zekeskar

Some excerpts from replies so far:
----------------------------
My first thought is this is not even worthy of a response because anti-hunters are not educated on exactly what you are asking us to do.

know that most anti-hunters are very closed minded.

I hope your girlfriend is smarter than her uncle.

.....take him fishing . make sure you give him the HEAVY life vest!

oh boy another anti trying to inflict his closed minded beliefs onto the people that surround him.

Is he a hypocrit? Does he spray his house for bugs? Does he not cut his grass in fear he will harm crickets and other insects
---------------------------------

Geeze guys - who the he11 do you think you are? Just because a guy, who apparently is not a hunter, asks a question, you talk like he's not only stupid, but closed minded and evil. And you wonder why there's such strong opinions among some against gun owners and hunters - it's because a lot of us come across as unreasonable, rigid, a$$holes who hate, yes, literally hate, anyone who disagrees in any shape or form. This is the sad direction both the right and left are going these days - the opposition is not entitled to their opinion, mine's absolutely right, they are stupid, wrong and not even worth acknowledging or talking to.

Go back and read the very reasonable and well thought out answers that some posted. This is how you should be talking to people. Especially the part about everyone being entitled to their own opinion. Remember, you get all pissed off when the "antis" try to inflict their opinion on you - but truth be told, you do the same.

And people who ask these questions aren't "anti" until proven so. They're just asking a question fercrissakes! Can you imagine how strange it must seem to sneak around and kill animals - to someone who didn't grow up doing it or even being exposed to it? It's a perfectly expected reaction! They're not "anti" until you make them so by forcing them into a "you're for me or against me" position.

My opinion? I'm a hunter and fisher. I like to kill and eat animals. I draw no moral distinction between having the stockyard or commercial fisherman kill it vs. myself. My family and I like the taste of wild game and fish and think it's healthy food. The hobby does cost money (As Jeff Foxworthy says "I provide my family with the most expensive cut of meat on earth!"), but it does pay off, at least a little, in something to eat. The wildlife population, properly managed, can support this personal preference of mine.

However, the animals belong just as much to those among us who don't care to kill them, but for instance, might actually enjoy them to watch and be around. There's a LOT of people who feel this way and there's an increasing amount of businesses who make their living helping thme do it. They are all US citizens just like you and me. If you sit down and have a beer (OK, it might be a Latte) with them, you might find that with this one exception, they live and think right up your own alley.

I'll have to say, that's the way I feel about predators, in general (knowing there's specific situations where they should be controlled). I'm a kill it and eat it kind of guy. I have no desire to kill a predator for the sake of hanging it's pelt or head on the wall. But go ahead and do it if you want, I really don't care. Me, I get a big thrill out of seeing wolves and bears in the wild and will probably never kill one unless in self defense. I'm real bunny hugger in that regard (but actually like to eat bunnies!).

We all have our own set of contradictions. Live with it.

But this idea that anyone who questions hunting is an ignorant, evil ENEMY is really off base in my opinion and, as an editorial comment, what's wrong with the political parties (BOTH!!) these days. Be better than that guys.