Hunting law heartbreaking

On March 21, the U.S. Senate joined the House and voted for the state of Alaska to authorize extreme killing methods on public lands.

This means that Alaska national wildlife refuges are open for killing wolves and pups during the spring and summer “denning” season; gunning down mother bears and their cubs; baiting and snaring bears and their cubs, and using airplanes to scout and shoot bears.

I personally find this heartbreaking and disgraceful. In situations like this I ask myself the important question of why? If the why can be answered with some semblance of logic, that helps me. They say the answer is these predators should be available for hunting on all of Alaskan land. I am supportive of ethical, sportsman-like, fair-chase hunting practices. But this isn’t hunting; this is slaughter.

Like others, I signed petitions, made calls, gave donations. While the vote was close (and I thank our Washington state senators for voting no on such an appalling anti-wildlife act) the outcome is still stunning. Stunning because while this ruling is now law, is it truly ethical? My test for this: explain this law to a child, then watch and listen to their reaction.

Yvonne Leach

Spokane