House Joint Resolution "Right to hunt, Trap, Fish"

[Tallbear]

HJR K of 2013
Natural resources; hunting; constitutional right to hunt, trap, and fish; provide for. Amends the state constitution by adding sec. 28 to art. I.
Last Action: 2/12/2013 referred to Committee on Natural Resources

[luckless]

I hope this passes. Once it is considered a right we can argue that we should all have equal access and pay the same cost for licenses.

[Roundballer]

I hope this passes. Once it is considered a right we can argue that we should all have equal access and pay the same cost for licenses.

That is not exactly what this is about, or the way it works....

This is a RESOLUTION, it is a Legislature backed move to put the proposed language up for a State wide vote, to amend the Michigan Constitution, at the next general election.

I suspect that this is more of a reaction to the many "animal rights" groups that are trying to stop all sorts of hunting (specifically wolves) in states just to the west of our UP. If it is written into our Constitution that we have a right to hunt, and regardless of funding for Conservation Officers, we will keep State lands open for hunting, using "scientific management".

[luckless]

That is not exactly what this is about, or the way it works....

This is a RESOLUTION, it is a Legislature backed move to put the proposed language up for a State wide vote, to amend the Michigan Constitution, at the next general election.

I suspect that this is more of a reaction to the many "animal rights" groups that are trying to stop all sorts of hunting (specifically wolves) in states just to the west of our UP. If it is written into our Constitution that we have a right to hunt, and regardless of funding for Conservation Officers, we will keep State lands open for hunting, using "scientific management".

If it isn't an equal right then it isn't worth supporting.

[Roundballer]

If it isn't an equal right then it isn't worth supporting.

We are not talking about the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This is about placing the following language before the Michigan Voters, to amend the Michigan Constitution.

ARTICLE I
Sec. 28.
(1) Subject to conditions established by law and based on principles of scientific management of natural resources, the people have the right to hunt, trap, or fish for, and to harvest, game or fish that are the property of the state and are held in the public trust.

(2) The state shall keep land or water under its control open to hunting, trapping, and fishing regardless of whether there is adequate staff or funding to manage that land or water.

This more about protecting the ability to use State Land, regardless of the States budget, and to establish that "scientific management" is to be used rather than the "cries" of anti-hunters.

If you can take that proposed language, and derive some sort of "equal protection" case from it.... Go for it.

[luckless]

We are not talking about the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This is about placing the following language before the Michigan Voters, to amend the Michigan Constitution.

This more about protecting the ability to use State Land, regardless of the States budget, and to establish that "scientific management" is to be used rather than the "cries" of anti-hunters.

If you can take that proposed language, and derive some sort of "equal protection" case from it.... Go for it.

The title is a misnomer, then, as the resolution doesn't have anything to do with a right to hunt and fish.

[LibertyComrade]

The title is a misnomer, then, as the resolution doesn't have anything to do with a right to hunt and fish.

Correct. If something is "[s]ubject to conditions established by law and based on principles of scientific management of natural resources" then it is merely a privilege, and not a right.

[Walther]

Recieved this today:

YOU DID IT!

Governor Signs Bills Protecting Rights to Hunt, Fish and Trap

Dear XXXXXXX,

You called, you emailed, and many of you even attended Camo at the Capitol to tell Governor Snyder and your legislators that you wanted them to support Senate Bills 288 and 289. Today, Governor Snyder signed both bills, ensuring that Michigan's wildlife will be managed with sound science and protecting our rights to hunt, fish and trap!

The bills are effective immediately, and do the following:

•Allow the Natural Resources Commission to name game species;
•Grant the Natural Resources Commission exclusive authority over fisheries orders, as it currently has with game orders;
•Provide free licenses to active-duty members of the military; and
•Establish a right to hunt and fish in Michigan statute.
It wasn't easy. Out-of-state groups like Humane Society of the United States flooded Gov. Snyder's phone lines urging him to veto the bills and spent hundreds of thousands in television ads attacking the bills. You stepped up when you had to, though, and called Governor Snyder, too! And he listened, agreeing that Michigan wildlife should be managed with sound science, not television ads funded by out-of-state special interests.

Thank you for taking the time to call, write, and drive to the Capitol! Please take a moment to thank Governor Snyder and your legislators for listening, too. You can call Governor Snyder at 517-373-3400. To see how your legislators voted, click here, and to look up their phone numbers to thank them, click here. Some of your legislators took tough votes on this bill to protect our rights, so it's important that we thank them!

This is perhaps the biggest conservation victory since Proposal G, and it wouldn't have happened without Michigan's hunters, anglers and trappers calling your friends, neighbors, legislators and Governor. Thank you!

Yours in Conservation,

The MUCC Policy Team

Drew YoungeDyke, Grassroots Manager
Kent Wood, Legislative Affairs Manager
Amy Trotter, Resource Policy Manager