Barbour Back on National Stage for Sportsmen's Rights

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is the umbrella organization of the new Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus.

Hunters’ rights – and wildlife conservation – got a boost this weekend at the National Governors Association convention. MPB’s Cari Gervin has more.

Hunting is a way of life for many Mississippians. So is fishing.

It's also a big part of the Mississippi economy. Governor Haley Barbour:

“We have about 17,000 jobs that depend on hunting and fishing and sports and shooting. Those jobs come in an economy, a statewide economy, for hunting, fishing and sportsmen spending, that’s almost a billion dollars a year.”

Those $863 million are what Barbour hopes to protect in his role as the Republican vice-chair of the new Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus.

The group launched Friday afternoon and is affiliated with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

So far, 16 governors have joined the bipartisan group, including the Republican governors of South Dakota and Vermont, and the Democratic governors of West Virginia and New Hampshire. Again, Governor Barbour:

“The sportsman’s life really is American, from one part of America to another.”

Still, Mississippi officials are hopeful that Barbour’s prominent role will help this state specifically. James Walker is a spokesperson at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

“It, it’s a great thing. And these sportsmen caucuses not only will they help us with our funding, they’re the first line of defense from those who want to infringe on our, our rights to bear arms, our rights to hunt, and for those who would try to eliminate sport hunting and fishing.”

However, the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus says it is equally interested in conservation and protecting wildlife habitats from encroaching development.

For MPB News, I’m Cari Gervin.