Some thoughts about Cheney accidentally shot his hunting partner

[Guest guest]

Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot his

hunting partner, mistaking him for a covey of quail.

The shooting victim was a 78-year-old millionaire

attorney from Austin, Texas. As of this writing, he

remains in the intensive care unit.

 

To my knowledge, this is the first time since 1804

that a sitting vice president has shot anybody.

 

The shooting was not reported publicly by the vice

president's office for nearly 24 hours, and then only

after it was reported by the Corpus Christi

Caller-Times. Nor was the shooting reported to law

enforcement authorities. In Texas, hunting parties

are not required to report an accident if nobody dies.

 

The hunters had spotted a covey of quail from a

vehicle. The victim came up from behind without

announcing himself. He was about 30 yards away when

Cheney shot him in the cheek, neck and chest. Both

hunters were wearing bright orange vests.

 

According to Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan,

President Bush was told Saturday night by the White

House Situation Room that somebody in Cheney's hunting

party was shot, but was not told until Sunday morning

that Cheney was the shooter.

 

I have these observations:

 

Hunters are not expected to announce their presence.

To do so would alert the intended prey. Hunters

should know what they are shooting at before they pull

the trigger. This is why they wear bright orange

vests.

 

The shooting of a human being at close range with a

28-gauge shotgun can be viewed as assault with a

deadly weapon. Even if the shooting was accidental, a

jury might find it negligent. Cheney’s failure to

report the shooting for nearly 24 hours leaves forever

unanswered the question of his condition at the time

of the shooting.

 

If the shooter had been Ted Kennedy, the media would

accuse him of assault with a deadly weapon, failure to

report the incident, leaving the scene of the crime,

obstruction of justice, and interstate flight to avoid

prosecution.

 

I am not mollified by reading that the vice-president

had a valid hunting license. I was unaware that it

was open season on Texas millionaires.

 

I find it difficult to believe that nobody in the

White House Situation Room was curious enough to ask

who had been shot, or who had done the shooting.

 

And I would be surprised if George W. Bush goes

hunting with “Deadeye Dick†Cheney any time soon.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I was thinking that Saturday Night Live will rip with this one. Imagine him in

Iraq …

 

 

 

 

]On Behalf Of Fernwoods

Monday, February 13, 2006 5:56 PM

 

Some thoughts about Cheney accidentally

shot his hunting partner

 

Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot his

hunting partner, mistaking him for a covey of quail.

The shooting victim was a 78-year-old millionaire

attorney from Austin, Texas. As of this writing, he

remains in the intensive care unit.

 

To my knowledge, this is the first time since 1804

that a sitting vice president has shot anybody.