Letter – Why is there elation over the kill?

Talk about it

To the editor:

We recently had our cable TV package changed by our provider and have found several hunting channels added as part of the mix. I’ve never been a hunter of any consequence. Friends and I did some duck and squirrel hunting in high school but that was about it. I confess that I do not understand the pleasure of hunting, but then I don’t understand the joy of football or most other sports either, so I’m the odd man out on this one. But I must say that I find it disturbing when I see people excited with ear to ear grins, shouting with high fives while the white tail or mule deer buck stumbles through the tall grass or woodland in dying terror.

Hunting for food is an easily grasped idea. All of us who are not vegetarians live from the killing of animals and must own the responsibility of this killing. The enjoyment of the outdoors is known to us all. The achievement of close observation and tracking would clearly be a real thrill. What I see portrayed on these programs, however, is elation over the kill. Pleasure killing leaves me with serious questions. And I hardly know what to say about it. To find happiness in killing other living things leaves me with real questions.

Mark Weise

Brandon, MN

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