Letter: ‘Sport hunting’ teaches children inhumane lesson

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000 | 9:42 a.m.

What I see as a violent act that takes the life of a defenseless animal, often in the cruelest manner (canned hunts in enclosed areas with no means of escape to assure a kill: technological advances that eliminate any "fair play," for instance) cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called "sport."

My opinions and hunters' opinions will always be at odds. Teaching shooting and respect for firearms does not have to include the unnecessary taking of an animal's life. I'm by no means condemning all hunters; it's those who derive "cowardly sporting pleasure" in merciless animal killing I find offensive.

Perhaps, just perhaps, "sport hunters" might consider that teaching children to perform these heartless, needless, violent acts on animals instills a mind-set that an animal's life is meaningless and of no value.

Do they ever wonder if our society's escalating child violence just might have a link to their inhumane values and lessons the children are being taught -- all in the name of "sport hunting"?

CAROLE LA ROCCA

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