View Full Version : Vice President shoots hunter
Cave Dweller
13-02-2006, 10:09 AM
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/vice-president-shoots-hunter/2006/02/13/1139679502642.html
US Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and injured a man during a weekend quail hunting trip in Texas, his spokeswoman said today.
Harry Whittington, 78, was "alert and doing fine" after Cheney sprayed him with shotgun pellets yesterday at the Armstrong Ranch in south Texas, said property owner Katharine Armstrong.
Armstrong said Cheney turned to shoot a bird and accidentally hit Whittington.
She said Whittington was taken to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital by ambulance.
Cheney's spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, said the vice president was with Whittington, a lawyer from Austin, Texas, and his wife at the hospital this afternoon.
The thing i find hilarious about this is he was shooting a QUAIL with a SHOTGUN!!
Thats not hunting, there would be no freaking quail left after a shot gun blast! And this is the man in charge of the US military, just shows the mentality of the guy........
johnny
13-02-2006, 10:20 AM
Looks like Dick might have spent some time in the USArmy. He certainly displays all the skills that are the halmark of Jarheads and whoo-arrs......
Atomizer
13-02-2006, 10:46 AM
What a shame the victim didn't shoot back in self defence. :(
But.. he is a lawyer. That ought see The Dick hurt a little in the out of court settlement in the least.
nickz
13-02-2006, 10:55 AM
I'm sure he'd be criticised as "not being a patriot" if he took action against Dick. Who the hell goes quail hunting?? (or any hunting)
rowanr
13-02-2006, 11:11 AM
i'd go quail, or anything else hunting.
i was wondering how long it took for people to start making jokes connecting this shooting to the US government. it was just too easy.
johnny
13-02-2006, 11:15 AM
We don't have to make the connection, it WAS the US gov't doing the shooting.....or is Dick working for al qaeda now :eek: :confused:
cam-o
13-02-2006, 11:24 AM
The thing i find hilarious about this is he was shooting a QUAIL with a SHOTGUN!!
I'd assume it was loaded with Bird shot, not the big pellets.
That's why the guy he shot would be OK, Bird shot doesn't have that much kick.
He is still a complete twit though.
Hitman89
13-02-2006, 11:28 AM
We don't have to make the connection, it WAS the US gov't doing the shooting.....or is Dick working for al qaeda now :eek: :confused:
LOL, I think the patriot act will be enforced meaning that the victim will need to sign a back dated waiver that he shall not get in between Dick and Quail.
As he broke that agreement he will be put in Camp X-ray.
Cave Dweller
13-02-2006, 11:32 AM
We don't have to make the connection, it WAS the US gov't doing the shooting.....or is Dick working for al qaeda now :eek: :confused:
Dick is definitely part of the US government, he was on the case hunting down members of Al Quail-da........
Cave Dweller
13-02-2006, 11:33 AM
I'd assume it was loaded with Bird shot, not the big pellets.
That's why the guy he shot would be OK, Bird shot doesn't have that much kick.
He is still a complete twit though.
I didn't know that.
Still, i think hunting a tiny bird with a shot gun is a bit over kill. How much skill does it take to point in the general direction and pull the trigger.
cam-o
13-02-2006, 11:45 AM
I didn't know that.
Still, i think hunting a tiny bird with a shot gun is a bit over kill. How much skill does it take to point in the general direction and pull the trigger.
Agreed.
I think it's hunting for those who want to make sure they get something. Kinda like Game fishing on super heavy tackle.
sure you caught something but there's bugger all skill in it.
Wattsy
13-02-2006, 11:56 AM
I find shit like this funny, cause it's just so messed up that you think maybe it's a coverup. And knowing the american's.......
Maybe he thought it was Dan Quayle!!
Atomizer
13-02-2006, 12:13 PM
Agreed.
I think it's hunting for those who want to make sure they get something. Kinda like Game fishing on super heavy tackle.
sure you caught something but there's bugger all skill in it.
Sorry to post this again, but shooting a quail with a 12 gauge is, ironically and sadly, not greatly different from "hunting" a hippo. Sport...for the infirm.
"hunting tips - the hunt:
To hunt a hippo is probably as challenging as beating a fly to death with a rolled up piece of newspaper. Stories abound of ferocious hippo that charge out of the water for no reason, trying to kill all passers by. While some old bulls do get defensive and a bit cranky, 90% of hippo are shot while they are in the water from about 50 yards away. A bull is chosen and one simply walks up to the bank of the river or pond, takes aim, waits for the hippo to present a good head shot and bang, hunt over.
