Don't celebrate killing of animals

The November issue of “Rural Montana” (Montana Electric Cooperatives’ association’s magazine) contains a very disturbing feature story: “Decoy dogs help Winnett man control state’s predator population.” 

The story is about using dogs as decoys to lure coyotes into shooting range. The dreadful motif of this story is its celebration of the killing of a sentient being. The quotes, “It’s exciting” and the “fun of coyote hunting” are a couple of examples. However, the most dangerous comment was that of one hunter quoted as saying that coyote hunting was “...more fun than chasing down the Taliban in Afghanistan.” All killing, whether coyote or Taliban, is a regrettable act sometimes made necessary in an imperfect and conflicted world. And it should never be celebrated. 

Taking pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering is always morally deplorable. It may be morally permissible to physically discipline a child if it prevents the child from self-injury. However, we would be repulsed by any parent who enjoyed this act. Taking pleasure or celebrating what might be a necessary, or even a morally licit act, most people would agree is depraved. —Bob Muth Sr., Kalispell