Voters in Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Wyoming overwhelmingly passed amendments to their state constitutions on election day protecting their rights to hunt and fish. The National Rifle Association has been pushing this amendment state by state as a preemptive strike against attacks on hunting by animal rights activism.

Thirteen states had already passed such constitutional amendments: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Vermont gave their citizens the constitutional right in 1777! The rest have been passed only since 1996.

Arizona was the first state to reject the initiative. Since that time Hawaii, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania considered legislation to amend, but failed to do so.

In Kentucky, the Humane Society of the United States said that the amendment was unnecessary because there is no threat to hunting there. There was no organized opposition to the amendment, and it was labeled inconsequential by HSUS.

Hunters, fishermen, and the NRA, however, are certain that hunting and fishing will be attacked in all the states at some point and wish to exercise foresight.

Posted November 7, 2012