To some hunting is a sport - an outmoded one at that. Since sports are frivilous in their view, and hunting is outmoded, it is also unnecessary.
Some believe killing animals, even for meat, is unnecessary. That is, if an item which is reported to have appeared in an Illinois newspaper on Jan. 4, 2009, is to be taken at face value.
The item reads, "To all you hunters who kill animals for food, shame on you; you ought to go to the store and buy the meat that was made there, where no animals were harmed."
It would be easy to take this as a joke. But since there apparently are children growing up on dairy farms who think milk comes only from a store in a carton or jug, why should anyone be surprised that some could think meat is made in a store?
Hunting is far from being just a sport. It is an important part of the heritage of Americans. It should be passed on to future generations if only to connect the new citizens with the history of the nation and its people, and the lives and livelihoods of the pioneers.
For more of this story check out the Sept. 14 issue of the California Democrat.