House Concurrent Resolution 43

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO AMEND CHAPTER 2024, LAWS OF 2012, WHICH PROPOSES TO SUBMIT TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE STATE, AN AMENDMENT TO THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890 THAT WOULD ADD A NEW SECTION 12A TO THE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH AND HARVEST WILDLIFE; TO CHANGE, FROM NOVEMBER 2014 TO NOVEMBER 2013, THE DATE OF THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE STATE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT; TO CLARIFY THAT THE PROPOSED RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH AND HARVEST WILDLIFE DOES NOT MODIFY OR DIMINISH THE RIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL MISSISSIPPI CITIZENS TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That Chapter 2024, Laws of 2012, is amended as follows:

Amend Article 3, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, by adding a new Section 12A to read as follows:

"Section 12A. 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 or diminish any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights, the regulation of commercial activities * * *or, the maintenance of levees pursuant to Article 11 or the right of individual Mississippi citizens to keep and bear arms pursuant to Article 3, Section 12."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2013, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment establishes hunting, fishing and the harvesting of wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, as a constitutional right subject only to such regulations and restrictions that promote wildlife conservation and management as the Legislature may prescribe by general law."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this resolution, immediately upon adoption by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.