A few weeks ago, I got a rather frantic phone call from an older gentleman I know who had just opened the most recent issue of his NRA magazine “the Rifleman” to find a full page add regarding question #1 on the upcoming Kansas ballot.

Officially known as House Concurrent Resolution 5008, question #1 proposes adding an amendment to the Kansas Constitution protecting our right to hunt, fish and trap. It reads on the ballot exactly as follows:

“The people have the right to hunt, fish and trap, including by the use of traditional methods, subject to reasonable laws and regulations that promote wildlife conservation and management and that preserve the future of hunting and fishing. Public hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. This section shall not be construed to modify any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights or water resources.”

Nineteen states already guarantee these rights in their constitutions and Kansas is one of several more moving that direction. The general thinking is that by guaranteeing these rights with written constitutional amendments, it will become much harder and more expensive for “Anti groups” to cause trouble in those states.
I hadn’t planned to write any more about this before the election, but my friend seemed quite upset and confused about the meaning and need for this proposal, so I decided to address the questions and concerns he had, hoping these answers will help others also.

His first concern was that this proposal was put on the ballot by some “Anti-Group.” No anti-group is directly responsible for the presence of question #1 on the ballot. When this proposal first surfaced in 2015, I questioned the need for it, but in speaking with one of the congressman who sponsored the bill and with a representative of the Kansas Rifle Association, it became clear that they were thinking ahead and being proactive in trying to prevent anti-groups from getting footholds in Kansas. Even though all Kansans already enjoy the right to hunt, fish and trap, (which I see more as privileges instead of rights) having those given to us as “rights” by a written constitutional amendment will be very powerful.

His next concern was whether to vote “yes” or “no.” Evidently the written language of the proposed amendment confused him, but voting yes passes the proposal and it becomes an amendment; voting no fails the proposal and it does not become a constitutional amendment. Please vote “YES.”

His final concern seemed to upset him the most, and that was what happens if it fails? The possibility of this proposed amendment failing here in Kansas is about as slim as me winning the lottery. However, should this proposal fail November 8, NOTHING will change. We will all wake up the next morning with the same hunting, fishing and trapping rights we had when we went to bed. By not having those rights given to us by our state constitution, we won’t have that leverage against anti-group’s shenanigans here in our state we would’ve had with its passage.

There you have my spiel about HCR 5008, otherwise known as question #1 on the upcoming ballot. I first questioned its worth, but after seeing how many other states are passing these sorts of constitutional amendments, I’m onboard. You will find this as the very last question on the back of your ballot. I see no downside to its passage, so please vote YES to question #1 on November 8. This is Steve Gilliland, author of Exploring Kansas Outdoors, and I approve this message!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

Gov. Brownback’s experiment has failed. It will take another generation (if we’re are lucky) before the sun is shining in KS. I’m a Republican, but I don’t vote party lines, and you don’t have too either. Brownback is on his way out. The most recent poll shows him the least popular governor in the country. 65% of those polled disapprove of Brownback’s job performance. His most recent quarterly report of the state’s economy didn’t match predictions of his “real life” experiment, hence he covered it up by canceling the report.

However, there is still work to do. Kansas voters need to vote out all of Brownback’s legislative fence sitters. That would be all his Republican cronies who vote the way he expects them to vote. Their head is elsewhere, where they can’t see the sun shining if it were shining. Vote Alex Herman for State Senate, District 40 and Eber Phelps, House of Representatives, 111th District. Kansas needs change and quickly.

And our Supreme Court Justices need to be retained. By not retaining them is part of Brownback’s agenda along with his legislators to consolidate the three branches of state government into a monarchy in which the governor reigns supreme and in which he and his policies are never questioned or challenged. Vote yes to retain these judges.

Tim Miller, Hays

I was born in Kansas, lived there for 25 years, went to college and graduated there, hunted and fished there and more. I have proud relatives everywhere in Kansas. I know Kansans are good honest people and this young man was bullied by the Animal Legal Defense League (deep pockets to sue whomever they want) and the phony little part-time animal no-kill shelter the Western Plains Animal Refuge. They deal with cats and dogs and not a huge volume of injured wildlife as the suit suggests. All of that is a lie. There was NO GAMBLING in any way in this event…that was a lie. The Kansas law is clear and easy to look up. It says;

The Kansas statute governing gambling in Kansas; 21-6403. Gambling; definitions. As used in K.S.A. 2012 Supp. 21-6403 through 21-6409, and amendments thereto:

“A bet does not include: offers of purses, prizes or premiums to the actual contestants in any bona fide contest for the determination of skill, speed, strength or endurance or to the bona fide owners of animals or vehicles entered in such a contest;”

The ALDF and the Western Plains Animal Refuge (WPAR) duped this unfortunate young man and are now bragging about it worldwide! It is all over the internet! They are trying to show how stupid Kansas is and are laughing at Kansas!

Come on, Kansas be proud! Fight back! Tell these misguided activists that THEY are NOT welcome to interfere with legal activities in Kansas and to be held responsible for lying to everyone. This small part time shelter needs to be shut down for lying to everyone too. DO NOT donate to them for any reason! Donate to this unfortunate young man to help him get his money back from the terrible settlement. It was not fair to him in any way! He did NOTHING wrong!

Please know that these activists groups want ALL HUNTING in America stopped and they are focusing on coyotes! You are being scammed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the little part time no kill shelter the Western Plains Animal Refuge. Someone needs to shut them down for lying! This is a serious matter for all of Kansas!

Jim Schmidt, Dragoon, Ariz.