Voters Come Out in Strong Support of America’s Hunting Heritage and Second Amendment Rights

Stinging Defeats for Radical Anti-Hunting and Gun Control Groups

Fairfax, Va. – On Tuesday, voters in Alabama, Mississippi and Maine came out in full support of protecting America’s hunting heritage and Second Amendment rights. The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) led the way to enshrine the Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wildlife in the state constitutions of Alabama and Mississippi and worked with a coalition of sportsmen’s groups to protect hunters in Maine from extreme anti-hunting groups who aimed to ban traditional bear hunting methods in the state.

“Sportsmen and hunters are the true conservationists in the United States and the NRA will continue to lead efforts on the state and federal level to defend their rights,” said Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA-PVF. “Hunting laws should be set by wildlife biologists and experts in the field who rely on sound science for wildlife management plans. On behalf of the NRA’s 5 million members, we want to thank the voters of Alabama, Mississippi, and Maine for supporting America’s hunting heritage and protecting our Second Amendment freedoms.”

In Alabama, NRA-backed Amendment 5 passed with an overwhelming 80 percent of the vote. The Right to Hunt and Fish amendment provides permanent protection for current and future generations of sportsmen in Alabama and ensures wildlife conservation and management decisions will be based on sound science and not the misguided emotions of anti-hunting extremists.

Also in Alabama, voters approved NRA-backed Amendment 3 to strengthen the state’s existing Right to Keep and Bear Arms amendment. The words “fundamental” and “strict scrutiny” will now be added to that amendment in Alabama’s state constitution. “Strict scrutiny” is a standard of judicial review that provides the highest level of protection for constitutional rights.

In Mississippi, 88 percent of voters overwhelmingly approved NRA-backed Amendment 1, the Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wildlife, creating permanent protections for current and future generations of sportsmen in Mississippi. Amendment 1 ensures wildlife conservation and management decisions will be based on sound science and prevents extreme anti-hunting organizations from diminishing the state’s strong hunting heritage.

Voters in Maine, for the second time in a decade, defeated efforts to ban traditional hunting methods critical to the state’s wildlife management and economy. The NRA strongly opposed the Maine Bear Hunting Initiative (MBHI). The restriction would have undermined the ability to control Maine's bear population. Bear hunting is a longstanding tradition that is deeply engrained both in Maine's heritage and economy.  Bear hunting contributes an estimated $60 million to the economy and sustains 900 hunting and outfitting jobs annually.

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.