Do You Agree With Deer Hunting?????

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I'm certainly not trying to convince anyone to be "pro" hunting or "pro" gun. Not at all. Everyone is entited to their own opinion. I do not, however, like to see someone criticize an entire group of people for the actions of a few. Prejudice is prejudice, no matter if it is directed at race, sex, political view or hobby. It is always wrong to make judgements about every member a certain group of people, based on nothing more than their membership in that group or a very limited experience. What is the difference in saying, "I don't like hunters because when I was a kid I saw some hunters doing stupid things." and saying "I don't like African-Americans because when I was a kid one called me a bad name at school."? What's the difference in saying, "All gun owners are irresponsible and dangerous because I heard on the news about a few of them." and saying "All Columbian-Americans are dangerous drug dealers because I haeard on the news about a few of them."? I HATE prejudice of any kind, and I would just as vehemently defend vegetarians, pacifists, women, teenagers, Moslems, etc. if there was a thread condeming the entire group for the actions of a few.

Well, perhaps I have made my posts unclear, but I do not see how I have criticized an entire group of people, or shown "prejudice" against hunters. I do strongly disagree with the practice of hunting. I do strongly disagree with parents allowing children have access to guns. I'm not trying to make an argument that hunters are stupid or that they are all irresponsible jerks. I'm also not trying to make this disagreement personal, and I dislike that you are personally attacking me now. I think it is ok to disagree with an idea without personally attacking a group of people.

I disagree with people who hunt- fine, but that doesn't mean that I am making a statement about what kind of people they are. I do think that it is "wrong" to allow young children to handle guns, but I know that in our society hunting is considered "ok." Fine. That is fine, I don't think people who hunt are terrible people, but I do have a problem when they are unsafe.

Finally, I have noticed that Americans who believe that guns are dangerous and should be more closely monitored are seen as "anti-American." Somehow, because I dislike guns and point out that they are, in fact, tools to kill, I am prejudiced against gun owners. Personally, I am more concerned about a right to free speech than a right to own a tool that blows things off the face of the earth.

[cassiesmom]

I'm not going to vote, I'm just going to comment. Near my house there is a four-lane road adjacent to the forest preserve. When I go that way I will sometimes see deer at the edge of the woods (especially does). It's that time of the year where the deer are more active because they are eating and mating. They are much more suburban than they used to be. Maybe people think they're tame and try to feed them; they seem to get struck by cars more often these days. Striking a deer can hurt the car and the occupants as well as the deer. Drivers need to be more careful because the deer are a lot less shy at this time of the year. They didn't used to come clear up to the edge of the woods, or even try to cross the roads, like they do now. I'm not sure that hunting can be categorized as always good or always bad.

[Twisterdog]

Finally, I have noticed that Americans who believe that guns are dangerous and should be more closely monitored are seen as "anti-American." Somehow, because I dislike guns and point out that they are, in fact, tools to kill, I am prejudiced against gun owners. Personally, I am more concerned about a right to free speech than a right to own a tool that blows things off the face of the earth.

I wasn't meaning to attack you personally at all. I'm sorry if it seemed that way. I was just getting into the debate, that's all. Nothing personal.

And, I also feel it's just as wrong to label anyone who doesn't like guns as "anti-American." Another example of prejudice. Yes?

[elizabethann]

Personally, I don't hunt, but my family does. My brother, bil & nephew are up North moose hunting as I type this.