GOP lawmakers want to ask voters whether to cement the right to hunt and fish in the Ohio Constitution, and a joint resolution to get that question on the ballot is scheduled for its first committee hearing Wednesday afternoon.
does not go much further than its title鈥攑roposing to put an amendment in front of voters that reads in part, 鈥渢he people have a right, which includes the right to use traditional methods, to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife that are traditionally pursued.鈥�
Right to Hunt and Fish amendments exist in more than 20 states already. Voters ratified most of them in the last two decades, although Vermont has had similar language in its founding document since it became a state in the 1790s, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Arizona is the only state so far where voters rejected a right to hunt and fish amendment.
The legislative advocacy arm of the National Rifle Association (NRA) also lists passing them in all 50 states as a top priority.
The intent, Rep. Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville) said, is to preempt any future efforts to limit hunting or fishing.
鈥淚t's important that we establish which things are rights, because of course, we get a lot of laws that could deviate from your ability to exercise a right if it's not clearly spelled out in the constitution,鈥� Ferguson said in an interview.
Ferguson said in Ohio, he doesn鈥檛 see any laws on the books or bills in the works threatening that proposed right. 鈥淏ut it is a concern, that you see things like this in states across the country,鈥� he said.
Generally, opponents in other states鈥攕uch as animal and environmental organizations鈥攈ave argued the amendments are .
The amendment would still allow for the same governing mechanisms, Ferguson said, like hunting season limitations or fishing licensure requirements. According to the legislative text, the Ohio Legislature could pass limitations to 鈥減romote wildlife conservation and management鈥� or 鈥減reserve the future of hunting and fishing.鈥�
If HJR 5 clears both legislative chambers, it would appear on the November 2024 ballot. A joint resolution needs to get two-thirds of the vote in both the Ohio House and Senate to move forward.
