Does your state guarantee the right to hunt (USE GUNS), fish and trap?

[HereSince1628]

This comes out of another discussion regarding guns and as it splits issues on two other forums I thought it maybe should go in neither. There seem to be two camps on guns...guns for personal defense and guns for sport.

The Dean position on guns is to let the states consider it.

Here is what Wisconsin did last spring, and as you can read toward the end of the article people seem to think that it not only protects hunting etc. but that it guarantees Wisconsinites the right to own and use firearms.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/apr03/130370.asp

So if leaving it up to the states is a way to take this issue out of the national election, I am wondering how many states have anything similar to Wisconsin's statement of citizens' rights?

[MrBenchley]

1. A curious phrase in the new story

"The pastimes are immensely popular - about 700,000 hunt deer with firearms each fall."

There's 5.4 million people in Wisconsin--pretty silly to say that something 87% of the population spurns is "immensely popular."

[HereSince1628]

2. I'm not sure those that don't hunt deer spurn the sport

it's worth billions to the Wisconsin economy.

But I am wondering if there are laws/guarantees like Wisconsin's that can serve as a test of whether or not this takes the gun issue off the table.

[MrBenchley]

3. Really?

Each hunter spends $1,400 each year? (ONE billion divided by 700,000)

[KaraokeKarlton]

4. Hunting license fees pay for things like conservation too

I'm not sure if we have anything specific written up, but the Champion Lands are open to hunting, fishing, trapping and snowmobiling. I also know that if anyone tried to infringe upon any of those rights they'd have one hell of a riot on their hands.

[kwolf68]

5. Hunting, trapping and fishing

are rights?

Where in the constituion does it say this?

They are lesiure activities just like masterbation, watching tv, riding a bike, shooting basketball.

This is the silliness of hunting and trapping and snowmobiling...They somehow make it revolutionary...It was preordained by the founding fathers and the mere act of hunting itself denotes freedom.

Every redneck state has some hunting crap mentioned in their constitution. Here in Virginia kids who hunt will now be allowed to bring their guns to school assuming they aren't loaded. Now THATS a great idea. :eyes:

As far as Dean's position...Just like everything else he does he tries to please everyone. He is completely AGAINST federal regulations and believes gun laws should be STATE issues, BUT...would do NOTHING to repeal the FEDERAL laws now in place...

SO...Dean is AGAINST federal gun laws, BUT will SUPPORT THEM staying in place. Whatever...

Kerry is also for the right to bear arms, but is also for certain federal gun laws, laws presently in place that he already supports and would not remove. Dean? Who the hell knows.

[HereSince1628]

7. Read the link...in Wisconsin its a citizen's right. n/t

.

[sybylla]

17. dupe

[sybylla]

18. I think it was a stroke of political genius

you said: "They are lesiure activities just like masterbation, watching tv, riding a bike, shooting basketball."

You are absolutely right on the money. However, we don't spend our precious political campaign time and money argueing about masturbation, basketball and riding bikes. Our Dem candidates do, on the other hand, spend gobs of money and time stating and defending their position on guns and gun ownership over and over again in the "redneck" states like Wisconsin.

But now, the crux of the debate is settled, at least until tested in court. No gun laws will unreasonably prevent anyone from engaging in hunting. Hence, no more gobs of money spent to defend Dems on an issue which the repukes pumped hard every election. Now, we can focus on real issues of serious importance in Wisconsin, you know, the ones the repukes don't want to talk about.

I think HereSince has proposed an interesting question and I'm surprised so few people want to answer it.

[HereSince1628]

6. It's not just about licenses or deer season

leases on hunting cabins, motels, etc.
weapons & ammunition

big ticket support items...
all-terrain vehicles, duck boats and trailers (and the 4wd to hall them...)

miscellaneous equipment...
deer stands, duck decoys, turkey decoys duck/goose calls,

for some types of hunting fees for guides and the use of their dogs

Global positioning systems for the weathy, compasses for the tradition bound,

targets for practice, for some fees to fire on a range

cameras to document it all...

clothing...whether from farm & fleet or Gander Mountain you gotta have yer blaze orange

food and beverages...including Wisconsin survival kits of beer and cheese

many tanks full of gasoline for the autos and trucks...many people drive _way_ up north from Chicago suburbs

And some predictable if unwanted incidentals like

speeding tickets and other fines...

a number of vehicle recoveries from muddy roads, farm fields or the occassional dip in a marsh or lake...

medical emergencies...heart attacks, broken bones from falling out of deer stands, occassional other wounds etc...

rarely some of these into needs for morticians...

If they get a deer,

Hunters often pay for processing in a packing plant for the carcass they get nicer steaks, ground venison, sausages, etc

in some cases a taxadermy fee for a trophy head...
occasionally the hides are tanned and turned into custom leather products...

and a few people will have display mounts made of game birds, or other game etc.

and don't forget that many of these transactions are taxed...

I am not saying that everyone selects (God forbid) every item on this list but, yeah, when its all added up a billion dollar industry.

[alarimer]

8. here in Texas

And probably in other states, license fees go directly to the main agency regulating hunting and fishing activities, Texas Parks and Wildlife. We are not a "conservation" organization per se; our revenue comes directly from the people who pay for the privilege. Also state park fees pay for parks (although not enough- they are woefully underfunded). Recently we had a "regime" change of our own. The new director is a good old boy of the old school. Outdoor ed programs have been scrapped and other changes have been made. I see hunting and fishing as a part of the management process- there is no reason that careful management can't keep population levels high enough for people to enjoy for decades. For myself, I don't hunt of fish; I prefer nonconsumptive uses (birding, hiking, camping). So I stick out like a sore thumb around here but it takes all kinds. I do not believe that hunting and fishing are a right; they are a privilege like driving. you abuse those privileges (poaching, overfishing, etc) and they can and will be taken away. T

[Fla_Democrat]

16. You'd be surprised

corn and rye grass are expensive. :evilgrin:

[HereSince1628]

9. So it seems Wisconsin is unique in this respect...

That's ok, because my real interest isn't arguing about the right to hunt etc, its to see if a State laws that pretty much guarantees the right to own and use a gun in sports can "neutralize" the gun issue to any extent.

[ShaneGR]

10. Well, I can have a concealed gun in Ohio

Not that I would want to although I do own a gun and support the 2nd ammendment based on self-protection issues. I do not support assault weapons though. WTF do I need an assault weapon for?

[HereSince1628]

12. Will this be the first national election while the law was on the books?

I really think it will be interesting to see if state laws have the effect of taking the issue out of elections as at least one campaign suggests.

[Fescue4u]

14. 'WTF do i need an assault weapon for'

WTF do you need a reason for?

[karlschneider]

11. I don't think any state prohibits hunting or fishing...but amending

a state constitution to guarantee the 'right' seems a little silly to me. Here in eastern Oklahoma, a majority of men hunt and fish (as do I, for eating only)...
but I do NOT approve of trapping or bow & arrow hunting. They are however legal.

[HereSince1628]

13. Thanks for your opinion, I am sure its true, but as to the thread...

Does the gun issue play in national elections in OK? Your state without a law like Wisconsin makes for a point of comparison .

[Fescue4u]

15. of course.

Most states, except for a few misguided ones do.