In a session that has been dominated by bartering for votes to try to ensure construction of two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas, members of the Kansas House have found it difficult to move other legislation through their chamber.

On Thursday, however, a proposed constitutional amendment breezed through the House by a wide majority. The purpose of the amendment was to add to the Kansas Bill of Rights a guarantee of people to hunt and fish in Kansas.

Like the U.S. Constitution, the state’s Bill of Rights already guarantees Kansans the right to bear arms, but supporters of the hunting and fishing measure didn’t think that was enough. Although there hasn’t been any apparent groundswell of opposition to hunting and fishing in Kansas, a group of state legislators, with the support of the National Rifle Association, maintained that the amendment is needed to protect hunters against “politically motivated bans on bow hunting or hunting with hounds.”

The reference to “hunting with hounds” is interesting. While hunting is a popular and accepted sport in Kansas, hunting with hounds is not common, and making the state safe for that type of hunting actually might raise new concerns for many Kansans. Hunting with hounds has been banned even in England, where it was a treasured tradition, because it was considered inhumane.

Even if there were some move to further restrict hunting in the state, it seems those who hunt and fish could be protected by statute rather than a constitutional amendment that will have to be approved by voters. The Kansas Bill of Rights covers 20 items that include some of our most treasured rights, things like trial by jury, religious liberty, and liberty of press and speech. A right to hunt and fish just doesn’t fit in the same category with such basic rights.

As of Friday, the Kansas Legislature had completed 82 days of its scheduled 90-day session. Against the backdrop of the coal-fired plants, the House has been unable to move forward on many important issues facing the state. The hunting and fishing amendment now goes to the Kansas Senate for its consideration. In the waning days of the session, it would seem senators might have more important matters on their plates.