I'm not the biggest fan of shooting squirrels with BB guns. I'm neutral on shooting them to reduce the high numbers of this pest population (I wouldn't do it myself, though). And I think it's pretty disturbing as a sport -- less so than hunting deer or moose because one generally eats those when they are hunted.

But come on. "Animal Precinct" is on Animal Planet right now, and I'm watching this old guy get charged with animal cruelty for shooting squirrels with his BB gun. This is in New York City. New York City politics is the epitome of like everything wrong.

Now, I can understand charging the guy with firing the BB gun at all, which is illegal in NYC. Ordinarily, I'd find that a ridiculous law too, but in a city of 10 million people, I can understand that they don't want people firing BB guns at squirrels in their backyards. But cruelty to animals?? Squirrels! Pests! Gah!

I can just see that charge coming up in a court in New Hampshire, or Alabama, or Texas, or South Carolina, or basically anywhere else in the country besides maybe the bigger cities of California. It would be the judge's best laugh of the week. I bet even bleeding heart Massachusetts wouldn't get all whiny about a squirrel.

Sam

P.S.: Quote from the show: "Sadly, the squirrel never recovered from its trauma."