The Dutschke Petition

Whereas, the Mississippi House of Representatives has proposed the "Sportsperson's Bill of Rights" protecting the right to the activity of game hunting and fishing Constitutionally in the State of Mississippi (HCR 8).

Whereas, incompetent representation has been displayed by District 16 Representative Steve Holland and others in attempts to amend HCR 8 and the subsequent vote to kill HCR 8, the "Sportspersons Bill of Rights" in that this is not a reflection of the values and community standards of Mississippians statewide. Simply put, Mr Holland does not share our values.

Whereas we are charged by our creator with dominion over "...the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and every living thing that moveth on the earth" and "every moving thing that liveth shall be meat" and it has been so decreed by Divine Authority to eat of "whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers."


Whereas we, the undersigned, are citizens of this country, the noblest country in the history of men, based on the principle of mans "inalienable rights." A country where man is free to seek his own happiness, to gain and produce- not to give up and renounce; to prosper-not to starve; to achieve-not to plunder; to hold as his highest possession a sense of his personal value, and as his highest virtue his very freedom.
And we, the undersigned are citizens of the State of Mississippi, rich in natural resources, owing allegiance to this state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights in those people.

We therefore proclaim explicitly, clearly and forcefully our support of a "Sportspersons Bill of Rights". Even the original Mississippi tribes promulgated from grandfather to grandson the dogma of sport hunting and fishing, so shall we on this day lift our voices in support of this proud way of life.

We, the undersigned, hereby demand, bid, and instruct the House of Representatives, by means of this petition, to recommit immediately to the "Sportspersons Bill of Rights" and enjoin the support of those who wish to deny Mississippi Citizens the right to hunt its wilderness and fish its creeks, rivers, lakes and waterways with the liberty due all free men.

We, the undersigned, furthermore refine the language of the original text of HCR 8 by defining "laws and regulations" into traditionally recognized principles and to avoid legal challenges as follows:

"The inhabitants of the state of Mississippi shall have liberty in seasonable times to hunt wildlife on the lands and in like manner to fish in boatable and other waters under proper regulations. Hunting, trapping and fishing and the taking of wild animals, birds and fish are a valued part of our heritage and will forever be preserved by the people. Fish and wildlife shall be managed by the laws and regulations that provide persons with the continued opportunity to take, by traditional means and methods, species traditionally pursued by hunters, anglers and trappers. Fish and wildlife management, including the taking, shall be consistent with the State's duty to protect this heritage and its duty to conserve wild animals, birds, and fish."