Hunting, A Constitutional Right?

 

The State of Utah did something interesting in last week’s election.

It made hunting and fishing a state constitutional right with 74-percent of the electorate voting yes. I don’t know if you are aware but there are 22 states with similar provisions in their constitutions and it is gaining steam. North Carolina voted yes in 2018. Four years ago a similar pro-hunting and fishing amendment was passed in Kansas and nearby Indiana. Kentucky also has it.  

Why not?

After all, it took an amendment to keep our current state income tax at the flat rate of 4.95 percent. If that wasn’t in the constitution, I guarantee the folks in Springfield would free-lance every session.

The constitutional right to hunt and fish does not alter the need for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They would still mandate seasons and sell licenses to those of us who enjoy hunting and fishing. It would merely insure we have the right to do so in the state’s constitution. No laws could abridge or eliminate that right.

This is not a new idea. It goes back to Vermont. They were enlightened enough to include the provision in their initial constitution in 1777. 

Hunting and fishing are among our most lucrative forms of economic development in southeastern Illinois. 

They need to be protected as a right.