HUNTING AND RIGHTS

[Mr VJP]

HUNTING AND RIGHTS

            "Hunting is often justified by claims of necessity, of wildlife population management, of tradition, and of other things, and all the claims can be valid.  The simple truth is that hunting needs no justification.  The United States of America, while no longer a true republic, is a pluralistic democracy in which the rights of minorities are strictly guarded.  The activities of hunters do not harm non-hunters, and thus hunting is, and should be, accommodated by the non-hunting majority.  Should the time come when hunting is outlawed merely because it is disliked by the majority, whoever indulges in the next-most unpopular activities had best beware.

In recent years, a vocal group of "animal rightists" have claimed that animals, too, have rights and thus should not be hunted.  Buffalo chips!  Humans most certainly have ethical responsibilities toward animals; among them is the ethical responsibility for a clean kill when hunting.  With all rights come responsibilities, to one's self if to no one else.  Americans have the right to free expression with the concomitant responsibility not to perjure themselves.  Americans have the right to bear arms with the attendant responsibility to use them wisely.  Americans have the right to assemble and the simultaneous responsibility to keep their assembly peaceful. The inseparable joining of rights and responsibilities is obvious in all cases.  Animals do not have any understanding of responsibilities, therefore they cannot have rights.  The fact that "animal rightists" exist and their arguments even occasionally heeded is a reflection of the current lack of realization in the United States and western Europe that rights carry with them certain responsibilities."

from: Dr. Warrren Eastland. [undated]. "Hunting: What is it?" (paper for Boone and Crockett Club). Ecology Dept. University of Northern British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada.

[biggamefish]

Seems to be a well written article. Sound true to. 

[wztirem]

When it comes to arguing with animal rights activitists, I always ask them if they favor abortion. If they are prochioce, there is no argument!