LETTER: HUNTING CONTROLS WILDLIFE

LETTER: HUNTING CONTROLS WILDLIFE
Date: Feb 17, 2006 11:32 AM
PUBLICATION: The London Free Press
DATE: 2006.02.17
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Opinion Pages
PAGE: A10
ILLUSTRATION: photo by AP HUNTER: U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney,
centre, accepts a rifle from National Rifle Association president Kayne
Robinson, right, and NRA vice-president Wayne LaPierre in this 2004
photo.
BYLINE: LINDSEY RAWLINGS (A WOMAN, A HUNTER, AND A UWO STUDENT),
LONDON,TAXPAYER BURDENED UNDERWRITING EVENT, GEORGE LEATHERDALE
COLUMN: Letters to the Editor
WORD COUNT: 269

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HUNTING CONTROLS WILDLIFE

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Regarding the Ink Blog, Tell Dick Cheney hunting's outdated (Feb. 14) by
Carmi Levy:

The unsafe actions, like those of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney,
influence even more non-hunters against the traditional sport.

Levy is an easily influenced person who did not evaluate the true nature
of hunting prior to writing his column.

The need for modern hunting stems from a decrease in animal habitat
resulting from urban expansion. When wildlife overpopulation occurs,
ecological habitats exceed their sustainability. The Ministry of Natural
Resources organizes annual hunts to regulate wildlife numbers.

If Levy is so concerned with his close proximity to hunters, he should
consider who exactly hunters are. Many hunters, including me, are urban
residents who venture to rural areas to participate in hunting.

Hunting is also defined by more than just "shooting a wild animal for
food"; although a legal and ethical hunter will definitely utilize their
harvested animal. The sport of hunting encompasses many values,
including respect, camaraderie, responsibility, conservation and safety.


Levy fails to note that the IHEA statistics include fatalities that
result not just from firearms discharging but from any accidental
hunting injuries. Hunting is actually safer than many daily activities
that citizens participate in.

In 2001, StatsCan recorded that a total of 3,032 Canadians died as a
result of vehicle accidents. Statistics provide a guideline to ensure
that safety is taken seriously by all citizens. Evidently, fatality
statistics do not influence Canadian residents to give up their
vehicles, and fatality statistics should not have a negative influence
on the continuation of hunting.

Again city hall is living in Never-Never Land and has betrayed the
taxpayers by trying to guarantee the world junior hockey tournament a
$10-million profit.

Who pays this, the homeowners and industries? Who benefits, hotels,
restaurants and souvenir dealers?

The people who should pay any shortfall are those who benefit, not the
homeowner taxpayers.

If sports tourism manager Paul Hardy wants the tournament, let him
guarantee the profit and not with my taxes.

I strongly object to my taxes being spent in this manner.