Source: Politico
“A proposal to enshrine hunting and fishing rights in the state constitution is pitting some Florida conservationists against one of the country’s largest environmental groups, as sportsmen and anglers who see a threat to their ways of life push for similar language in state constitutions across the country. Supporters in Florida — including most prominently Republican Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate — say the measure is needed to thwart any future efforts to ban hunting and fishing, and is part of a broader goal to preserve Florida wildlife and residents’ enjoyment of it as a key part of the state’s culture and economy. … But the measure has divided environmental supporters in Florida. Some have dismissed the need for the language in the constitution, arguing that there is no threat in Florida to hunting and fishing, which already are protected in state law.” (09/18/24)