Cheney's companion at fault in shooting, White House says

Knight Ridder ^ | 2/13/06

[garandgal]

The shooter is ALWAYS responsible for where the round impacts.

That's why you don't pull the trigger when you are unaware of the location of every single member of your hunting party (of three in this case). Ever. I was taught that in sixth grade, in school, during our mandatory hunter safety course.

I was also taught never to shoot to the rear of the party; as you never know when someone will wander up behind you. Again, not ever. I wouldn't turn to shoot to the rear if I was hunting alone!

My BIL was hit 1/2 inch below his eye by someone not following the basic rules of safety. Oh, and to those who cast this off as "spray"....hardly. He apparently took a direct shot to the face & neck; he is after all still in the hospital in "stable" condition after spending some time in ICU.

Did it occur to anyone that the reason that they didn't tell the press earlier was to assess the severity of the injuries? Apparently, that took some time...

[Westlander]

#8 shot size from a 28 gauge. This wouldn't even break a clay pigeon.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Would this be more serious if he had been killed?"

Not unless he was permanently killed, and that remained to be seen.

[TheCrusader]

"Several hunting experts were skeptical of McClellan's explanation. They said Cheney might have violated a cardinal rule of hunting: Know your surroundings before you pull the trigger."

Well, nobody can be "all-knowing" all the time, but God. As humans we just do our best.
You learn the safety rules, you apply them rigorously, but following all the safety procedures to the best of your ability cannot guarantee that hunting accidents will never occur, nothing can ever prevent them 100%. This is precisely why the word "accident" exists in the English language. It describes the imperfect nature of the human condition and how tragic events in life occur even when people are exercising caution and prudence.

Anything we endeavor in this life can lead to some misfortunate event, no matter how disciplined or how safety minded we are.

[DakotaRed]

Cheney's accident isn't really even a "story." If we ask for War on Terror coverage, you know all we will get is how poor we are doing there and how Bush and Cheney screwed it up.

Just our loving leftstream media trying to stir up contentions were there are now, again.

[Ruth A.]

This seems like a stance that reminds everyone what a poor job the media does and shuts down the attack. I'm a little ticked that it wasn't used.

[DakotaRed]

Instead of making a simple apology, and publicly taking responsibility for making a mistake,

Cheney owes no apologies to anyone, except Whittington. I imagine both have dicussed it and apologized to each other.

Much ado about nothing, time to move on.

[EternalHope]

I've been hunting all my life. There's no excuse for EVER shooting anyone. Period.

That said, the other guy should probably have used a little more discretion.

[jmc1969]

McClellan sucks big time, he really has to go.

Ari would have said that this was a private hunting trip between two citizens and that both parties involved agree it was an unfortunate accident. End of story.

[BigSkyFreeper]

the press was lied to and they knew it and reported Clinton's version all the same

It was all a bunch of BS. Even still, the media couldn't help but continue to lick Clinton's brown loafers.

[Tammy8]

On another thread it was stated that the local Sheriff was notified within 10 minutes, and it also stated that the local Sheriff had confirmed that. Not sure of the source, has anyone else seen that reported?

[ER Doc]

<< I wonder how far away from Cheney the guy who got shot was. >>

Thirty yards, according to Ms Armstrong.

[ER Doc]

<< #8 shot size from a 28 gauge. This wouldn't even break a clay pigeon. >>

That's what experts shoot skeet with, when they want to show off. It will break a clay pigeon. And it hit Mr. Whittington hard enough at thirty yards to penetrate the skin over his face and neck with about fifty pellets. A 28-ga load is 3/4 oz, or about 300 pellets of #8 birdshot. The pattern from an upland gun should be 70-80% in a 30" circle at thirty yards, so for 1/6th of the pellets to hit him, the point of aim had to be within two feet of his head. That's not a "spray" or "shower." He was hit hard. Thank God he wasn't hurt worse.

[Cementjungle]

Shotgungate!

[jonrick46]

That exaclty what media want to do --- swarm the ranch and look for "evidence."

Just what the owner of the ranch would want. The 48 hours gave the owner time to get the coffee and cookies ready.

We all know how much the press loves guns and those pesky hunters that kill poor little birds. It just like the press to exgaggerate the trivial when is pushes their buttons.

[Cobra64]

Did you happen to hear D. Letterman saying Cheney was hit with buckshot?

Huh? This had to have been a sppof. Then again, it is amazing how many people do not know the difference between a sling-shot, buckshot or birdshot.

[Cobra64]

If Dick was shooting a 28 ga, hunting quail, he'd have it loaded with #8 rounds.

[thomaswest]

The sheriff said NO ALCOHOL was involved. But keep saying it. The trouble is, the delay of 24 hours will suggest to some that they were waiting until alcohol levels declined. It is unfortunate that no tests were done immediately, and thus suspicion runs ahead.

[Cobra64]

#8 shot size from a 28 gauge. This wouldn't even break a clay pigeon.

Want to bet? I started trap shooting with that configuration when I was eleven years old. I did very well.

[TYVets]

Then again, it is amazing how many people do not know the difference between a sling-shot, buckshot or birdshot.

About 99.9% of the MSM ?