I think this stance is dumb. Your argument was completely invalid when you brought race into it, first of all. Second, the guy is being vilified, and all he did was hire guides to hunt. He didn't know it was going to be a sacred animal, lured from a national park. He paid a guide, to help him get a lion. The same way many people all over pay guides to help them catch fish, hunt, etc... If there is anyone to be pissed about in these scenarios, it's the guides, who all care about money, and nothing else....
So because I (accurately) pointed out that most canned hunts are carried out by rich white guys my point is invalid....ok. Sadly..these are the stories that grab headlines and for the most part generate great disdain for hunting. Votes matter, and hunters are in the minority. When crap like this is in the headlines people who do not know any better lump all hunters into the same catagory and we will eventually lose some of our privileges.
Sadly I agree with you. I'm all for progress, but the world is changing so rapidly I don't even recognize it anymore.
The last survey conducted by USFW showed there were 13.7 million hunters in the United States who generate nearly 3 billion dollars of revenue annually. While these may seem like large numbers of people it accounts for less than 5% of the US population (319 million). By and large hunters are still the minority in this country which always puts our liberties at risk. Although there are a few States, like Tennessee, who are working on making hunting a right which cannot be taken away. Article here. While I don't foresee hunting going away entirely in our lifetime, it is a very real possibility for the long-term future. I'm talking about our grandkids and future generations beyond that. Hunters will need to be vigilant in the defense of our sport and continue working through government bureaucracy that we all hate in order to ensure that happens. Such is the way of the US these days. As for the story of the dentist and Cecil - I believe it's much ado about nothing. The media is spinning this story as a rich white man from America (class warfare) who traveled to Africa to "brutally behead" what they're calling "Africa's most famous lion", who mind you nobody knew or cared about until yesterday. Had he been killed in a fight with another lion, run over by a car, struck by lightning, died of disease, had a heart attack or been beamed up into outer space by aliens nobody would care in the least. But because he had a name and some people took photos of him all of a sudden it's a problem. To compound the situation people are now referring to Cecil as a "gentle lion" who "enjoyed spending time with his cubs". And by the way those cubs will be "slaughtered" by another male lion who is going to take over the pride in his absence. Nevermind that if the situation were reversed Cecil would the one handing out the death penalty to the rival cubs. Remember, he was "gentle" and "never hurt anyone". The spin on this narrative is enough to make my head hurt. Thank you Disney for brainwashing society into thinking animals are humans with families, human emotions and rational thoughts. The reality is that this person paid a guide service and PH to hunt a lion, trusting in them to obtain the proper permits and assure the legalities of the hunt. This happens all the time and is nothing out of the ordinary. In an unfortunate turn of events it appears the PH may have committed wildlife violations in pursuit of this lion, although nothing has been proven at this point in time. They shot and killed the lion on private land, not inside a preserve, and that's that. So we have a bunch of so-called "journalists" spouting off their half-truths and unfounded accusations who have basically ruined a man's life because he shot a lion that they'd never heard about until yesterday. The lack of integrity by these people is appalling. Furthermore I can assure you the vast majority of extremists speaking out against this are doing so as they wear their leather shoes, drive in cars with leather seats and stop to pick up a burger on their way home from the office. The disconnect between our lives and where our meat and animal products come from is nothing short of astounding. Make no mistake - the problem here is not with hunters or the killing of animals regardless of what type or where they live. We've been doing that since the dawn of man. The problem is with society's decision to humanize animals and disconnect themselves from nature. To live within sheltered bubbles that insulate them from the fact that a cow had a metal rod rammed through his brain and was subsequently butchered and skinned to make a pair of shoes and a few steaks. The minute people chose to forget this is where our food and supplies comes from is the moment that hunters became a target for the ignorant and uninformed. /rant
We just need to give Hunting a more hip name. Trans-Foodsupplier. Perhaps getting Jenner to become spokesperson and we could all be considered heros.
The lion actually generated a lot of money from tourists coming to see this particular lion. Considerably more money than the $50,000 this guy paid to shoot him. Not saying the guy was right or wrong for shooting it just pointing out that yes the lion was well known before dentist dude shot him. I blame the guides, they knew full well the backlash this guy was going to get for killing this lion.
I've been a big Kimmel fan for years but after this my opinion of him certainly changed. Although I won't fault him for his opinion as it's something that's been ingrained in our popular culture for the past several decades. The illusion that hunters hunt to "get an erection", we all know, is simply not true however it's one of the most common attacks against us. Espeically when it comes to big game/dangerous game. This little diatribe also reeks of class warfare - talking about his "d-bag buddies standing around drinking scotch and talking about how awesome he is". Id' be willing to bet my money, what little I have of it, that Kimmel and his Hollywood buddies have done this more than a few times, except not in front of a fireplace with a lion's head over it but rather in their oversized, underused, over-consumptive mansions somewhere in California. Different place, different setting, same d-bags. If this "news" story has shown us anything it's that the hypocrisy of people knows no bounds.
Biggest positive I see: 94% of Americans over 16 do not hunt, however 74% of them have no problem with hunting. Biggest negative I see: We have lost over a million hunters in the last five years alone. 67% of hunters are over the age of 35. 10% of Americans hunted in 1955 and only 5 to 6% hunt now. Cost + Too Much Regulation + Not enough Access = Fewer Hunters
No offense but there will be another lion to go take photos of Africa now that this one is gone. I would imagine people paying money to travel that far aren't doing so solely to see this individual animal, nor will they stop going to Africa now that poor Cecil is dead. Furthermore, I would venture that this news story has pumped more money into that economy and into lion research in general than Cecil ever would have if he was still alive. Now this I agree with. If they knew what they were doing and the stories are true, these are the ones to be blamed and vilified. Not the "rich white dentist" from Minnesota.
If the description of this event is accurate, I would not consider it hunting, just like dropping a line in a spawning tank for Trout isn't fishing. Sounds closer to tying up a goat for the T-Rex in Jurassic Park.
Do you have any sources to back that up, or just going off what you saw on Facebook? Nobody travels to Africa to see one lion named Cecil. Maybe Simba, but not Cecil.
I think one thing we can all take away from this is that the media will twist these stories to fit their agenda. They will make it seem like shooting fish in a barrel. I find it highly unlikely this was the case.
Wow I see this struck a nerve with Justin with good reason. Kimmel's erection comment wasn't necessary and not really relevant to the story he just had to get the Viagra joke in there. I've heard the that comment and others pertaining to the size of the unit and hunting in the liberal media before, it's the only argument they have, to bash a guy's manhood for doing something they don't understand but people buy into it. If this Dentist was duped by these PH's then is a non story with an agenda tied to it. If he knew about it then shame on him but this story screams propaganda BS.
Also, the fact that these people are harassing the dentist, so he closed his office. What about the 20(ish) people that he employs? Those people have nothing to do with this and the activists actions impact them way more than the dentist.
I actually don't have Facebook. Yes I'm the one person left without it. But I get what you mean. No I actually read into stuff before forming opinions on things.
I'm just alluding to the point that the media, and especially social media tend to sensationalize everything. They try and turn every little issue into some giant world changing event, when in fact it's as simple as a hunter that killed a lion. It isn't the first time and certainly won't be the last.
This is the most civil and logical discussion I have heard on the issue. Thanks for your thoughts Justin. If this guy knowing did something wrong and that comes out then he needs to go back and face the music. Otherwise, all hunters look bad. Beyond that, the media will forget about in a couple of days.