The hippo will usually float to the surface within half an hour or will be visible in shallow water whereupon it is retrieved and hauled to the bank. This is often the most interesting part as local fishermen or the PH's own trackers wade into the crocodile-infested river to tie the rope around the hippo."
FR Drew
13-02-2006, 12:15 PM
Damn, RCOH beat me to it!
Comedy Gold
Hitman89
13-02-2006, 12:24 PM
Sorry to post this again, but shooting a quail with a 12 gauge is, ironically and sadly, not greatly different from "hunting" a hippo. Sport...for the infirm.
Looks like it was too much of a challenge for Dick, He missed the quail and got human.
NCR600
13-02-2006, 12:49 PM
Sorry to post this again, but shooting a quail with a 12 gauge is, ironically and sadly, not greatly different from "hunting" a hippo. Sport...for the infirm.
"hunting tips - the hunt:
To hunt a hippo is probably as challenging as beating a fly to death with a rolled up piece of newspaper. Stories abound of ferocious hippo that charge out of the water for no reason, trying to kill all passers by. While some old bulls do get defensive and a bit cranky, 90% of hippo are shot while they are in the water from about 50 yards away. A bull is chosen and one simply walks up to the bank of the river or pond, takes aim, waits for the hippo to present a good head shot and bang, hunt over.
The hippo will usually float to the surface within half an hour or will be visible in shallow water whereupon it is retrieved and hauled to the bank. This is often the most interesting part as local fishermen or the PH's own trackers wade into the crocodile-infested river to tie the rope around the hippo."
I fail to see the similarities between shooting a fast moving small bird that jumps out of the stubble in a wheat paddock with no warning with a shotgun and knocking off a big old slow moving/stationary hippo with a big arse rifle.
Besides Quail are recognised the world over as being tasty, wheras the mighty Hippopotamus isn't.
Anyway, like RCOH and FR Drew I was hoping this thread was going to be about Dick Cheney taking a pop at Dan Quayle.
Atomizer
13-02-2006, 01:04 PM
I fail to see the similarities between shooting a fast moving small bird that jumps out of the stubble in a wheat paddock with no warning with a shotgun and knocking off a big old slow moving/stationary hippo with a big arse rifle.
The similarities? Depending on the choke and shot size used in a shotgun the dispersion of the BB's doesn't make shooting even a quail particular challenging unless you've got slow reflexes (or your Dick Cheney). Much like shooting a hippo at point blank.
NCR600
13-02-2006, 01:12 PM
The similarities? Depending on the choke and shot size used in a shotgun the dispersion of the BB's doesn't make shooting even a quail particular challenging unless you've got slow reflexes (or your Dick Cheney). Much like shooting a hippo at point blank.
I still fail to see it. Mind you, I am hopeless with a shotgun.
Cúl-Báire
13-02-2006, 03:05 PM
I find it incredibly funny how people in this Australia call him "Vice President", just as they call the President of the United States; "President Bush". I mean really they have no title in Australia.
They are the Presidents of what exactly? I might be president of a bird watching club, does this mean I can go around calling myself President Cúl?* :p :p :p
[/Rant]
*Notes: Did not actually happen :p
zen_rider
13-02-2006, 03:08 PM
Dick is definitely part of the US government, he was on the case hunting down members of Al Quail-da........
Al-Quail-da - LMAO.
That made my day, nice one!
gravelclimber
14-02-2006, 07:14 AM
Love the Rude Pundit's take on it. Worth a reading the whole thing:
http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/
blt2ride
14-02-2006, 10:02 AM
Dang it...he's supposed to be the smart one...:eek:
johnny
14-02-2006, 12:01 PM
Looks like it was too much of a challenge for Dick, He missed the quail and got human.
Bahahahahahahah!!!:D
Dang it...he's supposed to be the smart one...
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!!:D
What a shame the victim didn't shoot back in self defence.
True that dagnabbit :rolleyes:
robracer
14-02-2006, 12:21 PM
Harry Wittington (aged 78) the dude that got peppered was only 25 mtr away...Dick had better clean his glasses before shooting again what a wanker! bet no one else wants to go shoting with him now!
gravelclimber
14-02-2006, 01:39 PM
Ten ways Dick Cheney can kill you.
26434
Graveclimber, that pic was simply magical at uplifting my tiresome work night, cheers for that.:)
rowanr
15-02-2006, 12:51 AM
We don't have to make the connection, it WAS the US gov't doing the shooting.....or is Dick working for al qaeda now :eek: :confused:
i wouldn't go as far to say the entire member of the government shot some guy... just the vice president ;)
as for shooting small things like birds and rabbits with shotguns- it makes it easier because it minces them while killing them :) now shooting a chicken with a flamethrower- that would be too delicious!
