Mississippi Overwhelmingly Approves NRA-Backed Amendment 1

On Tuesday, voters exhibited a firm commitment to preserving the Magnolia State's strong sporting traditions by ratifying NRA-supported Amendment 1 by a convincing 88 percent of the vote.  Amendment 1 establishes an individual constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife. Mississippi becomes the newest state to add this important safeguard into the state's constitution.

Amendment 1 ensures that future wildlife conservation and management decisions are based on sound science in order to protect our hunting heritage for generations to come.  It adds the following language to the Mississippi Constitution:

“The people have the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, subject only to laws and regulations that promote wildlife conservation and management and that preserve the future of hunting and fishing, as the Legislature may prescribe by general law. Public hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. This section may not be construed to modify any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights, the regulation of commercial activities or the maintenance of levees pursuant to Article 11.”

Thank you to all NRA members who voted on Tuesday and supported Amendment 1.  Special thanks also to state leaders and lawmakers who worked to pass House Concurrent Resolution 30 during the 2012 legislative session in order to place this important measure before voters for ratification this fall, including: Governor Phil Bryant (R), Lt. Governor Tate Reeves (R), House Speaker Philip Gunn (R), Committee Chairmen Rep. Scott Bounds (R-Philadelphia), Rep. Scott DeLano (R-Biloxi), Sen. Giles Ward (R-Louisville), and bill authors Rep. Bubba Carpenter (R-Burnsville) and Charles Busby (R-Pascagoula).  We also appreciate the efforts of the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to promote this initiative and field inquiries about it in the weeks leading up to Election Day.