Senate approves right to hunt, farm proposal

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana voters would decide in next year's election whether to add the right to hunt, fish and farm to the state constitution under a proposal approved by state senators.

The Senate voted 38-10 on Monday in favor of the proposed amendment. It would go before voters in the 2014 general election if the House also approves the proposal.

Indiana would join 17 other states with similar constitutional protections for hunting and fishing. Supporters say the measures are needed because those activities are threatened by animal-rights activists.

One other state has a constitutional right to farming.

Democratic Sen. Greg Taylor of Indianapolis opposed the amendment. He says it is unnecessary because hunting and farming are already protected by state law and that no one is trying to change that.