FW: shot pigs out of a helicopter - Logan Kensing - Florida Marlins

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FW: ltr. to Florida MarlinsThu, 1 May 2008 08:35:10 -0700

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 6:40 PM

 

 

ltr. to Florida Marlins

 

I'm sending an action alert regarding the disgusting behaviour of a pitcher for the Florida Marlins. At the very bottom I've attached the short letter I filled out on the Marlin's website. Here's the contact page in case you want to email them as well. Just click on "other" on the contact page and a form will come up. (The snail-mail address is below.)

-M.

 

The Official Site of The Florida Marlins: Help: Contact Us - http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/help/email.jsp?c_id=fla :

 

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> [Original Message]> Marie Zwicker <wolfspiritm> <mlesky> Cc: <james.dejesus> 4/30/2008 7:47:27 AM> Florida Marlins and Kensing>>> On February 21, 2008 a 60-Second Interview with Marlin's pitcher LoganKensing was printed in the Palm Beach Post (PBP) newspaper. When asked whatwas the most interesting thing he did during off-season, Kensing replied"shot pigs out of a helicopter" on his ranch in Texas. He also stated "youcan shoot bobcats, wild dogs, coyotes, pigs. Anything that's native". Healso stated "The pilot's pretty good. He gets right next to them. We spotthem, he flies in sideways, glides and we shoot them". His tone appeared totake sadistic pleasure in telling of how he killed animals from thehelicopter. When asked how the helicopter experience would make him abetter pitcher, he responded "It makes me know I want one, so I need tomake more money".> Upon reading this, a local environmental group, Palm Beach CountyEnvironmental Coalition (PBCEC) considered that this was very troubling anddid not present a good role model for children and youth who traditionallylook up to sports figures as it appeared to sanction thrill-killing ofanimals in an unsportsmanlike manner. It did not portray an attitude andsensitivity toward animals that was healthy. One does not have to look farto see voluminous research that shows a direct relationship between animalcruelty/abuse with other forms of violent crime and abuse.> A letter was sent to the Florida Marlins General Manager Michael Hill andOwner Jeffrey Loria by a co-chair of PBCEC, expressing these concerns andrequesting them not to sanction animal cruelty and to reprimand him. TheMarlins officials did not respond in any way that indicated they disagreedwith what Kensing was doing. Kensing himself was unapologetic for hisactions and stated "It doesn't bother me. They can come at me if they wantto".> In subsequent statements Kensing appeared to backpedal and to attemptsome whitewashing of his helicopter killing adventures. His statementsfocused on how he was protecting his land from marauding non-native wildpigs. But a picture of him in a subsequent article in ESPN.com dated March31, 2008 showed him holding the ear of a bobcat killed from the helicopter.This article and a follow-up article in the PBP dated April 17, 2008resulted in an onslaught of hatemail against PBCEC and the "animal rightswackos" (one of the milder terms used) who dared to criticize Kensing'sbehavior. One writer went so far as to state that he was thusly "inspired"by PBCEC's criticism of Kensing to go out and kill a yearling coyote pup.The writer even sent a picture of the killed pup , whose "eyes literallypopped out of his sockets" in the words of the killer, to PBCEC. His7-year-old son was also in the picture, holding the ear of the dead coyoteyearling pup.> Unfortunately this attitude of disrespect for and wanton killing ofanimals and the horrible message it sends to children is all too prevalentin our society, perpetuating the tragedy and travesty. We ask for yoursupport and urge you to contact the General Manager and Owner of theFlorida Marlins to express your horror and outrage at the behavior andpublicized attitude of their pitcher Logan Kensing and their apparentsanctioning of and acquiescense to that behavior. Kensing can also bereached through the address below to let him know what you think of him andhis actions. Thank you for your help.> Marie Zwicker, member PBCEC> Please send comments to:>> Jeffrey Loria, Owner and> Michael Hill, General Manager> The Florida Marlins> Dolphins Stadium> 2267 N.W. 199th Avenue> Miami, FL 33056>> _____________

 

TO: LOGAN KENSING Jeffrey Loria, Owner and Michael Hill, General Manager

Mr. Kensing's lack of compassion for the other sentient beings with whom we share this planet is despicable and cowardly. It is just as cowardly that the management of the Marlins have not spoken out against Mr. Kensing's vile actions and vulgar public comments. Cruelty to animals is not a trait that the world's greatest leaders support...... Abraham Lincoln, 16th Presidnet of the U.S.: "I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being."

 

"The greatness of a people can be measured by how well it treats its animals." --Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948 "Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." -- Leo Buscaglia