Oklahoma Right To Farm Amendment: Case Study

The Oklahoma Right to Farm Amendment, State Question 777 was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Oklahoma as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. It was defeated. A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to include the right to farm and ranch. I think that State Question should've passed, it would of allowed farmers to defend themselves against unjust laws that would harm the industry. It would of also protected all farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma, including small, urban, organic, and hobby farmers, allowing consumers to have access to a wide range of locally grown food choices. The problem was that people were missed informed about what State Question 777 really was. State Question 777 was designed to require courts …show more content…
These constitutional rights receive extra protection under this measure that not all constitutional rights receive. This extra protection is a limit on lawmakers' ability to interfere with the exercise of these rights. Under this extra protection, no law can interfere with these rights, unless the law is justified by a compelling state interest—a clearly identified state interest of the highest order. Additionally, the law must be necessary to serve that compelling state interest.State Question 777 actually passed in many small population counties,such as Comanche county, Jefferson county, Tillman county, Jackson County, Roger Mills county, Cimarron county, and Cotton county, just to name a few. These are all small populated places in Oklahoma. This means that State Question 777 would benefit these counties. Places that State Question 777 did not pass are Tulsa county, Cleveland county,Oklahoma county, Osage county, Latimer county. These counties are heavily …show more content…
Which means without State Question 777 these small farmers and ranchers have no protection from unjust laws. With this all being said I think State Question 777 should've passed it would of assisted everyone, not just farmers. If State Question 777 would've passed it would would of have many benefits. Such as farmers rights such as the same standards to lawsuits concerning agriculture and livestock as in cases concerning free speech, gun ownership, and religious freedom. It would of protected agriculture as a vital sector of Oklahoma's economy, which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security and is the foundation and stabilizing force of Oklahoma's economy, the right so citizens and lawful residents of Oklahoma to engage in farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. If people were more informed about what State Question 777 really was, then perhaps it would of passed. People thought that State Question 777 was going to take farmers rights away from them, but really it was giving farmers more rights. The problem was that people were being missed informed about what State Question really