defeated on Michigan ballot.