PREFATORY NOTE: We regret to report that the Holley Fire Department’s 7th annual Hazzard County Squirrel Slam began early Saturday morning with 1,000 registrants in two-person teams set out to bag the heaviest squirrels. The event, which sold out at 200 tickets last year, expanded to 1,000 this year and sold out again. Prizes ranging between $50 and $200 will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place teams, as well the team to bag the single heaviest squirrel. A prize also will be awarded for the heaviest squirrel caught in a 14-and-under division, which is new to this year’s event.
A grey squirrel doing her thing. The poor creatures are now living targets behind a pathetic excuse.
Hunters could target squirrels anywhere in the state, but to qualify for the prizes, they returned to Holley for the evening weigh-in at 5. There is a maximum of five squirrels accepted per team.
“It ain’t like duck hunting, where you got to be out early when they’re flying,” said one hunter named Richard, who withheld his last name to protect his safety. “Squirrels move all day.”
Richard was joined by a couple of his sons for the event. Money raised is traditionally used to help offset the cost of equipment, Fire Chief Pete Hendrickson said.
READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE [Democrat & Chronicle]
(Newser) – A fire department in rural upstate New York has an unusual way of raising money to buy new gear—a “squirrel slam.” Every year, the Holley department organizes a hunt, sells tickets, and hands out prizes for the best carcasses. (“Reds & grays only!!” says the rules.) This year, however, the squirrels have a little ammunition of their own in the form of social media, reports Rochester’s Democrat and Chronicle. News of the Feb. 16 hunt is spreading quickly online, and opponents are trying to put a stop to it with petitions on Facebook and Change.org.
“Stop the mass slaughter,” demands the latter petition, whose author is particularly incensed that kids as young as 12 can take part. A blogger at Psychology Today similarly complains of the “barbarism.” The fire chief says he’s been fielding calls from all over the world—even Britain’s Daily Mail has weighed in with a story—but he insists the hunt will go on. In fact, almost all of the 700 tickets have sold already.
| “This is a community of hunters and they’re going to hunt anyways,” said the event’s chairperson, Tina Reed. “Why not hold a fundraiser that will reach our community?”State Sen. Tony Avella, a Queens Democrat, called the contest insane during an Albany news conference with the group Friends of Animals earlier this week.Sen. George Maziarz, a Republican who represents Holley, defended the fundraiser, saying hunting, fishing and shooting sports are part of the region’s lifestyle.”It’s like a fishing derby but it’s squirrels, not fish,” Maziarz spokesman Adam Tabelski said Friday. |
_____________________________________________________________________Bang Bang, We All Fall Down
What you go and do
You go and give the boy a gun
Now there ain’t place to run to
Ain’t no place to run to
When he hold it in his hand
He feel mighty he feel strong
Now there ain’t no place to run to
Ain’t no place to run
– Tracey Chapman [1]
This February the Holley Fire Department of Hazzard County, New York, is holding its annual “Squirrel Slam” fundraiser. It marks its seventh year. An advertisement invites teams of two to “spend a day in the woods and then enjoy the party” – that is, killing squirrels. The first prize of $200 goes to the team that brings in the greatest number of dead squirrels. Additional prizes are awarded such as $50 to the 14-year-old-and-under participant who brings in the heaviest dead squirrel.
Many states promote killing and violence in children with such events as the “Mentored Youth Hunter Program”. For example, the website of the Oregon Fish & Wildlife Department (the people and agency responsible for safeguarding wildlife wellbeing) states [3]:
The time shared between a youngster and a mentor is invaluable. There simply is no better way to introduce a young person to. . .hunting than with the close supervision of an adult mentor. . .The Program allows youth 9 through 13 years of age to hunt without first passing an approved hunter education program. It gives unlicensed youngsters the opportunity to receive mentored, one-on-one field experience and training on the. . .enjoyment of hunting.” [3]
Here are a few statistics that illustrate the consequences when children are encouraged to harm and kill [4,5]:
• Children’s acts of animal abuse are some of the strongest and earliest diagnostic indicators of conduct disorder, often beginning as young as 6-1/2 years of age
• 70% of animal abusers had criminal records including crimes of violence, property,drugs, or disorderly behavior.
