Setting the record straight on hunting accidents

I listened to the news with great interest this weekend and I just want to set the record straight for all of you non-hunters out there. Despite the excuse I heard given over the weekend, the ultimate responsibility when shooting a firearm rests with the individual pulling the trigger. Accidents happen, and I am in no way suggesting that the incident this weekend involving Dick Cheney was anything other than just that. However, CNN (for one) almost made it sound like it was the other guys fault for not “announcing his return.” Ok, fine, while it is proper etiquette to do just that . to inform the other hunters in your party that you have rejoined them . it is the responsibility of the person actually firing the weapon to make sure of his target and what’s beyond. Period. Not that I think that anyone in this administration would try to spin this in some way to shift the blame elsewhere and not take responsibility for their actions . no . that would never ever happen. Now, to be clear, I have not heard the Vice President himself say anything of this nature . but I have most certainly heard it stated on CNN.Also, if you're not sure where each member of your hunting party happens to be at any given moment...you don't pull the trigger. At least that is how I was taught firearm/hunter safety.Any other hunters out there surprised by the "excuse" given for the accident?Place this (if worthy): "In the News" I guess.Edited to fix title typoThis message has been edited by FliesOnly, 02-13-2006 01:03 PM

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.This message has been edited by AdminPD, 03-04-2006 08:02 AM

In an article on this subject one of those in the party made it sound like this was a routine occurence for hunters and said that he himself had been "peppered" with shot before.Now I have not hunted much, but when I did I did not see this as something that would be something that is common, and acceptable as routine. I have relatives who were hunters and they never came back peppered or who peppered others.Is this a common experience to you, or something that is not noteworthy as an incident for a hunting party?

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

Maybe it's because I grew up in Alaska but You never, ever, shoot at anything unless you can see it clearly!People like this shouldn't be given a hunting license.

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"Intellectually, scientifically, even artistically, fundamentalism -- biblical literalism -- is a road to nowhere, because it insists on fidelity to revealed truths that are not true." -- Katha Pollitt

That matches my safety training, Flies. From the news reports I've seen, the VP must have spun and fired before actually seeing what was behind him and without seeing what was behind his target.Shoot first and look closely later sounds like a Bush-Cheney pattern to me.My safety instructors would have ended the day's lesson at that kind of mistake; my Army range instructors would have kicked me in the head.

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"Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?"
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I believe it was actually a woman who said that, I saw it attributed to a Ms. Armstrong.TTFN,WK

Damn quails! Why do they hate America so! Deceiving our beloved Vice President like this....

Hi Holmes:Well, speaking for myself...if I ever returned "peppered" with shot, it would probably be the last time I'd hunt with that individual. I have never even come close to being hit by members of my own party (although once I was nearly hit by some people who were trespassing... it too was an accident...they did not shoot at me on purpose...they simple did not know I was on the opposite side of a relatively thick, brushy area...nor did I know that they were on the other side).And while, like I said...accidents do happen, this one would have been completely avoided if proper hunter safety rules had been followed.

I asked my brother (a die hard Republican...that seems to be coming around ) if he had heard about the incident...asking him if he had heard that: "Cheney had shot a man quail hunting"...my brother paused for a second (we were talking on the phone)...and said "Dick Cheney shot Dan Quayle?". We both had a good laugh at that one...once I explained again what had actually happened.

You may be right. I remembered the name as armstrong, but couldn't remember if it was he or she.

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

You aint been bird huntn in Texas unless yuv been peppered at least once.

Quail hunting: you flush the birds out and shoot as they rise out of the weeds before they get out of range. It was birdshot, and it spreads slightly. Supposedly, Cheney was not shooting at the guy, but saw the quail, and reacted instinctively, because there was no indication of anyone in the area.
Getting birdshot quail hunting is not all that uncommon.
Nevertheless, he is responsible.P.S. I don't think there is a limit on bagging lawyers (since there is not limit on lawyers bagging politicians).

Not to be picky, but is nonsense. First, it's not really correct to call it an instinctive reaction. You don't just pull up and shoot...you have to "lead" the bird, so there was plenty of time to realize that not all hunters were accounted for. Second, there most certainly was an indication of someone in the area...he was obviously standing right there or he would not have been shot.I have hunted a lot of different game birds ( and that includes woodcock! Ya ever try to hit one of them things? It's like trying to hit a microscopic flying corkscrew), including quail, and have yet to shoot, or be shot by, anyone. Maybe down there in good ole Texas, this is a relatively common event, but up here in the North, we frown on shooting members of our own hunting party. Hell, we even frown on shooting members of other, rival, hunting parties .

This is just another way Bush and Chenney are killing old people. Instead of simply taking away their medicare and prescription drugs, they are simply taking them out to the woods and shooting them.Saves alot of money that way.

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Hamas Charter
What's your favorite line?

Ya see, Flies, the guys in Texas have to drive a long way to hunt--it's usually at least a six-pack away.

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"Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?"
-Sir Toby Belch, Twelfth Night Save lives! Click here!
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC!
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