Letters to the editor - About Poaching - Methow Valley News

Of justice and respect

John,

You are right (“Of wolves and justice,” Editorial, April 1), there is damning evidence. Tom confesses to killing a wolf. Bill confesses to lying to federal agents. Plus a truckload of physical evidence. No one is surprised. The Whites made plain their dislike for the ESA and wolves a long time ago. However, there is no evidence for your implication that the affidavit is lying. The Whites know the law and deliberately chose to break it.

Only humans can choose between lawful and illegal activities. The Whites made that choice. The wolves, however, can only be what God made them to be. They have no choice (nor voice) in the matter. If there is any victim here, it is not Tom or Bill White.

The right of a person to exist, to be free from vigilante justice, is a given in this country (or should be). But respect? That is something you earn. You really think the Whites deserve your respect? Is theirs an example you would hold up for your children to emulate?

Am I angry? You bet. Am I going to be a vigilante, ignore the law and do as I please, assuming that my judgment is the only one that counts? No. Do I hope the law metes out the maximum to the Whites? You bet.

Let’s take another look at whom and what deserves our respect and sympathy.

Lucy Reid

Carlton

Maybe the right thing

Dear Editor,

I have a concern for Tom and Bill White families. I have seen animals caught in fences. My opinion is that it is far better to shoot an animal out of kindness for the animal, to get it out of its suffering. It is dangerous to try and cut any animal caught strongly in a fence. So if the wolf was caught in the fence with no other alternative, I’d think it was the right thing to do.

I do hope the Whites won’t end up in serious trouble.

Margaret Hill

Twisp

Not above the law

To the editor,

When the Whites came to Easton, Wash., we were under the impression they were intelligent people. Suellen was the superintendent of the Easton School District and Bill was a certified Hunter Safety instructor. He introduced the  hunter safety course to our community. This course emphasizes sportsmanship, ethical practice and no poaching, as this is illegal. Perhaps Bill uses his involvement in this hunter safety course as a smokescreen for his true interest?

The Whites know the law. They are not above the law. With Bill’s background with the hunter safety course, if found guilty, he should be prosecuted to the extent of the law.

Craig and Susan McKee

Easton, Wash.

Must be proud

Editor:

I was horrified to learn about the two wolves being killed. I’m sure that Mr. White feels he is special and the laws don’t apply to him. Unfortunately a lot of people suffer from that delusion. But he is not and he has to obey laws also.

The cruel way in which he apparently trapped the wolves is bad enough. Maybe father and his son should be walked into one of the traps and left to see if they could chew their way out.

Whether the wolf is on private property is irrelevant. They are on the endangered species list and it is against the law to kill them. (Of course the wolf realized he was on private property but chose to ignore that fact.)

Thanks to people like Mr. White, they were nearly wiped out altogether. It would be a shame to lose a beautiful animal like this. I want to see all three of them get the maximum sentence. He must be very proud that his son and also daughter-in-law are following in his footsteps! May all three of them go to jail and be fined.

Priscilla A Farquhar

Winthrop