Tulsa World: Measure promotes right to hunt, fish

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Measure promotes right to hunt, fish

Voters will consider a state question Nov. 4 that would amend the state Constitution to protect the right to hunt and fish. Here, David Schuessler, Ducks Unlimited director of event and volunteer promotion, returns to shore with a pair of blue-winged teal shot at the reservoir of Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area. KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World

By TOM LINDLEY World Capitol Bureau
Published: 10/18/2008 2:08 AM
Last Modified: 10/18/2008 2:19 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — Senate Republican leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City believes hunting and fishing are important parts of Oklahoma's heritage. In sponsoring State Question 742, he said he thought it was time to make it a right.

The measure would add a new section to the Oklahoma Constitution giving "all people of this state the right to hunt, trap, fish and take game and fish," subject to reasonable regulation.

It's one of four state questions that will be voted on Nov. 4.

Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said similar bills have been filed in the past but got hung up for different reasons.

"I am a sportsman and I had a personal interest in it, so I carried the bill myself this year," the Senate co-president pro tem said.

Although he couldn't cite a specific threat to an Oklahoman's right to hunt and fish, Coffee said other states have had battles with groups opposed to hunting and sport fishing.

The proposed amendment has been called frivolous by a spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a national animal rights' group.

"Its sole purpose is to make a political statement for political interest groups," said Nicole Matthews of PETA. "It's really a solution in search of a problem."

She said that if the amendment is rejected Oklahoma voters will be able to continue to hunt and fish as they do now.

Matthews also warned that its passage could lead to a rash of lawsuits by those who want longer hunting seasons and could

allow felons, who are prevented from obtaining firearms, to claim they have a right to use a gun to hunt.

Coffee said the state question was written to protect how hunting and fishing is now regulated in the state and would protect existing property rights.

"It goes back to our heritage," he said. "It used to be part of how people put food on the table. I think that is still true today."

There were 611,000 resident and nonresident anglers in Oklahoma and 251,000 resident and nonresident hunters in the state, according to 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey.

Tom Lindley (405) 528-2465
tom.lindley@tulsaworld.com

State Question 742 and others on ballot

This measure adds a new section to the State Constitution. It adds Section 36 to Article 2. It gives all people of this state the right to hunt, trap, fish and take game and fish. Such activities would be subject to reasonable regulation. It allows the Wildlife Conservation Commission to approve methods and procedures for hunting, trapping, fishing and taking of game and fish. It allows for taking game and fish by traditional means. It makes hunting, fishing, and trapping the preferred means to manage certain game and fish. The new law will not affect existing laws relating to property rights.

Other state questions on Nov. 4 ballot:

State Question 735: Creates an exemption from personal property tax for certain honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces or the Oklahoma National Guard who are 100 percent permanently disabled. The disability must have occurred through military action or accident, or resulted from a disease contracted while in active service.

State Question 741: Would require a person or business to file an application for a property tax exemption in the year for which the exemption is requested. Supporters say it would prevent counties from being at risk of issuing retroactive tax refunds and would prevent them from having insufficient funds to pay them.

State Question 743: Would allow winemakers who produce less than 10,000 gallons of wine a year to sell directly to retail package stores and restaurants in Oklahoma. The winemakers must use their own leased or owned vehicles to distribute their wine.

By TOM LINDLEY World Capitol Bureau

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	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (10/18/2008 6:24:17 AM) Yeah, we need the right to hunt and fish law, we have to many Nut cases out there like peta, and the Sierra Club, that would like to control laws about hunting and fishing.
	Report Comment Michael Phillips, Tulsa (10/18/2008 7:00:31 AM) The spokesperson from PETA thinks it is unnecessary. That's funny.
	Report Comment me, (10/18/2008 8:12:37 AM) I know several 100% disabled veterans who have government jobs and don't have to pay sales taxes. Why should these people be drawing a check at taxpayer expense for being disabled if they have a job?
	Report Comment CG, (10/18/2008 10:51:06 AM) Waste of time and money...
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (10/18/2008 10:54:01 AM) I had no idea that our right to hunt and fish was under assault! Thank you so much, Senator Coffee, for this vital constitutional amendment. (Sheesh! What a bozo!) Many counties in Oklahoma (including Tulsa and Delaware) have completely eliminated personal property taxes on non-business property. It was an intrusive nuisance tax that should be eliminated statewide. Eliminating it for disabled veterans is a good start. Do you pay personal property tax in your county? If so, start a movement in your county to eliminate it. SQ 743 is supported by Oklahoma's wine industry, so let's help them compete with Gallo. I would go farther than this, but let's take what we can get.
	Report Comment michael andrew, (10/18/2008 11:14:09 AM) ME, really are you that thick headed? these folks gave their all so, uninformed peopel like you can stay that way.....who cares if they work & are disabled, i think anyone that serves this country, especially in a time of war, should be exempt from ANY tax! go back to bed, your welfare check is on the way, PINHEAD!
	Report Comment Joseph E. Paulk, (10/18/2008 11:29:45 AM) The whole point of this is to continue to allow leghold traps. The hunting and fishing part was put in to mask the trapping part. The cruelty of leghold traps IS under assault in other states, but not yet in Oklahoma. If this is approved, felons would have a constitutionally guaranteed right hunt, and I doubt it world be with pointed sticks. This is a bad proposition, people. Vote it down, keep on hunting and fishing the way you always have, and keep guns away from felons.
	Report Comment Taxed-2-Death, (10/18/2008 12:07:28 PM) I have heard of the pot calling the kettle black before, but when a group like PETA complains about a political statement being made for the benefit of a political action group, it makes reading the rest of the story difficult until the tears from laughing so hard quit. As for the rest of the article, I am just happy that something about the other issues we will be voting on finally got some ink, regardless of my opinion on the subject itself. I believe that if you were to ask people what else we are going to be voting on, a majority would answer with "the VICE President".
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (10/18/2008 12:08:55 PM) Joseph - thank you for the background information. It seemed like there must be a hidden agenda here somewhere.
	Report Comment me, (10/18/2008 1:25:58 PM) Michael Andrew, I just didn't get out of bed. I spent 16 years of my life in the military and proudly served. Disabled should mean just that, Disabled- unable to work. need help. Did you ever serve a day in the armed forces. I am a college graduate and a health care professional. and not on welfare. Just tired of paying for "disabled" when they are able to work.
	Report Comment Yogi, Tulsa (10/19/2008 3:32:09 PM) I think the amendment is a waste of time and totally unnecessary.
	Report Comment Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (10/19/2008 7:52:02 PM) As a property owner, it always makes me smile when I have to pay someone to harvest game on my farm. Reading some of these comments removes the doubt I had, that most have common sense.
	Report Comment TTowndad, Tulsa (10/22/2008 1:55:18 PM) PETA- People Eating Tasty Animals! Now thats the real joke

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