In a news story that proves that some endangered species should be endangered--by whatever means is available to their intended victims. This is the sort of silliness that happens when a private club of enthusiasts (the Audubon Society) manages to get its sometime dopey opinions written into law. See the story in the OC Register Local News here.
It should never happen. The Audubon Society can, at its own expense, advertise any sort of persuasion in favor of bird preservation it cares to, but wild animals are the property of no one, and we deal with them as a resource.
A flock of seagulls (are they still around?) attacked a couple near the Main Beach in Laguna, while they were enjoying ice cream as they walked. One bird hit Mrs Djuric on the head as he went for her ice cream. Shades of Hitchcock's great film, The Birds! Mr Djuric, who acquired a nasty mess 'pon his head during the fracas, began waving a stick, hitting a couple of the gulls. One suffered a broken wing, and had to be destroyed.
Mr Djuric was cited for animal cruelty and will likely be fined.
The Audubon Society claims the birds are a subspecies called Heermann's gulls, and declares them an endangered species. Having spent a relatively significant amount of time at and near beaches 'round the western world, my heart just bleeds for the laziest birds 'pon the planet.
These are birds that are supposed to dive into the water and catch fish for a living. Scavenging about for bits of garbage and unguarded food on the shores places them in the class: Nuisance Critters. Like flies, fleas, roaches and lice, gulls are critters whose extinction would make the world a better place for all.
Now, the opinions of a private club are fine, but like the edicts of your favorite religious organization, they should not be written into law.
That makes Mr Djuric, who was merely defending himself and his wife, after having failed at the attempt to enjoy the ice cream they purchased, yet another victim of a government run amok. Just about anyone else would've done the same thing--including many Audubon members, I'll wager.
Never go to the beach without a hat.
Warm regards,
Col. Hogan
Stalag California
14 comments:
Mr Djuric was cited for animal cruelty and will likely be fined.
What? Doesn't he have a right to defend himself? Maybe he should have shot the things and claimed that he was in fear for his life - hell, cops do that with people's dogs all the time. He should take it to court and demand a jury trial;it would be interesting to see if a jury would convict him. As crazy as this country's population is becoming, I would not want to place bets either way.
sasob
Say, that previous comment was from me - don't know why it came out anonymous.
sasob
SA,
I happen to be watching Boston Legal as I write this. If Mr Djuric could get a lawyer like one of those, he might get an award from the People's Republic of Laguna Beach.
The anonymous thing has happen4ed to me a couple of times, too.
Well, at least he didn't shoot the bird with a pistol; that would have gotten him life in prison.
"Maybe he should have shot the things and claimed that he was in fear for his life"
Unless you are a crackhead, gangbanger, or a state or local brownshirt you will be jailed for...
#1. Having a gun in Soviet California.
#2. Carrying a gun
#3. Discharging a lethal weapon and so endangering said crackheads & gangbangers.
Also you will be charged with whatever comes to mind as the brownshirts are able to make up laws as they go.
Extremists!
Even a soft hearted animal lover like me knows that I may still have to put myself first and defend my life and safety from an animal when necessary, and I would do it.
Soviet California isn't the only place this sort of thing happens when it comes to wildlife. The heartland gets its fair share. Nuts are everywhere. Where's Ted Nugent when you need him?
TF,
It's almost worse to kill an animal with a gun than to kill a man. The entire (dare I call it) legal system is upside down.
Steve,
Exactly. Perhaps you ought to publish that gun control thing you sent me a few months ago on your blog. It never hurts to keep that thing going.
Chatelaine,
I'm still waiting for the animals to be as nice to me as I am to them. Until they do, they are (unless they are specifically owned by someone) they're just another resource.
BC,
It's getting crazy all over the country. I blame Walt Disney for making a generation think wild animals are *cute*.
You know something's wrong when you hear about people in Yosemite and Yellowstone trying to hand-feed brown bears.
Madness, seagulls endangered!
The lot of them should be shot and fried i tell ya. A damn pest in some places. Endangered my ass.
MK (mksviews)
MK,
There's a restaurant in San Diego called Anthony's. It has a take out counter and a number of tables out on the boardwalk. Many tourists, on any nice day, eat there. The most stupid of them are buying fish & chips and feeding chips to the seagulls.
Big mistake. It invariably makes the place uninhabitable for hours.
Anthony's, wisely, posts "Don't feed the gulls," but some folks are just too stupid to read.
Bird hunting practice, off the boardwalk with your favorite duck gun might help the problem.....
Ok, I agree he should have had the right to defend himself, absolutely, however, living in the area in which you speak, I believe these creatures where here long before we were, therefore they should be, still, respected. (I know I'm gonna get criticism for this.. but.. ) What if someone came into your home, and they just wanted to use your pool, but, you were in the way, so they killed you? (ok.. silly analogy, but still). As for being lazy creatures, well humans are just exactly the same.. do you hunt for food? Probably not, why? because it's there in front of you already. The birds see food, no one has told them it doesn't belong to them (and I know, even if they did.. oh never mind)
Just a point of view.
Thanks
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