The thing i find hilarious about this is he was shooting a QUAIL with a SHOTGUN!!
Thats not hunting, there would be no freaking quail left after a shot gun blast! And this is the man in charge of the US military, just shows the mentality of the guy........
WTF? You ever tried to shoot a moving bird with a rifle (let alone considered the risk of firing a rifle up in the air)? I'd sooner bet my life savings on Tattslotto than bet you could hit a quail with anything BUT a shotgun. And if you shot it from 10 feet away it'd be pretty chewed up. 20 metres away and it'd just be dead. I think I can say with a fair degree of certainty that you're not a shooter, since you appear to have approximately no idea what a shotgun actually does and what it's generally used for.
Atomizer: I'm guessing you're not a shooter either. You're comparing shooting what is basically a large, stationary target to one that appears suddenly, is small, moves fast and changes direction extremely quickly? Sorry but that's just silly. You don't have to like or agree with the sport, but please don't bother making totally inept comparisons. Dispersion of the shot? Again... I think I can fairly safely say you're not particularly familiar with the nuances of a shotgun. It's not "pointing in the general direction and pulling the trigger" as CD put it. If it was, nobody would think Michael Diamond was anything special at all. Try and hit ANYTHING that's small and moving fast with a shotgun, it's simply difficult and that's that. It's not like the pellets spread out evenly over a ten foot diameter or anything, you get a concentrated pattern within about 2ft diameter over 20 metres.
johnny
15-02-2006, 12:55 AM
Meh, get pissed and use darts if you wanna impress me.
johnny
15-02-2006, 01:12 AM
Ripped off from elswhere.....
The friendly-fire incident in which he accidentally shot his quail-hunting companion, Harry Whittington, has provided plenty of jokes for American comedians, and plenty of ammunition for left-wing conspiracists. David Letterman began his show: "Good news, ladies and gentlemen. We have finally located weapons of mass destruction: it's Dick Cheney. We can't get bin Laden but we nailed a 78-year-old attorney."
Jay Leno said there was so much snow in Washington that Cheney shot a fat man thinking it was a polar bear. Even the newspapers found it hard to play it straight. The New York Daily News headline was "Duck! It's Dick", while the more Administration-friendly New York Post said simply: "Big Shot."
Ronald Reagan's former press secretary, Jim Brady, who has become a leading gun-control advocate since being shot in a presidential assassination attempt, said: "Now I understand why Dick Cheney keeps asking me to go hunting with him. I had a friend once who accidentally shot pellets into his dog - I thought he was an idiot."
Bloggers were ahead of the pack. "Guns don't shoot people. The Vice-President shoots people," was common, mocking the National Rifle Association's excuse for everything.
update on the victim:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/cheney-shooting-victim-suffers-heart-attack/2006/02/15/1139890762095.html
he's suffered a minor heart attack when the pellet moved into his heart and he's back in intensive care
johnny
15-02-2006, 09:04 AM
If this guy dies, could Dick be charged with man slaughter?
robracer
15-02-2006, 09:07 AM
If this guy dies, could Dick be charged with man slaughter?
That would be a nice lesson for him :)
BrumbyJack
15-02-2006, 09:08 AM
US law is different to ours, but I think he would have to be charged with Manslaughter, or whatever the appropriate charge is in the US.
Cave Dweller
15-02-2006, 09:09 AM
It's not like the pellets spread out evenly over a ten foot diameter or anything, you get a concentrated pattern within about 2ft diameter over 20 metres.
Mate, a quail is about 8-10cm big vs around a 60cm+ diameter shot gun shot vs 1cm for a normal riffle bullet.
So your saying its too hard for the everyday person to shoot a bird with a rifle, so better to have a blast over 6 times as big as the bird so you can still kill it. Thank god for modern weapons.
gravelclimber
15-02-2006, 09:14 AM
Dunno how hard quails are to shoot but I've found clay pigeons pretty damn hard to hit with a 12-gauge. In the couple of goes I've had I get about 1 in 5.
robracer
15-02-2006, 09:21 AM
In the couple of goes I've had I get about 1 in 5.
Then we need 5 attorney's in the scrub & you are guaranteed to hit one!
Atomizer
15-02-2006, 10:01 AM
Try and hit ANYTHING that's small and moving fast with a shotgun, it's simply difficult and that's that. It's not like the pellets spread out evenly over a ten foot diameter or anything, you get a concentrated pattern within about 2ft diameter over 20 metres.
