Cheney violated hunting rule, experts say

[montana500]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060213/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cheney_hunting_accident_33;_ylt=AtwCBta07EcaRcy1WLvi7VRqP0AC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl



WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney apparently broke the No. 1 rule of hunting: be sure of what you're shooting at. Cheney wounded fellow hunter Harry Whittington in the face, neck and chest Saturday, apparently because he didn't see Whittington approaching as he fired on a covey of quail in Texas.


Hunting safety experts interviewed Monday agreed it would have been a good idea for Whittington to announce himself — something he apparently didn't do, according to a witness. But they stressed that the shooter is responsible for knowing his surroundings and avoiding hitting other people.

"We always stress to anybody that before you make any kind of a shot, it's incumbent upon the shooter to assess the situation and make sure it's a safe shot," said Mark Birkhauser, president-elect of the International Hunter Education Association and hunter education coordinator in New Mexico. "Once you squeeze that trigger, you can't bring that shot back."

[Rick Myers]

1. Smoking Gun has the documents!

From the sheriff's report on the Cheney shooting:

"Sheriff Salinas was informed shortly after the incident by Secret Service Agents by phone due to incompatibility of radio equipment."

INCOMPATIBILITY OF RADIO EQUIPMENT. What has the government done since 9/11 to make us safer? What has the money been spent on?

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0213061cheney1.html

[mimitabby]

2. gun instructor

coworker who is a gun instructor said that if this happened to him, (instead of
a VIP) that his license would be revoked.

[SeattleGirl]

3. "Be sure of what you're shooting at."

Hell, I don't use guns, but even I know that. And for as much as Cheney hunts, you'd think he would have learned that by now. Yes, Mr. Whittington probably does have some responsibility, in that he should have made some noise, but Cheney shoulders most of it because he's the one who pulled the trigger before he even know what the hell he was shooting at.

And this guy is the VP. God help us all.

[ypsiguy]

4. And...

Did you hear Scotty earlier today trying to shoft blame onto the shooting VICTIM???
In a hunting accident THIS IS NEVER THE CASE.