• 50% of schoolyard shooters have histories of animal cruelty
• 35% of search warrants executed for animal abuse or dog fighting investigations resulted in seizures of narcotics or guns. 82% of offenders arrested for animal abuse violations had prior arrests for battery, weapons or drug charges: 23% had subsequent arrests for felony offenses
• 70% of people charged with cruelty to animals were known by police for other violent behavior – including homicide
• 61.5% of animal abuse offenders had also committed an assault; 17% had committed sexual abuse. All sexual homicide offenders reported having been cruel to animals.
• 63% of aggressive criminals had deliberately inflicted harm on animals in childhood
• 48% of rapists and 30% of child molesters committed animal abuse in child- hood oradolescence. Sexual assault, domestic violence and firearms offenses featured prominently in cruelty offenders. criminal histories.” [5]
All of this should come as no surprise. It is common knowledge, even common sense among teachers, health practitioners, law enforcement, the legal professions, and social services that teaching violence begets violence.
One day he may come back
Repay us for what we’ve done
Then where you gonna run to
Where you gonna run. . .
And if he finds himself to be
A reflection of us all
Bang bang bang
He’ll shoot us down
This widespread understanding and escalating crisis have brought a consensus that intervention is crucial. One sterling example, the Animals & Society Institute, has created a program, AniCare, which in the words of the International Association of Chiefs of Police provides “an effective means of breaking the cycle of family violence from one generation to the next.” [5, 6]
Our society is long past its saturation point for violence. Firefighters of all people appreciate life – human and nonhuman. Their job is saving lives, not taking lives. Let them know by using one of the many petitions asking that the event be cancelled forever. [7]
Instead of a cycle of violence, let’s promote a cycle of love and compassion for our animal kin.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gay Arndt Bradshaw Ph.D., is Executive Director of The Kerulos Center. She holds doctorate degrees in ecology and psychology, and has published, taught, and lectured widely in these fields both in the U.S. and internationally. She is the author of Elephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity, published by Yale University Press, an in-depth psychological portrait of elephants in captivity and in the wild. Read an excerpt here.
Dr. Bradshaw’s work focuses on trans-species psychology, the theory and methods for the study and care of animal psychological wellbeing and multi-species cultures.
Looks like a squirrel hunt = a nuclear country gone wild. At least on this blog!
Actually, they lied. We, animal activist, offered to take up money for their fund raiser. They would much rather have ‘fun’ killing than to take our money.
Was there ever any doubt about the outcome? Dominion willl continue to truimph until we have the courage to expose the adverse effect of the semitic religions on their devastation, violence and exploitation of animal life. By the standards of these religions the squirrel slam was justified by the god-given right to inspire fear and dread into animal kind. Animal organzations are complicit in perpetuating biblical violence to animals, as they benefit financially from the carnage by supporting an unending cycle of violence. With a facade of protest, they enlist members and fill their coffers: Brian Shapiro [president hsus]suggested that… Read more »
The following is a representation of voices that responded (properly, in our opinion) to this wanton act of mass cruelty. Main page at http://www.causes.com/actions/1733007-holley-fire-departments-squirrel-slam-fundraiser—Editor _______________________________________________________ Marlene Veillette · Top Commenter DESPICABLE RAISING MONEY BY KILLING SQUIRRELS! What kind of mentality is this displaying? Sick men! Heartless bullies! Reply · 16 · Like · about an hour ago Samme Chittum · Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Animal cruelty is always wrong. Shame on everyone involved. Too many squirrels? Too many assholes with guns is more like it. Reply · 10 · Like · 40 minutes ago Susan Supplee Silverman Perfectly… Read more »
Is it inappropriate to point out the adverse effect of religion on compassion for animals? If not, then it would be interesting to consider why it is that there are squirrel slams, pigeon shoots…. the whole array of killing for contest as a game, is prohibited in India, but allowed in a nation steeped in the biblical rhetoric of dominion. Indian religions of jainism and to some extent hinduism, regard animals as human equivalents, with a soul, capable of experiencing pain and fear. This view goes a long way towards more humane animal legislation and protection. Remember that in Holley… Read more »
