Florida Establishes Right to Hunt & Fish

Florida voters in another example of ignorance passed a ballot initiative that makes hunting and fishing by traditional means a state constitutional right. "Traditional means" include apparently bear hunting with dogs and using inhumane steel jawed traps that inflict horrible injuries on trapped animals. Critics say the proposal was written vaguely on purpose to allow its passage as an uncontroversial conservation measure. Conservationists say it will be used as a vehicle for rolling back environmental protections. Right now black bears are protected in Florida since 1994 except for a single, limited hunting season in 2015.

The Florida state director of the US Humane Society says the law establishes hunting as the preferred method of wildlife management in the state that ignores proven, conflict control measures. The Florida legislature passed a law earlier this year that allows shooting of black bears in self-defense, which opponents say will be abused by residents in rural areas by landowners who simple want to eliminate what they see as a nuisance. "Traditional methods" of hunting and trapping are not defined in the new constitutional provision.

Organized hunts may become more common like the ones used in the 19th century to eliminate some species to the point of near extinction.  The National Rifle Association is behind a number of such "sportsman rights" measures across the country. thanks to the infamous Citizens United decision.  It and similar organizations provided money to flood the airwaves with ads supporting the measures. Florida's Amendment 2 received 67% support, more than the 60% needed for the initiative to become law.