Grunter
02-24-2006, 10:39 AM
Despite public perception, hunting is one of safest sports
By Phil Junker, Outdoors Columnist
Despite the media hubbub over Vice President Dick Cheney hitting his hunting buddy with shot while bird hunting in Texas, the fact is hunting is a safe sport. In fact, it is one of the safest.
That incident was an unfortunate hunting accident. The fact the VP was involved - and the fact most of the White House press really don't like the guy - tends to get the mishap blown out of proportion.
Much of the White House media seemed less concerned about the hunting partner who was shot and about Cheney's reaction to events than the fact they were scooped by the local media. The press corps seems to think it should get all the scoops and when the reporter for the Corpus Christi Caller Times got the scoop and broke the story, it really upset the big media types.
The incident displayed the lack of understanding of hunting and guns and the lack of willingness to do their homework by the White House press corp. Most knew little or nothing about quail hunting and shotguns. They didn't seem to know the difference between No. 7 1/2 birdshot and buckshot as several reporters kept calling it.
The Vice President acknowledged he was wrong in taking the shot that injured his friend. No matter what your hunting companions do right or wrong, the person who pulls the trigger has the ultimate responsibility for the safety of everyone.
Cheney did the right things in the proper order after the accident. First, his friend's wounds were tended to and Mr. Whittington was quickly taken to a hospital. Local authorities were called and so was the White House. The delay in telling the White House press may have been longer than they would have liked, but it certainly wasn't criminal.
There are too many such accidents each year, but, despite those accidents, hunting is a very safe sport. Thanks to hunter education and firearms safety courses, hunting is one of the safest recreational activities enjoyed in the United States.
In 2002 (the latest data available), there were 713 hunter incidents in the U.S and Canada according to the International Hunter Education Association. Of these incidents, 68 were fatal and only 15 involved non-hunters being injured.
With more than 20 million hunters entering the woods every year, hunters have a one in 350,000 chance of being involved in an incident.
"Each year, hunting incidents are played up as common events, but in reality, hunters are probably safer in the woods than they are driving to the woods," said Rob Keck, National Wild Turkey Federation CEO.
According to the National Safety Council, a person was 77 times more likely to be killed in an automobile accident than by a firearm in 2003. That year, motor vehicle crashes accounted for almost 44,000 of 101,000 unintentional fatalities, while firearms accounted for only 700.
In fact, the National Safety Council's Injury Facts 2004 shows a person is five times more likely to accidentally die from choking than a firearm.
Shooting sports in general are safer than most activities and hunters are conscientious about safety. They took the lead in promoting hunting and firearms safety through hunter education courses and the results have been a steady decrease in hunter and firearm incidents.
"Hunters are concerned and responsible citizens and they're committed to continue the downward trend in hunting accidents," said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
"Firearms accidents overall have been declining for many years and now are at the lowest level in the history of record keeping, thanks to the safety awareness programs of many different organizations."
By Phil Junker, Outdoors Columnist
Despite the media hubbub over Vice President Dick Cheney hitting his hunting buddy with shot while bird hunting in Texas, the fact is hunting is a safe sport. In fact, it is one of the safest.
That incident was an unfortunate hunting accident. The fact the VP was involved - and the fact most of the White House press really don't like the guy - tends to get the mishap blown out of proportion.
Much of the White House media seemed less concerned about the hunting partner who was shot and about Cheney's reaction to events than the fact they were scooped by the local media. The press corps seems to think it should get all the scoops and when the reporter for the Corpus Christi Caller Times got the scoop and broke the story, it really upset the big media types.
The incident displayed the lack of understanding of hunting and guns and the lack of willingness to do their homework by the White House press corp. Most knew little or nothing about quail hunting and shotguns. They didn't seem to know the difference between No. 7 1/2 birdshot and buckshot as several reporters kept calling it.
The Vice President acknowledged he was wrong in taking the shot that injured his friend. No matter what your hunting companions do right or wrong, the person who pulls the trigger has the ultimate responsibility for the safety of everyone.
Cheney did the right things in the proper order after the accident. First, his friend's wounds were tended to and Mr. Whittington was quickly taken to a hospital. Local authorities were called and so was the White House. The delay in telling the White House press may have been longer than they would have liked, but it certainly wasn't criminal.
There are too many such accidents each year, but, despite those accidents, hunting is a very safe sport. Thanks to hunter education and firearms safety courses, hunting is one of the safest recreational activities enjoyed in the United States.
In 2002 (the latest data available), there were 713 hunter incidents in the U.S and Canada according to the International Hunter Education Association. Of these incidents, 68 were fatal and only 15 involved non-hunters being injured.
With more than 20 million hunters entering the woods every year, hunters have a one in 350,000 chance of being involved in an incident.
"Each year, hunting incidents are played up as common events, but in reality, hunters are probably safer in the woods than they are driving to the woods," said Rob Keck, National Wild Turkey Federation CEO.
According to the National Safety Council, a person was 77 times more likely to be killed in an automobile accident than by a firearm in 2003. That year, motor vehicle crashes accounted for almost 44,000 of 101,000 unintentional fatalities, while firearms accounted for only 700.
In fact, the National Safety Council's Injury Facts 2004 shows a person is five times more likely to accidentally die from choking than a firearm.
Shooting sports in general are safer than most activities and hunters are conscientious about safety. They took the lead in promoting hunting and firearms safety through hunter education courses and the results have been a steady decrease in hunter and firearm incidents.
"Hunters are concerned and responsible citizens and they're committed to continue the downward trend in hunting accidents," said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
"Firearms accidents overall have been declining for many years and now are at the lowest level in the history of record keeping, thanks to the safety awareness programs of many different organizations."