I never found shooting a fast running, dodging rabbit at 30m with a 12 gauge anything but the antithesis of 'sport'. The rabbit never had a chance. Quail weren't that much more of a challenge. So, from my experience anyway, shotguns aren't the most difficult weapon to master. I dunno maybe it's just me. Even the inept have skills somewhere. :D
Shooting a crow or a rabbit with a 22/250 at 200+ metres. That's sport.
Shooting a human right next to you when you should be shooting quail. That is, whichever way you look at it, utter stupidity on someone's behalf.
Trizender
15-02-2006, 10:18 AM
Dick had the right idea. Shoot something that can shoot back. Now thats sport.
"Is it a fair fight? Those this 'moose' creature have a projectile weapon of some sort" - Zim
"No, no it doesn't" - Miss Bitters
Hitman89
15-02-2006, 10:31 AM
US law is different to ours, but I think he would have to be charged with Manslaughter, or whatever the appropriate charge is in the US.
Well he should be charged with something however as he is the VP nothing will happen, Negligent use of a firearm causing grevious bodily harm?
johnny
15-02-2006, 11:28 AM
He was also shooting quail without the appropriate lisence.
Mate, a quail is about 8-10cm big vs around a 60cm+ diameter shot gun shot vs 1cm for a normal riffle bullet.
So your saying its too hard for the everyday person to shoot a bird with a rifle, so better to have a blast over 6 times as big as the bird so you can still kill it. Thank god for modern weapons.
hahahahahahaha. I can't believe you'd even consider TRYING to shoot a bird with a rifle. Not only is it futile, it's dangerous. Can't imagine many people using a .40 calibre rifle to hunt quail either..ahahahaha
I never found shooting a fast running, dodging rabbit at 30m with a 12 gauge anything but the antithesis of 'sport'. The rabbit never had a chance. Quail weren't that much more of a challenge. So, from my experience anyway, shotguns aren't the most difficult weapon to master. I dunno maybe it's just me. Even the inept have skills somewhere. :D
Shooting a crow or a rabbit with a 22/250 at 200+ metres. That's sport.
Shooting a human right next to you when you should be shooting quail. That is, whichever way you look at it, utter stupidity on someone's behalf.
Rabbits can only move in 2 dimensions. Quail can move in 3. Maybe you're just an exceptionally good shot, but I know at least one AA-grade clay shooter who considers quail to be hard to hit. I'm not a fantastic shot (or a terrible one) but I'd say most rabbits I see get a fair crack at getting away. Only ever shot at a handful of quail, but those little buggers are damn hard to hit.
Sniping a stationary animal at 200 metres is sport? How did they ever have a "sporting chance" when they never even got an opportunity to flee? I fail to see how that's "sport" compared to an animal/bird that knows it's in danger and has a chance to actually evade the hunter.
But yeah, shooting a PERSON at close range shows a total lack of safety measures and common sense IMO. You really shouldn't be firing a gun with anyone in a 45 degree cone of the direction you're firing... let alone right in the line of fire!
Atomizer
15-02-2006, 01:08 PM
Sniping a stationary animal at 200 metres is sport? How did they ever have a "sporting chance" when they never even got an opportunity to flee? I fail to see how that's "sport" compared to an animal/bird that knows it's in danger and has a chance to actually evade the hunter.
Taking out the 'living thing' component, it isn't much different from any other activity involving hitting a small target, from a large distance, with precision accuracy and with the variables presented, ie wind etc, overcome. Obviously, the greater the distance the greater the target's chances of not exploding into a cloud of fur or feathers.
But sure replacing vermin species with a target is more like sport in appearance.
Cave Dweller
15-02-2006, 02:40 PM
hahahahahahaha. I can't believe you'd even consider TRYING to shoot a bird with a rifle. Not only is it futile, it's dangerous. Can't imagine many people using a .40 calibre rifle to hunt quail either..ahahahaha
Hahahahaha. Why not? Takes to much skill hey?
Actually, a .22 rifle is a recommended weapon, for use in a less then 30m situation, to shoot a large number of bird species in australia. So is a shot gun for that matter.
The point is, which one takes more skill? Shooting is suposed to be a SPORT (or so they say, im undecided), implying it should be DIFFICULT, and not that any joe blow can do it well. If you think blowing away a bird with a shotgun takes skill then props to you, im not going to stand in your way (excuse the pun ;) )
Hitman89
15-02-2006, 02:49 PM
But whats more fun???, Blowing a pigeon to kingdom come with a 12 guage or pluggin it with a .22 aka cap gun. Isn't sport supposed to be fun??
