Ever Buddy is Going Nuts: Hunting Redux

[Wigwam Jones]

Folks, there is some weird stuff going on around here.

No sooner do we get done having a really civil debate on the pros and cons of hunting, and now this.

Some buddy put something in the water? Have we all lost our collective minds? Riots in the stands involving athletes and fans - basketball and football. Then hunters intentionally shooting each other. What the (*&$ is going on here?

As they said on TV, let's be safe out there, people. Or we won't have to worry about terrorists in the USA, we'll be too busy killing each other off.

Best,

Wiggy

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/11/22/hunters.slain/index.html

Five hunters gunned down in Wisconsin woods
Police: Dispute over deer stand apparently led to killings

(CNN) -- Sheriff's deputies are investigating the killings of five hunters Sunday in northwest Wisconsin -- bloodshed apparently sparked by a dispute over a hunting spot. A suspect has been arrested.

"This is completely nuts," said Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle of the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department. "Why? I mean, five people dead because somebody was trespassing on property. It makes no sense."

Three others were wounded, said Julie Veness, an emergency medical technician in Exeland, Wisconsin.

Saturday marked the opening of the nine-day deer season, and Veness said the shootings appeared to stem from a dispute over a deer stand -- an elevated position from which hunters can target deer.

"Apparently, the person was asked to leave and get out of his deer stand, and he didn't take it very well and he fired away at them," she said.

The suspect apparently got lost in the woods after the rampage. He was led out by a pair of hunters who were not aware of the shootings, according to Zeigle.

"We were very thankful to take him into custody. No one else got hurt," Zeigle said. "When he was taken into custody, his gun was empty."

Jennifer Greshowak, a spokeswoman for Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake, said three men from the same hunting party were brought to that facility after suffering gunshot wounds. One of the three was transferred to a hospital in nearby Marshfield, she said.

The other two -- identified by relatives as Denny Drew and Lauren Hesebeck -- were recovering from surgery at Lakeview. Drew was in serious condition, while Hesebeck was listed in fair condition, their families said in a statement issued Sunday night.

"Our families certainly appreciate the thoughts and prayers of this close-knit community, and encourage you to think and pray for the other families involved," the statement said.

Veness said the killings have shocked Exeland, a village of 219 people about 135 miles northeast of Minneapolis.

"It just doesn't happen in this neck of the woods," she said. "We don't expect any of this to happen."

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I can't help but wonder if alcohol was involved. Assholes and alcohol don't mix ya know.

 

[Wigwam Jones]

I can't help but wonder if alcohol was involved. Assholes and alcohol don't mix ya know.

You're right about that - and I'd bet that yes, alcohol was involved - just a guess, though.

I'll tell you what I am afraid of, though.

The news keeps insisting on using the term "Assault Rifle" for the weapon the killer used. I dunno what kind of firearm it was/is, but "Assault Rifle" is going to get some play.

The so-called "Assault Rifle Ban" expired a month or so ago, and some folks of a certain persuasion tried to make a news issue of it, but it died - a non-player. Some folks wanted President Bush to extend the ban - he didn't. Congress took no action on it as well.

The thing is - it never actually banned anything much. So-called "Assault Rifles" are so loosely desribed - it banned a lot of things that are NOT assault rifles or even closely resembling them - and most of the provisions of the ban were easily stepped around - like removing a bayonet lug from a rifle barrel and suddenly it is not an assault rifle anymore, or having a 10-round clip instead of a 20-round clip. It was a joke - it didn't stop anyone from buying or owning whatever they wanted - they just had to order like it was a Chinese menue - one from column A, two from column B, etc. When it expired, it had like zero net effect.

The FBI even said years ago that most criminals don't even use so-called 'Assault Rifles' so there was little point to banning them anyway.

But now this idiot has gone and killed a bunch of people and gasp - he used an "Assault Rifle" to do it. Stand by to hear the news bleat like sheep and try to blame President Bush for failing to extend the "Assault Rifle Ban."

Ugh. I hate this already.

Best,

Wiggy

 

[Sandy G]

I'd hazard a guess if the guy had used a .50 Hawken muzzleloader, it would have magically been transformed into an "Assault Rifle". I've had a full-auto UZI since '87, & it never once has risen up on its own, tried to escape the gunsafe, & gone out & killed anyone. Do I NEED it? Nope. Be the first one to admit it. But I WANTED it, had the desire & the money to afford it, so I got it. No different, really, than a P/L 700B or that big-arse Sansui some of us swoon over. Nobody really NEEDS all that power, now do they? -Sandy G.

 

[Reel 2 Reel]

I gave up hunting years ago....and the guys hassle me about it all the time...sayin I;m a 'pussy' ..'chicken' ...and 'wimp'.......

Dont get me wrong..I'm far from the 'Anti-Hunter' thats is the subject of the back window stickers of big 4 wheel drive pick-up trucks...

Its that there way too many crazy people out in the woods that will shoot anything that moves...because they are so hyped up..to get that ' Turdy point buck'...

The last time I went out in the woods ..I was going into an area that was supposed to private.....Me and two other guys were ones out there ...Rite!!!!!as soon as it got light enough to see ...there were 6 orange suites all around me....and thats just what i could see... I got pissed and left ..and made as much noise that I could...i steped on sticks...coughed and grunted all the way out.....

Havent been back in the woods hunting since......I might give Muzzle loading a try ...someday!...

 

[Haoleb]

I have always wanted a Minigun myself. Whats cooler than going shooting with one of those things! Not like they are made for turkey hunting but just to go out with a few thousand rounds or ten thousands, and have fun shootin up an old car or something. All the whining about weapons and stuff is ridiculous. Jesse james said it best himself. "Safety police have taken over"

Like not bringing a shaving razor on the airplane. Uh last i checked theres about a million more dangerous things i could bring than a shaving razor! Of course, if i make a list some pencil neck liberal will make sure every single last thing gets banned.

 

[gonzothegreat]

I'm not a hunter but I don't hassle 'em. For chrissake, they have GUNS.
Obligatory stupid joke about guns - I know...

From the local papers, the assault rifle was an SKS. The shooter is a Mr Chai Vang. My roommate looked up his pic on the net and she thought he was a Hmong. If booze was involved, then chances are equally good some anti-asian racial slurs flew before the bullets did. North of Madison we have some very redneck neck of the woods. Lotsa good ole boys with undiagnosed cases of xenophobia and other societal issues.