Why It Matters: Voters in Florida spoke loud and clear – hunting, fishing, and the harvesting of wildlife are rights that need to be protected within the Constitution of Florida. Nearly 7 million Floridians took a massive step and voted favorably on Amendment 2 to ensure that the time-honored sporting traditions of Floridians as well as the future of science-based wildlife management through the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation are protected for generations to come.
Highlights:
- Amendment 2 received 67.3% of the vote – easily exceeding the 60% required to be adopted. This margin further solidifies that hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation continue to be non-partisan areas of agreement.
- Amendment 2 was one of only two of the six proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot in Florida to pass.
- The rights of hunters and anglers in the State of Florida are now protected in perpetuity as well as the $70+ million in funding for conservation that hunters and anglers in the state generate through the American System of Conservation Funding.
Florida’s Constitution will now include: “SECTION 28. Fishing, hunting, and the taking of fish and wildlife. — Fishing, hunting, and the taking of fish and wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, shall be preserved forever as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. This section does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV.”
Amendment 2 faced a barrage from the anti-sportsman community and animal rights activists who relentlessly spread misinformation about the intent of Amendment 2 and the “fallout” of the amendment if it were to pass. Their unfounded claims ranged from the total abolishment of private property rights, the legalization of gill nets, and basically an all-out free for all on wildlife in Florida – disregarding the power of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). These claims were refuted, and the facts prevailed. The management authority of the FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Florida will not be impacted with the adoption of Amendment 2.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was proud to have played a part in developing the language and coordinating with the FWC, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and so many other in-state and national partners to support Amendment 2 and get it across the finish line.
