Fairfax, VA. - Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Trent Franks (R-2) announced their support of Arizona’s Proposition 109 – the Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment. Joining them at a press conference in the Arizona State Capitol this morning was former NRA president Sandy Froman. Arizona is among four states with a Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment appearing on the November ballot.

“On behalf of millions of NRA members, gun owners and hunters, I’d like to thank Senator McCain and Rep. Franks for their steadfast support of our hunting heritage and preserving this outdoor tradition for generations,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director, NRA Institute for Legislative Action. “Sen. McCain understands that hunters are our nation’s true conservationists and that Prop. 109 is essential to protecting Arizonans’ right to hunt and fish.”

“It is important to protect our rights from those who want to criminalize – and eventually end – all forms of hunting and fishing,” said Sandy Froman, former NRA president. “There have been incremental attacks – area-by-area; species-by-species – on our hunting heritage by radical anti-hunting groups in other states. Prop. 109 will protect Arizona from these radical attacks.”

If adopted, Prop. 109 will protect Arizona’s generations-old hunting and fishing heritage and critical wildlife management practices against the kinds of emotion-driven bans that have been imposed in other states.

The Amendment specifies that all laws and rules pertaining to hunting and fishing “shall have the purpose of wildlife conservation and management and preserve the future of hunting and fishing.” The language requires sound scientific reasoning, not emotion, as the basis for rules and regulations. Prop. 109 guarantees that hunting and fishing will continue to be regulated in a scientific manner in order to benefit wildlife populations.

“Anti-hunting groups are fighting to dismantle hunting and fishing in an effort to eradicate America’s outdoor traditions," concluded Cox. "Prop. 109 guarantees that Arizona’s future generations will be able to enjoy the same heritage their parents and grandparents have passed down to them.”

NRA
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.