State lawmakers move to protect interests of hunters

Phoenix, AZ – One measure given preliminary House approval Monday would give
the right to hunt the same constitutional protections as free
speech. Rep. Jerry Weiers said without that, a simple majority of
legislators could decide, for example, to ban dove hunting. And
putting protections in the constitution also would make it more
difficult for voters to do things like ban steel-jawed leg-hold
traps like they did in 1994. The other would eliminate the
ability of the governor to choose whoever she wants to serve on
the Game and Fish Commission, which sets rules for hunting.
Instead she would have to choose from a list prepared by a
screening panel where three of the five members represent hunting
interests. Suzanne Gilstrap who lobbies for Arizona Sportsmen for
Wildlife said the change is merited.

(During the past administration they were shut out of the process
almost entirely shut out of the process. And that's not fair
either.)

But Sierra Club lobbyist Sandy Bahr said what is being pushed is
not fair.

(It would allow a very narrow set of interests to determine who
could be on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The first
category there is probably one group that would fit that
category, that is Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife.)

Both measures require a final roll-call vote before going to the
Senate. For Arizona Public Radio this is Howard Fischer.