Letters

LETTER 1 – Teaching Hunting in Schools (Winter 2008-09)

It’s illegal to sell guns, or liquor or tobacco to minors. Would it be legal or ethical to teach minors to use liquor or tobacco, or to have them use liquor or tobacco while under adult supervision? Why is it OK for adults to teach or encourage minors to use guns?

The second amendment of the U.S. Constitution was not intended to protect sport hunting. For the primary intent and purpose, read the Declaration of Independence: "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

The schools should teach the primary meaning of our U.S. and state constitutions and Declaration of Independence. “Sport hunting” is not in it.

I’m not anti-gun but there surely is something wrong with any programs that teach or advocate “fun” or “sport” killing and causing misery to anyone or anything. It’s sadistic and de-sensitizing.

Anyone can be a supporter of the second amendment and gun ownership without being a “sport hunter.” For sport there are plenty of non-live things to shoot.

Herman Levy
Sumner , IA

LETTER 2 – Teaching Tolerance for Undeveloped Land

With spring approaching, the new breed of “nature lovers” who give urban sprawl a new meaning (by gobbling up more and more miles of woods and farmland around cities) will be competing for land with barely tolerated wildlife, whose habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate.

Mansions with beautiful gardens spring up like mushrooms. Wildlife is not welcome. Like the meat eater who prefers to buy his dead animal in a neatly wrapped cellophane package, the “nature lover” prefers to relocate the unwanted wildlife in the most humane way. After 20 years worth of dialogue with both sides, I have a message for you from the country folks, farmers, along whose farms and orchards you dump the wildlife (and dogs and cats) that you carefully caught in humane traps. No, you couldn’t harm them, because you’re nice. But you infuriate the farmer (who works hard to raise food for his family) by saturating his area with animals that will multiply, destroy his crop. And yes, he will find ways of getting rid of them.

If you reside in the city and choose not to relocate wildlife yourself but call the licensed WCOs (Wildlife Control Operators), please know that they will not “relocate” the animals as they are instructed to tell you. In fact, they will use the quickest, cheapest, brutal ways of eradicating our animal neighbors.

So what is the solution, you ask. Education. Please be willing to learn all you can about humane resolutions (non-lethal control) and be willing to live in peaceful co-existence.

Ava Barcelona
Action Volunteers for Animals

Chicago , IL

LETTER 3 - DEER SPARED; HUNT HALTED EARLY

I became aware of your organization about three years ago by doing a search on the internet. Since then I have been very interested in the work that you do, especially in the Marine Mammal program in California.

This past week I was surprisingly a part of a disheartening and devastatingly sad situation occurring at Cove Island Park in Stamford. I cried over the knowledge that deer were being hunted and killed. I have walked in that park for 10 years and it was always a thrill for me to see them. There could not have been many, as the space is small and I didn’t see them often.

In my sadness I reached out o your organization and within moments I was speaking to Nancy Rice. I might add it was not even 9 am in the morning.

Nancy ’s swift reaction put into motion a chain of events that, amongst other things, saved some deer from being killed. She brought to light the fact that the politicos in the city of Stamford were doing this in a very underhanded manner and to top it off, were putting the unknowing public in harm’s way. Words cannot express the gratitude that I have for her work. And I know from others that I have spoken to that they are happy this nonsense from the city was stopped … because of Nancy. She is committed and passionate about doing the right thing. And it has been my distinct pleasure in having the chance to communicate with her in this manner.

I have learned through this process that it takes a lot of courage to take a stand for what you believe in when so many are quick to put you down. Nancy, and Friends of Animals has inspired me to have more courage to speak up for animal rights.

Please accept my check as a token of my appreciation for the work that you do. You are truly what you say you are – Friends of Animals.

Elizabeth Zazza

Stamford , CT