The Wisconsin Incident

The Wisconsin Incident

I have been closely watching this story develop over the last week. Having been the victim of a shooting incident while hunting, this story is of special interest to me. Last Sunday in Wisconsin, 8 hunters were shot by another hunter. Six of them subsequently died. What was the cause of all this? Well, it appears it was an argument over a tree stand and trespassing.

As usual, a story of this magnitude has grasped the interest of people far removed from Wisconsin. Most assuredly, it has been the topic of hot debate on all of the Hunting websites and forums that I have viewed recently. What concerns me, is this: these websites, and indeed some of the media articles I have read, have already tried and convicted this man. Since he is of Asian descent, racism has reared its ugly head. Because it occurred while hunting and involved the use of a semi-automatic rifle (legal in Wisconsin), the anti-gun and the anti-hunting lobbies are having, and will continue to have a field day with this. There have even been reports of alcohol being involved.

In the many chat rooms and forums, there are the usual hotheads. Those that blame “these immigrants”; those that call for violence; those that question the shooter's true motives; all just adding fuel to an already consuming fire. Let us hope cooler heads prevail. Let us wait and let the conservation officers and the police (this is now a murder investigation) do their jobs. Let us prepare ourselves to accept the outcome, whatever it may be. And while we are doing that, let’s think of the six individuals that will never again enjoy a day in the Wisconsin woods.

When I began this editorial, I referred to this as the Wisconsin “incident”. I have seen it referred to as a hunting “accident.” With this, I beg to differ. A hunting accident is when you fall out of a tree and break your leg, or when you trip over a log and shoot yourself. It is not an accident when someone else pulls the trigger. It is, at best, a negligent incident that occurred while hunting. Every hunter is supposed to act ethically and safely while in the woods, especially when they are carrying a loaded weapon. This means, no alcohol, obey the laws, and don’t let your temper get the better of you. Hunting is a privilege; a privilege that carries a serious responsibility.

In closing, I offer this. In Wisconsin, as the first of the victims are being laid to rest, a community mourns. To show their support, people have taken to wearing hunter orange ribbons. They have placed them on signs, trees, automobiles and businesses. It is a sad, sad day for the hunting community as well. Out of respect for the victims, and to remind myself how fragile life is, there is an orange ribbon on the antenna of my pickup. It will remain there until the end of rifle season. Come Monday morning, the opening day of deer season in Pennsylvania, I will have a special thought in my heart for the victims as I sit on my post, hoping to harvest a deer. Won’t you join me?