THE HUNTING LOOPHOLE

In thinking further about the tragic killing of Karen Wood virtually in her own back yard by a man who thought she was a deer, I am struck by one point which has not to my knowledge been discussed in the press.

Donald Rogerson, who shot Mrs. Wood to death, had been hunting. "HUNTING" is the key word here. When asked how he had managed to end the life of a fellow human being, Mr. Rogerson could look the questioner right in the eye and say he had been HUNTING. He had made an honest HUNTING MISTAKE. It was terrible for sure but also understandable because he had been HUNTING. By all means drop the charges; after all, the man was only HUNTING.

Can you imagine what the authorities would have done to you and me if we had been slinking around a neighborhood with a high-powered rifle and in the process shot a human being to death---if we couldn't claim the HUNTING LOOPHOLE?

P.S. I never thought I'd consider buying a hunting license, but as it turns out for only $16 you can get yourself a license to kill. It kind of gives a fella ideas. After all, I haven't been getting along with Harry or Joe down at the office.....

12/19/1988