World-Herald editorial: Be careful with hunting legislation

The Nebraska Legislature seems determined to amend the state constitution to make hunting and fishing an absolute right.

It still seems unnecessary to clutter up the constitution with such language, since it's unthinkable that Nebraskans' ability to hunt and fish would ever be undermined by the state.

People here have been hunting and fishing since long before Nebraska was a state. It's a great part of Nebraska culture.

Outdoorsmen, both Nebraskans and those visiting from elsewhere, pump needed dollars into the state's economy. The state promotes it. A new effort by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, called "Nebraska Outdoor U!," will help people who want to learn to hunt, fish, camp or shoot.

Any attempt to undercut such activities would trigger a vigorous political protest — and rightly so.

Nonetheless, many lawmakers clearly are leery of speaking out against such a "mom-and-apple-pie" measure, which has passed two rounds of debate and looks certain to win their final approval. So lawmakers at least need to make certain the proposed constitutional amendment is worded to avoid any unintended consequences.

Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment — which if approved by the Legislature would go to a vote of the people — should provide the state Game and Parks Commission with a reasonable ability to regulate, as it has now. Jim Douglas, deputy director of Game and Parks, says he plans to suggest changes favored by the agency.

While Nebraskans' ability to hunt and fish hasn't been — and isn't likely to be — threatened, such changes would make the unnecessary legislation a little less unpalatable if lawmakers think it must be added to our governing document.

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