NASHVILLE - Tennesseans will vote in November on a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing their right to hunt and fish.
This morning on a 90-1 vote, the House approved Senate Joint Resolution 30, which has previously passed the Senate.
SJR 30 adds a new provision to Article XI, Section 13 which reads: "The citizens of this state shall have the personal right to hunt and fish, subject to reasonable regulations and restrictions prescribed by law. The recognition of this right does not abrogate any private or public property rights, nor does it limit the state's power to regulate commercial activity."
The bill's House sponsor Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, said the amendment is needed to protect the ability to hunt and fish in the future. He noted some countries, such as Great Britain, have outlawed some types of hunting.