LETTER: Consider the bigger picture

Though much discussion has abounded on the news article regarding the duck that was shot to death, let’s consider the story in a wider scope.

David Yount was not charged with anything for pulling out a gun in the middle of a populated beach and shooting a helpless creature. No law in Virginia condemns this act, since it is not illegal to shoot an
animal that can be hunted. If Yount had marched onto the beach and shot someone’s dog, an animal no more sentient than ducks, he would have been charged without question. The difference is that
dogs are domesticated creatures, but ducks aren’t generally kept as pets. But domestication is a human construction that does not change the inherent fact that a non-domesticated animal is a living,
breathing creature.

If we are outraged by a dog slain, we should be just as outraged by this. Why do we feel the need to create a hierarchy of animal rights? Saying that dogs are cuter than other animals certainly should not
be ample justification—for by this same logic we should give more rights and privileges to humans that are more physically attractive. We have been taught to overlook physical appearance and care
about what’s inside, but with animals we only like them if they are cute and fuzzy.

For many, hunting is a necessary way of procuring protein. Hunting for practical purpose is a completely justifiable act that is tied to the evolution of species and the nature of predator-prey animal
relations. However, hunting for fun is not.

Why is it fun to destroy another creature’s life, and why are we letting people like David Yount get away with it? Let’s stop restricting our cries of horror to the puppies and kittens, but expand those
notions into a respect for all life forms. Citizens have the power to influence the law, and only by speaking out against David Yount’s inexplicable amnesty for his crime can we prevent acts like this in the
future.

You can submit an online letter to your congressman by visiting this Web site: writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

RACHEL SPENCE

Woodbridge