At a time when so many of our constitutional rights have been called into question, the state of Florida is making moves to add to the list of rights rather than subtract.
Passing a resolution and thus referring a question to Florida voters in 2024, the Florida State Legislature is aiming to establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish in the sunshine state. If passed, the state would add a 28th section to the Declaration of Rights in the Florida Constitution which would ensure the preservation of hunting and fishing as a public right.
The new resolution would not handcuff the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in regulating hunting and fishing in any way.
While these, and any other changes to constitutional rights often come under fire from critics, they are put in place to not only preserve hunting and fishing rights today, but for future generations to come.
As was the case prior to 1776, British game laws monopolized hunting to only those deemed worthy by the Crown. Violators were often handed strict penalties while most members of society were not allowed to trespass on Crown lands.
Currently speaking, there are 24 states across the country that have established a constitutional right to hunt and fish with the oldest being Vermont who established this right back in 1777. The remaining states have slowly but surely fallen into line beginning with Alabama in 1996 and the most recent ballot in Utah in 2020.
House Joint Resolution 1157 (HJR 1157) was introduced into the Florida State Legislature on February 24, 2023. The House approved the amendment on April 25, 2023, by a vote of 116-0. The Senate passed the amendment on April 28, 2023, by a vote of 38-1. The single no vote came from Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book (D).
“Many people don’t realize the economic value fishing and hunting provides our great state, combining just over $15 billion annually. People come from all over the world to catch our tarpon and snapper, and chase our turkeys and ducks. Passing this legislation is a powerful statement that we support and champion our fishing and hunting traditions, and we want to protect (them) for our future,” State Rep. Lauren Melo (R) said.
The amendment must be approved by 60% of voters in order to pass.
