LEGISLATURE PASSES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROTECTING RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH

Statewide Referendum Will Appear on April 1st Ballot

January 29, 2003

MADISON… According to Constitutional Amendment authors Representative Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) and Senator Dave Zien (R-Wheaton), the protection of hunting and fishing rights in the Wisconsin Constitution passed the final Legislative hurdle, today. Assembly Joint Resolution 1 (AJR 1), which will amend the Wisconsin State Constitution to include the phrase: “The people have the right to fish, hunt, trap, and take game subject only to reasonable restrictions as prescribed by law,” passed the State Assembly and Senate with overwhelming bi-partisan majority votes.

“I am very pleased with the outcome of today’s votes in both the State Assembly and State Senate,” said Gunderson. “The passage of this amendment will help ensure the protection and preservation of our sporting heritage for future generations.”

The Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment was proposed by a bipartisan group of legislators in July 2000 in response to increasing attacks by animal rights extremists.

“Opponents of hunting and fishing have targeted us and our way of life,” continued Zien, noting one anti-hunter group using rifle crosshairs on the chest of a hunter as their symbol. “We can either prepare and protect our sport or explain to our grandchildren that we let our heritage go.”

Currently, there are seven states with constitutional protection of hunting and fishing rights and four of those seven states (Alabama, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Virginia) have passed their amendments in the last six years. In addition, many other states, including Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska, and Texas, are currently debating amendments similar to AJR 1.

“Preserving our sporting heritage is an issue that is very important to us. Senator Zien and I want to protect our sporting heritage just like we protect wildlife populations and habitats,” stated Gunderson, noting that hunting laws, rules and limitations were originally created by hunters and fishermen to preserve wildlife. “Sportsmen pay to protect wildlife, re-establish species, and improve habitat. We obviously don’t want to do away with the rules which serve our sport so well, we just want to preserve the outdoor heritage for future generations.”

Because of the time required to get a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot statewide, January 28th was the only day the Legislature could have considered the Right to Hunt, Fish, and Trap (AJR 1 and SJR 7) in time of the April 1st Statewide Election.

Zien and Gunderson noted support for the April Election came from sportsmen including Sporting Heritage Inc., which has worked for three years to pass the resolution and collected nearly 20,000 petition signatures in support.

Greg Dziedzic, President of Sporting Heritage, Inc., stated in a letter a letter to the authors supporting the constitutional amendment that “while we recognize the value of the November General Election in generating the highest number of voters, this is a Right that cannot wait another year-and-a-half to be recognized and protected.”

“With so many challenges out there to our precious heritage, hunters, anglers, and trappers felt a real need to protect this right as quickly as possible,” concluded Zien. “ We listened to the hunters and anglers of this state, and responded by moving the referendum date to the soonest possible statewide election.”

The proposed amendment has now passed both houses of the state legislature in two consecutive two-year sessions, and it must now pass a statewide referendum in order to be added to the Constitution.

“I honestly believe this referendum will pass overwhelmingly just like a similar proposal passed in Minnesota in 1998,” concluded Gunderson. “However, we cannot take it for granted that this important referendum will pass if there is a very light voter turnout. I sincerely hope that everyone will make a very conscious effort to make it out to their polling place in April 1st in order to vote on the Constitutional Amendment.”

Here is an article on Karson from Bird Dog and Retriever News.Meet the Breeder

Here is a short article on Karson from The Wisconsin Sportsman.State Dog Trainers Set Record

Karson has also contributed many, many pictures to Bird Dog News over the years and been the subject of several articles such as Backyard Beagling By Dave Duffy.