Doe, a dead deer
I went to my family's website to find a picture of a distant relative's 8 or 9 year old daughter with the dead deer she'd shot. It was disturbing. I am not a big fan of the "sport" of hunting no matter what the circumstances, but I am extremely uncomfortable with a child shooting and killing a deer. And then posing proudly while holding it's head up by the antlers is waaaay over the top for me. Where I grew up, there was no hunting. I live in Iowa now and there are plenty of hunters around. It's a different culture than what I am used to, I guess. And I get that. But still. An eight year old child should not have a gun in her hands. She should not be ending the life of an animal. One should reach a certain maturity, an understanding about what it means to end an animal's life, before doing so. A child that age is not capable of that understanding. Our society has devalued life in so many ways and it starts so young. There's a rule in writing. You don't break the rules until you understand them. I think hunters should adopt a similar rule - you don't end a life until you understand what it means to be alive.
I am just so creeped out by that picture. Especially since the child is member of my extended family.
posted by Matt @ 12:01 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
OK, so my good little liberal heart has undergone a slow meltdown on the subject of hunting since I moved to Minnesota. (Iowa a culture of more hunters than Chicago? You ain't seen nothin'.) My current position: shootin' things just to shoot and hurt 'em: bad. Hunting for animals that will actually be used for meat: OK. I actually like eating venison sausage, pheasant, etc. This is basically the mainstream position here in the Northlands, shared by most responsible hunters.
There are also other things that tie into this: 1) I happen to think the American food stream is way too precarious, relying on shipping things in from far away, and so find the means of feeding ourselves via hunting and gathering from the local fauna and flora to be much more sustainable. 2) because of urbanization, regulations impacting other wildlife, etc., there are periodic explosions in the deer population to the point where they cause harmful environmental impact. Fr'instance: did you know that too many deer are creating situations where oak and other such trees are not growing at the rate they should in forests and are instead being replaced by such species as the faster-growing birch? Why: because there are too many deer, and they're eating all the tasty acorns.
On the other hand, I don't particularly like guns, don't allow any in my house (darn; forgot to post a sign about banning them on the premises -- that' a Minnesota in-joke) and totally, definitely agree with you on not having guns in your house with those two little kids.
There was also an article in our local paper recently about a family whose son was injured in a hunting accident at the age of 12 or so -- shot by a kid who was about 9. The mother of the injured kid (he survived, but has brain damage) was not making the intellectual/moral point that you are making, but a related one about age. We don't let kids out on the streets to drive by themselves before passing a test and getting a driver's license, she said; we shouldn't let them out to hunt until they have completed the hunter safety education course -- which the state won't give until they are in their mid-teens, because they think that is when the kids will retain the information. There is also the physical issues: younger kids just aren't big enough to safely handle guns. (And if there are "child-sized" real guns, I don't know about them...and that would be way too creepy.)
Anyway, not a simplistic argument. I'm sure Rachel will not be going hunting any time soon...but I do know that we had a target shooting unit in my junior high gym class, followed by the hunter safety quiz, and that I admittedly enjoyed shooting at the targets. (Possibly in part because I was better at it than the stupid running/jumping stuff.)
Also, on this subject, I highly recommend (to anyone who ever remotely brings up the subject, to the point of being annoying, I'm sure) the movie "Escanaba in da Moonlight" starring and written by Jeff Daniels (and based on a play he wrote). It's about a Michigan Upper Peninsula family's deer hunting tradition and the mixed feelings of the son played by Daniels, who has never bagged his own buck and is more likely to feel a mystical connection to nature. There is also stupid humor in it.
--Jo
I was going to post earlier to simply say that you can't hunt unless you've passed the hunters safety course and you have to be old enough to even take that, so why is anyone that hasn't passed that course even out there?
But Jo made a bunch of good comments...go Jo!
Thanks. Lars, but the regulations may be different in different states. In Minnesota, where the mother quoted in my local paper is obviously from, kids *are* allowed to be on hunting parties with their parents at an age that is younger than the one where they're allowed to take the hunter safety education course. She (now) doesn't think this is a good policy.
--Jo
yep, kids + guns + dead animals = Big ole creepyness.
And Jo, I get your inside Minn. reference. I was in Minneapolis for a week right after all that went down and it made up my mind to never consider moving there.
One other thing to add, in addition to regular hunting and all the other deer population control methods we need to explore other options that don't leave us reactive from year to year. Perhaps more responsible development would be a great place to start. A few less golf courses and prefab housing developments wouldn't hurt at all. Just a thought.
You clearly need to get out amongst country folk and appreciate the diversity amongst hunters and gun owners.
Quit being such a girlyman city boy.
Kimber here ....
Did someone say venison? Love the stuff. My mother could make a venison stew that would bring tears to your eyes, it was so good.
I was raised rural Michigan. Lost of parents take their kids hunting. My dad hunted. He didn't take me shooting, but he did take me fishing when I was little. It's a good memory.
It wouldn't be my choice to put guns in the hands of children, but if these parents are doing it, I hope they've taught their daughter about gun safety, etc.
Dif'rent strokes, ya know?
Is it just me and something wrong with my browser or has Matt not posted anything since this one on the 2nd?
I've been... busy. Or lazy. Or something. I am back now.
Oh, and I appreciate all the comments, everyone! It'd be nice if Anonymous would identify him or herself, though...
Post a Comment
<< Home