Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and injured a man during a weekend quail hunting trip in Texas, his spokeswoman said Sunday.
With friends like these...
Just what we need. And there's a difference between an accident and negligence.
[Via Alphecca]
CNN's account of the incident is a bit more involved- seems that Whittington approached Cheney from behind without warning. Lucky it was only birdshot.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt the victim suffered from careless fieldcraft--but Cheney was the guy with the gun and the rules still apply. Ultimately, it takes a finger on a trigger...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like Whittington walked into it, which puts a different light on it. Only slightly different light, but it does show that Cheney didn't intentionally risk a shot where he had reason to know someone was. However, as David said the guy with the gun (not the gun) the guy with the gun is the ultimate party responsible for shoot/don't shoot. If he shot at something he couldn't see, shame on him. Unless his shotgun shoots around corners he should have seen Whittington and held fire. That he didn't see Whittington suggests he was not maintaining a level of spatial awareness that is mandatory when shooting. He assumed and developed tunnel vision for his intended target and mentally ignored the intrusion of an unplanned event.
ReplyDeleteFighter pilots used to auger into the ground for the same reason, target fixation. Still shame on Cheney, he was the guy with the gun.
Can you hear Whittington? I would surmise some of his comments. e.g. "No wonder they call you Dick." or "He must have thought I was a Democrat." or "This isn't the way to save Social Security." or "I quail at the thought of hunting with you again." or "You couldn't have done this before the Lawful Commerce in Arms law?".
Let's not forget the to be expected liberal reaction. "We need new gun control laws to punish everybody that didn't do it."
ReplyDeleteWell said straightarrow. The Bradys are already doing the Danse Macabre.
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