Tennesseans Can Add Right to Hunt & Fish to Constitution

I've tried as best I can to keep my politics and my favorite avocations - hunting and fishing - separate. This blog isn't meant to be a soap box. But it's time I write about a rare opportunity Tennesseans will have this election day, November 2, 2010.

This is the first in a series of posts about the proposed amendment to Tennessee's Constitution that is intended to secure in perpetuity our ability to hunt and fish in our state. If passed, here's what our Constitution will say:

The citizens of this state shall have the personal right to hunt and fish, subject to reasonable regulations and restrictions prescribed by law. The recognition of this right does not abrogate any private or public property rights, nor does it limit the state s power to regulate commercial activity. Traditional manners and means may be used to take non-threatened species.

The drafters intended amendments to the Tennessee Constitution take time and be well considered. The first step in the process of amending our Constitution required both houses of the General Assembly to approve the proposed constitutional amendment by a majority vote. This happened in March, 2008. Then the amendment was published more than six months prior to the next election [November 2008].

The proposed amendment was then presented and considered by the next general assembly. Both the house and senate must approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority vote in this step. I had a hand in this vote and have great pride in having co-sponsored Senate Joint Resolution No. 30 during my first year of service in the State Senate.

The initiative to be decided on November 2, 2010 is the last of a multi-step process. It's not enough that the amendment pass by a majority vote. The number of affirmative votes must exceed half of the number of voters that voted in the gubernatorial election.

Here's an example: Assume 1.2 million citizens vote in the governor's election. Assume the constitutional amendment receives overwhelming support with 599,999 affirmative votes and only 100,000 negative votes [six to one margin]. The amendment would FAIL because the affirmative votes are less than half of the number of voters in the gubernatorial election.

So, it's important sportsmen inform their non-hunting family, friends and neighbors that this ballot initiative should not be skipped or overlooked when voting on November 2.