That being said, I've no tolerance for torturing things or allowing them to suffer needlessly. I believe strongly in humane kills. If I wound something, I consider it my duty to keep going until it's dead, no matter how difficult or hard to find. Even the extermination of hundreds of squirrels on my property that I never eat. It's not right and it's not human to let them suffer one moment longer than necessary. This sort of thing really angers me, there is zero respect for wildlife and no recognition of humanity. These acts spawn from evil minds.
I think most of us probably needlessly killed something when we were younger... be it a frog, bird, whatever. Most of us felt guilty and learned a tough lesson in doing so, then never did it again. The people who do this sort of thing concern me
On a somewhat related subject, a lot of people seem to find something funny about roadkill. I consider it sad, if sometimes unavoidable. I wouldn’t endanger myself or others to avoid hitting an animal on the road, but will try to avoid it if possible.
Dittos on everything you said.
My snapping turtle story. Visiting an uncle we would go fishing for cat fish and snapper turtle. The turtles were huge! (Oklahoma). We would bring the turtles home live and kill them on the driveway. He would let one out the bag, it would come after him and he would grab the mouth with a pliers and then slit the neck nice and quick.
Then he made me do it. He got a kick out of that. This big turtle chasing me around the driveway - me waving the pliers around in front of it’s face but not having the guts to get my hand too close! It knocked the pliers out of my hands once. I finally grabbed him and was good on the killing part - but trying to grab him in the mouth was frightening. After a few more times I was comfortable with it.
Like snakes - those big snapper turtles are amazing animals. And they taste good too! (The turtles. Never killed or ate a snake.)
Concur, with a small edit.
“I think most of us probably needlessly killed something when we were younger... be it a frog, bird, whatever. Most of us felt guilty and learned a tough lesson in doing so, then never did it again. The people who do this sort of thing concern me”
You’re right, and this case could just be like that. In my case it includes a frog or toad that I deliberately and pointlessly killed with my motorcycle, and a small bird that I mindlessly shot. I didn’t do it again after that, nor did I turn into a serial killer. Children (and teenagers) don’t always really think before they act, and such acts don’t necessarily indicate a craven indifference to life or suffering.