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Nebraska Hunting and Fishing Amendment, Amendment 2 (2012)
| Amendment 2 | |
 | |
| Quick stats | |
| Type: | Legislative referral |
| Constitution: | Nebraska Constitution |
| Topic: | Hunting |
| Status: |  |
Contents |
Election results
- See also: 2012 ballot measure election results
| Nebraska Amendment 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 557,534 | 76.73% | ||
| No | 169,250 | 23.27% | ||
- Official results are from the Nebraska Secretary of State.
Text of measure
The official text of the measure as it appeared on the ballot:[3]
A constitutional amendment to establish the right to hunt, to fish, and to harvest wildlife and to state that public hunting, fishing, and harvesting of wildlife shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.
For __
Against __
Support
Proposal sponsor Sen. Pete Pirsch argued that the amendment was necessary to protect hunting rights. According to him, recent changing attitudes towards hunting put it at risk of being challenged. "Since the founding of our state — and for that matter, for as long as humans have been here — hunting, fishing and harvesting wildlife have been fundamental freedoms that people have engaged in. These activities are critical to our state's economy," said Pirsch.[4]
Supporters
- American Fisheries Society
- Izaak Walton League
- Ducks Unlimited
- Nebraska Council of Sportsmen's Club
- Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
- Nebraska Firearms Owners Association
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Nebraska League of Conservation Voters
- Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation
- Nebraska Wildlife Federation[5]
Opposition
Sen. Amanda McGill said, "I don't think anyone in this body wants to get rid of hunting and fishing. Does this really rise to the level of needing a constitutional amendment?" According to reports, McGill countered the proposal with an amendment to guarantee the right to swim, farm, ranch, drive, boat, golf, nap and watch Husker football.[4]
Sen. Steve Lathrop said, "It is feel-good legislation. When we use the constitution to make a political point or to satisfy a constituency, we're not doing our job."[6]
Sen. Brenda Council also opposed the measure and argued that the proposal "trivializes the Nebraska Constitution."[7]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Nebraska State Constitution
In order to qualify a proposed measure to the statewide ballot, 60% of the members of the Nebraska State Legislature must vote in approval.
On April 18, 2011, the measure passed its first hearing when the legislature voted 32-6 to enroll the proposal. On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, the measure passed its final hearing with a 41-3 vote of approval, thereby passing on to the ballot.[2][8][9]
See also
External links
| By Eric Veram Ballot measure writer |
| Email • Submit a link |
Additional reading
References
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald,"Bill would lock in hunting rights," March 31, 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Associated Press "Nebraska hunting amendment to appear on ballot," March 27, 2012
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature,"LR40CA full text," retrieved April 1, 2011
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Republic,"Nebraska lawmakers debate a constitutional amendment to guarantee hunting, fishing rights," March 31, 2011
- ↑ Omaha.com "Should right to hunt be guaranteed in Nebraska Constitution? Voters to decide," September 26, 2012
- ↑ Omaha World-Herald,"‘Right to hunt' bill debated," April 6, 2011
- ↑ WOWT.com,"Should Nebraska's Constitution Protect Right To Hunt?," April 5, 2011
- ↑ Associated Press,"Proposal to place hunting, fishing as constitutional rights advances in Neb. Legislature," April 18, 2011
- ↑ Nebraska StatePaper.com,"Hunting RIghts Could Be Added To Nebraska Constitution," April 19, 2011
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