@Marlene Veillette, @Cynthia Cooper, and @Meeche Miller and so many others on this thread – Go to hell. I lived in your depraved cesspools of humanity that you call “cities” for many years. I moved to a place within an hour of this event and I have raised a family here. How dare you judge people that you have never met. These “sick sub human scumbags” and “idiots” are volunteer firefighters – got that? Volunteer? There are no taxpayers that are paying these heroes and they cannot be fired just because you say so. They are risking their lives in… Read more »
Your ignorance of facts and even history shows in every word you utter, not to mention logic. First, for logic. Bravery is no excuse nor is a guarantee against brutality, as WW2 amply proved—-on all sides, especially the Nazis. The SS —the most fanatical troops in the Nazi army, distinguished themselves in many battles and yet they were a despicable incompassionate lot that committed countless massacres of women, men and children, all to fulfill deranged nationalistic aims repugnant to most free & decent people. Second, the law. You may live in Holley, and I live in South Boston, but the… Read more »
Hey Mike, who told you I live in a city? In fact I live in a town with far fewer than 5,000 people. Mostly semi-rural. And what kind of nonsense is that that a “city” which is an aggregation of people—good, bad and indifferent, is inherently bad? Not all city folk are slickers. I’m not. I live on a ratty pension. As a pipefitter I worked all my life keeping a boiler going in Brooklyn on the yards, pensioned off on a pittance now with both kidneys shot. Does that spund like an easy life to you? By the way,… Read more »
YOU LISTEN, AND LISTEN REAL GOOD. WE DO NOT CARE FOR YOUR BRAVERY IF THIS BRAVERY ALLOWS YOUNG CHILDREN TO PICK UP A GUN AND START SHOOTING ANYTHING MOVING IN SIGHT, IN THE NAME OF THE TRADITION. YOU IN YOUR BIG COWBOY COUNTRY ARE REALLY ASKING FOR TROUBLE. NEXT TIME THIS BOY OR GIRL WHO SHOT THIS INNOCENT ANIMAL WILL SHOOT MAYBE HIS NEIGHBOURH OR ANYONE ELSE IF HE WILL FEEL LIKE IT. YOU HAVE DISGUISTING LAWS AND TRADITONS IN YOUR COUNTRY. I DO NOT THINK I WILL EVER GO THERE OR ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO GO TO YOUR COWBOY… Read more »
The following reply was posted to JB Ahearn. I was concerned about his fear of being perceived as a small woman with a bambi complex. There is no room for mysogyny in the AR movement: To JB Ahern: I am a small woman with a bambi complex and proud of it. This is nothing to be ashamed of. Gandhi was a small man with more courage than any of the great killers throughout history, many of whom have had god on their side during crusades, inquisitions, entifadas and jihads. Gandhi drew strength from the religious concept of ahimsa, which was… Read more »
The Editors’ reply: Ruth Eisenbud, well meaning, articulate, and utterly devoted as you are to the cause of saving animals, which we appreciate, you sometimes can’t see the forest for the trees and confuse friend with foe. A careful reading of Mr. Aherne’s comment clearly indicates that he is not one of those men who see compassionate women as “Bambi lovers.” He is just using the term to defuse, in advance, what he knows people like “Mike” will throw at him or anyone who defends animals to ridicule them. Aherne’s note is in fact excellent in the manner he argues… Read more »
Patrice Greanville, The portrayal of those who care for animals as women with a Bambi complex, for whatever reason jb ahearn has chosen is offensive. One does not have to be a macho man or ex marine to have the strength and courage of a Gandhi. By playing to those steeped in dominion, with the gibberish about women with a Bambi complex, he is emphasizing the very tennets of dominion – it takes force to neutralize an opposite force. Furthermore you have simplified and ignored the information presented. Of course religion is not the soul factor in creating a an… Read more »
Ruth, As always you make good points, but your propensity to paint things with a very broad brush ends up confusing the issues and even attacking those who are clearly your friends in a very messy struggle. I am neither a reductionist nor an absolutist, and when I said that not all actions derive from the consent or prohibition of religious texts I was speaking about those civilizations, like the US, which operate under the so-called Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition. India and possibly other places is another story. The world is diverse and one size does not fit all. Of course religion… Read more »
Of course there are many different value systems around the world, for animals as well as for the treatment of humans. However we live in a global society and have the opportunity to choose values that are more suitable to our temperament or to the goals we are seeking for social and animal justice. In the response, JB does state that religion has nothing to do with it… this is the view of many, who want to ignore the extensive harm done by the semitic religions. Some do so by saying religion is irrelevant, others by saying dominion really isnt… Read more »