Trapping and hunting does not belong in the State Constitution.

OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection

ACTION LEVEL: State

In a surprising example of legislative overreach, the Ohio Senate is attempting to restrict science-based wildlife management in the state. Ohio Senate Joint Resolution 3 seeks to amend the Ohio Constitution to make “traditional methods” of hunting, fishing, and harvesting wildlife a constitutional right. This would enshrine cruel methods of trapping and hunting, such as use of steel-jaw leg hold traps and hunting with hounds, as “rights,” making it much harder to regulate these barbaric practices.

This resolution would also constrain the state’s ability to oversee wildlife. It would limit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ discretion to manage wildlife populations using science-based principles, curtail the General Assembly’s authority to pass future laws regulating wildlife, and undercut direct democracy by preventing the public from pursuing ballot initiatives to protect wildlife.

This is not a democracy, and we need your help to defeat this ill-conceived measure.

What You Can Do

Please call your State Senator and send an email, letter, or postcard to their office urging them to oppose the passage of Ohio Senate Resolution out of the Senate Agriculture Committee and to the Senate floor. In addition, OAA urges you to contact members of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and ask them to oppose the passage of S.J.R. 3 out of committee to the Senate floor:

Tim Schaffer, Chairman, Schaffer@ohiosenate.gov, (614) 466-8076
Steve Huffman, Vice-Chair, SHuffman@ohiosenate.gov, (614) 466-6247
Teresa Fedor, Ranking Member, Fedor@ohiosenate.gov, (614) 466-5304
Bob Hackett, Hackett@ohiosenate.gov, (614) 466-8064
Tina Maharath, Maharath@ohiosenate.gov, (614) 466-8064
Sandra O’Brien, Obrien@ohiosenate.gov, (614) 466-7182
Bob Peterson. Peterson@ohiosenate.gov, (614) 466-8156

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Take Action

Dear Senator ______________ ,

As your constituent, I respectfully urge you to oppose S.J.R 3. This resolution seeks to amend the Ohio Constitution to enshrine cruel activities, such as use of steel-jaw leghold traps and hunting with hounds, as “rights,” making it much harder to regulate these dangerous practices.

This resolution also would constrain the state’s ability to oversee wildlife. It would limit ODNR’s discretion to manage wildlife populations using science-based principles, curtail the General Assembly’s authority to pass future laws regulating wildlife, and undercut direct democracy by preventing the public from pursuing ballot initiatives to protect wildlife. This is not good government.

In addition to shielding unpopular and inhumane practices, S.J.R. 3 simply is not necessary. It is a solution looking for a problem.  Ohio residents already have broad access to nearly unlimited hunting opportunities using a wide variety of methods. There is no reason to further elevate the interests of a select group of Ohioans over others including those who enjoy wildlife watching and recreating without fear of their dogs being caught in brutal traps.

I strongly urge you to oppose SJR 3, and look forward to your response back on this matter.

Sincerely,

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Your address
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