Cave Dweller
15-02-2006, 03:25 PM
But whats more fun???, Blowing a pigeon to kingdom come with a 12 guage or pluggin it with a .22 aka cap gun. Isn't sport supposed to be fun??
Yeh, fair enough, sport is supposed to be fun as well. I did say i was undecided about shooting being a "sport" though, guess it is if its in the olymics right?
If splatering tweetie pie with a 12 guage (or maybe even a RPG) is fun to you, or anybody else, then go ahead by all means.
Atomizer
15-02-2006, 03:53 PM
If splatering tweetie pie with a 12 guage (or maybe even a RPG) is fun to you, or anybody else, then go ahead by all means.
But don't call it 'sport'. It's mere brutality. There is nothing sporting about pointlessly killing something.
wombat
15-02-2006, 09:45 PM
Yeh, fair enough, sport is supposed to be fun as well. I did say i was undecided about shooting being a "sport" though, guess it is if its in the olymics right?
If splatering tweetie pie with a 12 guage (or maybe even a RPG) is fun to you, or anybody else, then go ahead by all means.
You should know though that shooting encompasses more than simply hunting, target shooting was only mentioned a few posts ago.
I personally don't always agree with the idea of hunting, but I will most definately say that target shooting is a sport.
Hahahahaha. Why not? Takes to much skill hey?
Actually, a .22 rifle is a recommended weapon, for use in a less then 30m situation, to shoot a large number of bird species in australia. So is a shot gun for that matter.
The point is, which one takes more skill? Shooting is suposed to be a SPORT (or so they say, im undecided), implying it should be DIFFICULT, and not that any joe blow can do it well. If you think blowing away a bird with a shotgun takes skill then props to you, im not going to stand in your way (excuse the pun ;) )
Give Michael Diamond a .22 and ask him to shoot a quail. I'd be surprised if he hit 1 out of 100.
Rifles are only recommended for shooting STATIONARY (or slow-moving) targets. Yes you can use them to shoot birds (shooting crows is relatively easy cos they spend a lot of time on the ground), but for hunting quail, you're off your fuckin rocker mate.
If you think shooting (flying) birds with a shotgun is EASY, then actually go and GIVE IT A TRY. Be a sinner for a day, go quail (or even duck) hunting. When you hit each and every bird you shoot at, THEN come back and tell me it's easy. Because I HAVE done it, and you're totally kidding yourself if you think a shotgun is a point-in-general-direction-and-you're-guaranteed-a-hit type of firearm.
If splatering tweetie pie with a 12 guage (or maybe even a RPG) is fun to you, or anybody else, then go ahead by all means.
Have you actually seen an animal that's been shot with a 12 gauge (at anything other than point-blank)? The damage is nothing like what the movies make it out to be. Shooting an animal with a shotgun doesn't just blow it to bits.
I keep on getting the feeling you're making an argument from ignorance here, for some strange reason... I don't really care if you like shooting (I can understand if you don't), but please at least get a realistic handle on the thing.
blt2ride
16-02-2006, 01:44 AM
The story actually gets worse. Apparently, one of the pellets that was lodged in the victim’s face made its way to his heart, which caused a mild (if there is such a thing) heart attack. This happened yesterday afternoon…
NCR600
16-02-2006, 10:22 AM
I never found shooting a fast running, dodging rabbit at 30m with a 12 gauge anything but the antithesis of 'sport'. The rabbit never had a chance. Quail weren't that much more of a challenge. So, from my experience anyway, shotguns aren't the most difficult weapon to master. I dunno maybe it's just me. Even the inept have skills somewhere. :D
Shooting a crow or a rabbit with a 22/250 at 200+ metres. That's sport.
Shooting a human right next to you when you should be shooting quail. That is, whichever way you look at it, utter stupidity on someone's behalf.
I can headshoot rabbits at 200+ metres with my .222. I can assure you it's not "sport"! It's a good way to get a feed of rabbit, and an even better way to make farmers like you because you can just sit there and pick off a whole bunch of them at the entrance to a warren, but sporting it aint!
I can't hit anything with a shotgun. I can hit running targets with a rifle, but for some reason I've never been able to translate it to shotgunning. Probably lack of practise, seeing as I don't own one!
Hunting as a sport has unfortunately got a bad name from America, where hunters sit in a hide in a tree all day and wait for the deer to come to them, and from idiots in Australia who chase pigs around in utes and use dogs to do the hard work, or drunken spotlight roo shooters.
Hunting is really all about stalking, bushcraft, knowledge and ethics, and when carried out seriously, is extremely challenging and hard work. Sport.
Knocking over rabbits at 200m is called varminting, and is a method of controlling pests, or "varmints". Not sport.
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