The passage marked a significant step forward not only because it is one step closer to becoming law, but because the fact that it even came before the committee for a vote meant that a resolution had been reached between the bill's biggest supporters outside the legislature, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the National Rifle Association.
Chattanoogan.Com columnist Richard Simms highlighted the debate between the TWF and NRA [click here for article], quoting NRA Manger of Hunting Darren LaSorte as saying that the TWF's language in the legislation "accomplishes very little," and TWF's Mike Butler — who has worked tirelessly over the past two years to push the constitutional amendment through the legislature — as saying that the NRA's language would place unfair burden on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
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Eventually, though, the two sides reached an agreement, with Sen. Doug Jackson [D - Dickson] offering an amendment that changed the wording of the bill to read, "The citizens of this state shall have the personal right to hunt and fish, subject to reasonable regulations and restrictions imposed by law. The declaration of this right does not abrogate any private or public property rights, nor does it limit the state's power to regulate commercial activity."
That amendment paved the way for the Senate committee vote on Tuesday.
With the unanimous vote before the Judiciary Committee, the proposed amendment is now set for a vote before the full Senate. If it passes — and it is expected to do so easily — it will go back before the Senate next session, in early 2009, where it must pass by a two-thirds majority vote.
A similar process must take place in the House, where the amendment has already been approved by a 92-0 vote (in June 2007).
Once the bill has passed the Senate by a two-thirds vote, it must be approved by Tennessee's voters by a referendum vote, which could occur as early as 2010.
The legislation is co-sponsored by 89 members of the General Assembly.