Bad News

Someone has shot Peevy, my horse. She is not dead thankfully. She has only a small wound in her right quarter.

The vet has successfully removed the bullet pieces. The surgery cost $6,000.00. Heather has paid it for me so the surgery could be done immediately. Now I must send her reimbursement. After all, why should she pay the cost for it. I must bear the cost since my original arrangements for Peevy were changed of necessity.

It is not the first time animals, or houses for that matter, have been shot by the less than intelligent. Two years ago my house was struck by a bullet as was my neighbor's house. Another neighbor had their cow shot. I am stupefied for that one. How does one believe a cow is a deer when it is painted hunter orange and the word cow is clearly visible on both sides?

I am a new American so some may say I don't understand properly. I believe the words of the US Constitution when it says "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." but I remain in wonder why some people are allowed to own such a deadly thing. Could there not be mandatory training before one is able to buy a gun? At the least, could they not be required to prove they see the difference of a deer, a house, a horse, and a cow before being issued a hunting license? Since it is their right to own a gun should it not also be their obligation to be properly trained in its use? Rather than banning even the image of a gun from schools, does it not make more sense to teach children the safety required to own one since it is very likely that one day they will?

I am not pro-gun or anti-gun any more than I am pro-knife or anti-knife. Both are simply tools that exist. Both may kill; either by accident or by intent. So may a baseball bat. If there is to be a ban on things that kill, why should it be limited to guns? Are we only particular to what is used to kill rather than the killing itself?

*sigh* I suppose I should be happy that Peevy is not dead.