Letters

Jimmie Who?

Don't worry, Jimmie Johnson, I know who you are: a fiercely motivated, dedicated driver who is loyal to those closest to him and refreshingly fan friendly. For way too long NASCAR has had more than enough (to borrow your phrase) "arrogant ass[es]." It's great to see you holding the Sprint Cup trophy again.
Jessica Kubiel, Bayville, N.J.

Your story gives traditional NASCAR fans a plethora of reasons not to like Johnson (Jimmie Steps Out, Nov. 24). The makeup-wearing, pretty-boy NASCAR drivers are really starting to take a toll on fans like myself.
J.D. McGaugh, Liberty, Mo.

The Future of Hunting

In his story on the decline of hunting (A More Dangerous Game, Nov. 24), Matthew Teague all but suggests we dial 911 to get the assistance of sport hunters to help protect us from the onslaught of wildlife attacks on people. The story he opens with is an aberrational—in fact, almost a freakish—case of a wolf stalking a person. A serious-minded piece would have asked why no leading hunting group holds hunters to their self-professed standards of using the game killed and abiding by principles of fair chase. Those standards are nowhere to be seen on the 10,000 or so canned hunting facilities in the United States—where animals are shot for a fee in a guaranteed kill arrangement. Nearly six times as many Americans spend time watching or feeding our nation's birds and animals as aiming to kill them. This shift away from predator to participant in the wonder of the natural world is heartening and a trend to be celebrated.
Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO,
The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, D.C.

Your story that discussed the tragic death of my son Kenton Carnegie was informative and necessary. I would be remiss, however, if I did not comment on statements in the article about me. I was at a wilderness camp, deer hunting, when I was informed that wolves had killed my son. The author writes, "For a while he was planning a trip to Saskatchewan, he said, to shoot any wolves he could find." Fact was, my hunting equipment was packed, and I was under the impression that I was required to make the 2,000-mile journey out to bring my son's remains home for a proper funeral. Yes, I did want to shoot the four fearless, habituated wolves that killed Kenton and would have if I could have. But I instead stayed in Oshawa to support my family and help make the necessary funeral arrangements. The author also states that I researched wolves "with murder on [my] mind." The government would not put my name on the permit to kill the wolves in that area, so shooting those wolves would have been unlawful. But my point is that people do not murder animals. We hunt, harvest and dispatch animals for various reasons. We must think long and hard about any policy or program that brings these animals into conflict with our families. Kenton's death was not a fairy tale. To learn more about Kenton's tragic story, visit kentoncarnegie.com.
Kim Carnegie, Oshawa, Ont.

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