Accessibility menu
State Representative Tom Hackbarth
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-2439
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS RELEASE
PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF HUNTERS’ ANGLERS’ AND TRAPPERS’
St. Paul – Minnesotans could soon have the opportunity to amend the state constitution to include a Bill of Rights for Hunters’ Anglers’ and Trappers’. Under legislation designed to create more opportunities for those who love the outdoors which was unveiled today by Representative Tom Hackbarth (R – Cedar).
The purpose of the Hunters’ Anglers’ and Trappers’ Bill of Rights is to create the most opportunities possible for citizens to exercise their rights under Article XIII Section 12 of the Minnesota Constitution, which currently reads “Hunting and fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage that shall be forever preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.”
“The proposal we are bringing forth today is meant to supplement the so-called ‘Legacy Act’ after the voters turn it down in November,” said Rep. Hackbarth. “Our proposals focus on protecting and preserving the outdoors, and do not include raising the sales tax or making the arts a constitutional right.”
Rep. Hackbarth, who is the former chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy committee, has worked on this issue since he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1994. He said he is pleased the DFL has grabbed a hold of the issue, but noted they morphed it from the original intent. The “Legacy Act”, which is expected to come to a vote on the House Floor later today, includes dedicating funding for art and museums, and it also includes a 3/8 of 1 percent increase in the state sales tax.
Rep. Hackbarth pointed to his legislation and said it would provide six direct ways for citizens to exercise their right to hunt, fish, and take game. These six ways include
• The right to keep and bear arms.
• Healthy and abundant populations of fish and wildlife.
• Freedom to consume or display legally taken fish and game.
• Hunting, angling and trapping traditions that are passed down from generation to generation, and exposure to these traditions at a young age.
• Regulations that are easily understood, and that are enforced by state agencies with the support of citizens and sportsmen groups, that result in ethical hunting, angling and trapping practices.
• Access to public land for the people, not from the people, to enjoy hunting, angling, trapping and other outdoor activities.
“We want to ensure the rights of hunters’, angers’, and trappers’, without increasing the tax burden on every Minnesotan,” said Rep. Hackbarth. “We can do that with this plan.”
-30-
News Items
- Our state is pointed in a better direction - (Posted: 2012-05-17 00:00:00)
- DNR's implementation of new wolf season falls short - (Posted: 2012-06-13 00:00:00)
- Gov. vetoes good bills - (Posted: 2012-05-09 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.