Poachers and their bedfellows

Maybe Harry Whittington should have been on the other end of the shotgun, but at least he got his just desserts for being a God damn poacher: Neither he nor the vice president bothered to buy upland game bird stamps before they jumped in the car - the car, for Christ's sake - to drive around looking for quail to shoot.

Pathetic, but also funny.

Here's what the vice president (through his office) had to say about the whole matter:

"It has been brought to the Vice President's attention by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department this afternoon that, although he had acquired a 125 dollar Texas non-resident season hunting license, he lacked a 7 dollar stamp for hunting upland game birds. To address any questions about the licensing:

-- A member of the Vice President's staff wrote a check for 140 dollars understanding that this would purchase a Texas non-resident season hunting license that would permit the Vice President to hunt quail in Texas. It appears now that the license itself cost 125 dollars, and an extra 15 dollars covered the cost of a Federal migratory bird stamp. The Vice President did not need the Federal stamp, as he already possessed one.

-- The staff asked for all permits needed, but was not informed of the 7 dollar upland game bird stamp requirement.

-- Because the requirement is new, the Department has informed us that it is issuing warnings, and the Vice President expects to receive one. He will take whatever steps are needed to comply with applicable rules.

-- In the meantime, the Vice President has sent a 7 dollar check to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which is the cost of an upland game bird stamp."

So pretty much it is OK to break the rules if you didn't stay up to date on them. Or, I should say, if your flunkies didn't stay up to date on them. I wonder if Cheney usually has someone else carry his gun (and yes, I am making a "Full Metal Jacket" reference).

I also notice the National Rifle Association shows no sign of issuing a safety-related statement on the matter. This is the best they could do.

Where's Eddie Eagle for such a great teaching moment?