Oregon Protect Hunting and Fishing Amendment (2016)

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Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot
This measure was not put
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The Oregon Protect Hunting and Fishing Amendment (Petition #19) did not make the 2016 ballot in the state of Oregon as an initiated constitutional amendment. If approved by voters, the measure would do the following:[1]

  • Protect the right of the people to hunt and fish in the state of Oregon

Text of measure

The full text of the measure can be found here.[1]

Support

This measure is being sponsored by Stan Steele, Dominic Aiello and Wayne Endicott, members of the Oregon Outdoor Council.[1][2]

Arguments in favor

Chairman of the Oregon Outdoor Council board Stan Steele stated:[3]

Hunting, fishing, and harvesting wildlife are deeply embedded in Oregon’s heritage and culture. Together they are a major economic engine for Oregon by generating $929 million in spending and $99 million in local taxes. Additionally, it provides hundreds of thousands of Oregon families with healthy, sustainable, free-range protein every year. Oregonians deserve the opportunity to decide if our way of life should be protected.[4]

Oregon Outdoor Council President Dominic Aiello said,[3]

There is certainly no shortage of examples which undeniably prove our lifestyle is under attack. However, most recently, groups from California and New York are pushing for a complete ban on traditional hunting ammunition and certain fishing tackle. A recent survey by Southwick Associates indicated that if a ban on traditional hunting ammunition passed in Oregon it would reduce hunter participation by an astonishing 59%![4]

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon

Supporters submitted more than the required 1,000 signatures to file the petition. The Oregon Secretary of State verified the submission on June 10, 2015 and verified the petition had 1,190 signatures. Supporters are then required to collect at least 117,578 valid signatures to get the measure on the ballot.[1]

Jeanne Atkins rejected the measure on the grounds that it erased the state's entire Bill of Rights. The initiative would take Article 1 of the Oregon Constitution, which is its Bill of Rights, and change it to read that people can fish and hunt in regulation with the state. The exact wording of the initiative states the measure would take Article I and "amend it to read" that Oregon residents have the right to fish and hunt. Atkins is concerned that if the phrase "amend it to read" were taken literally, it erases the other 45 sections of the Bill of Rights. This is illegal in the ballot measure process.[5]

On September 15, 2015, the Oregon Outdoor Council filed a lawsuit against Atkins' ruling in Marion County Circuit Court. Chairman of the board Stan Steele said,[6]

The Secretary of State's office verified the signatures required for our measures to qualify. However, Secretary Atkins chose to take it upon herself to disqualify all four measures without legal standing. Clearly, Secretary Atkins is attempting to prevent nearly 700,000 Oregonians (from having) a voice in our political process.[4]

The measure did not comply with the Oregon Constitution's procedural constitutional requirements and the petition was rejected on July 16, 2015.

State profile

Demographic data for Oregon
 OregonU.S.
Total population:4,024,634316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):95,9883,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:85.1%73.6%
Black/African American:1.8%12.6%
Asian:4%5.1%
Native American:1.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.4%0.2%
Two or more:4.1%3%
Hispanic/Latino:12.3%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:89.8%86.7%
College graduation rate:30.8%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$51,243$53,889
Persons below poverty level:18.4%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Oregon.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Oregon

Oregon voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, two are located in Oregon, accounting for 0.97 percent of the total pivot counties.[7]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Oregon had two Retained Pivot Counties, 1.10 of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Oregon coverage on Ballotpedia

See also

External links

Footnotes