Shooting pigeons isn't a 'sport'; it's inhumane

Posted: Monday, January 24, 2011

Letter to the Editor

PhillyBurbs.com

State House Bill 1411 and Senate Bill 843, which would prohibit shoots when pigeons are released from a trapped position in front of a shooter, would bring Pennsylvania into the 21st century.

Locally, pigeon shoots are taking place at the Philadelphia Gun Club in Bensalem (Google "Philadelphia Gun Club Pigeons") and Wing Pointe, in Hamburg. The shoots are legal, but should be banned because of the lack of treatment for the wounded pigeons.

A pigeon is launched from a trap into the air in front of a shooter. Some pigeons are killed quickly. Other pigeons are wounded and rounded up by trap boys and put into a barrel, alive or dead. Some pigeons make it out of the shooting ring; a large majority of them are wounded because of the close proximity to the shooter.

The gun club's attorney states, "following a shoot, birds are collected by staff and specially trained dogs." Those that are still alive are decapitated or strangled. That is for the birds that are on their property. Many birds fly off their property and land in neighboring areas or the Delaware River. These wounded birds will then succumb to freezing, starvation and/or drowning. That is humane?

The article states, "Sportsmen at Philadelphia Gun Club in Bensalem said they continue a tradition of pigeon shoots for a club that existed since 1877." First of all, there is nothing sporting about it. There is no sport in killing birds that are launched in front of you. There is no chase, and the birds are discarded, alive or dead, like trash. At least hunters will hunt and consume their prey. The main reasons the shoots continue are the large purses bet on the outcome of the shoots. Thousands of dollars are bet on each shoot. And the large contributions the members make to certain legislators (you can Google that also).

The NRA does not want the pigeon shoots stopped, supposedly fearing they also want to go after all hunting. Pennsylvania is one the last states where these shoots are legal, and as far as I know, hunting is still legal in all the other states. Many shooters actually come from other states to participate in a Pennsylvania pigeon shoot, as it is illegal in their home state. And it is not a Second Amendment issue, which I hold dearly. It is about the humane treatment of animals.

I was at a Bensalem Township meeting a couple of years ago and one of the councilmen stated that these shoots should be stopped and they should come into the 21st century. Most of the other councilmen agreed. It still continues in Bensalem because it is a state issue.

Educate yourselves about this so called "sport" and contact your state legislators; let them know it is time to come into the 21st century and ban these barbaric shoots.

Ted Grupp

Lower Makefield