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Hugh McDiarmid Sr.: Dove Slaughter Begins
Gun Nuts Blow Reason, Loved Birds Out of Sky

Published September 15, 2004. Detroit Free Press. By Hugh McDiarmid Sr.
Hugh McDiarmid Sr.: Dove slaughter begins

Sigh!

And it's just beginning.

The reference is to the cascade of self-serving and mostly sophomoric rationales coming forth from the gun-nut lobby to justify the recently approved dove slaughter in Michigan and to head off a serious and enthusiastic attempt by birders, sensible outdoors-people and others to reinstate the ban via the statewide ballot.

Some of the noisiest blather has come from Michigan's big-time trophy hunter and rock 'n' roll meister, Ted Nugent, who licks his chops and drools whenever doves get mentioned. It was he who bragged at the state Capitol early last November -- as the latest (and successful) campaign to browbeat the Legislature into lifting Michigan's 99-year-long dove-hunting ban got under way -- about how he intended to eat them "tonight," "next week" and "for Thanksgiving."

"Doves are food!" the Nuge announced. He referred to any of us who might view them otherwise, i.e., that doves might be pleasant, peaceful birds or that they shouldn't be blown away simply for fun or entertainment -- or for food -- as "mentally deficient."

And, of course, since Nugent is a proud board member of the National Rifle Association -- and because the NRA is virtually certain to bankroll an anti-repeal effort when and if repeal makes the ballot -- well, you can safely bet that we'll be hearing more from the noisy Nugent.

Then, of course, there's the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, which despite occasional forays into legitimate conservation issues, routinely flops for its NRA masters. Last week, in a brief exchange on WJR-AM with the national Humane Society's Wayne Pacelle, the MUCC's executive director, Sam Washington, dismissed the mourning dove as just another "game bird" and described the new dove-shoot as nothing more than "using renewable natural resources wisely."

Hmmm. And, of course, there are the hunters who tout the dove hunt as a means to A) teach (or hook) youngsters into hunting; B) allow oldsters or handicapped folk to get in their target practice or C) promote "family" hunting -- all because mourning doves, unlike many other game birds, are plentiful and readily accessible.

Interestingly, the gun lobby, despite the Legislature's capitulation after years of fending off dove-hunt initiatives, and despite Gov. Jennifer Granholm's shameless flip-flop (she reversed herself after promising to veto dove-hunt legislation), may have a huge struggle on its hands. That's because, according to Julie Baker, campaign coordinator of the Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban, the initial response to the petition drive (aimed at the 2006 ballot) has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. And available polling data suggest that, for now at least, the voting public would be solidly anti-dove hunt.

But it would be foolish to underestimate the money, intensity and noise that the NRA, the MUCC and their pals in the ammo industry will generate to keep it off the ballot or, if it's on, to defeat it.

Their cacophony, which already has begun, will include dire warnings about how doves are only the first step and that tree-huggers, animal rights zealots and others will next try to ban the grouse or pheasant hunt followed by deer and elk . . . then pigs and cows . . . and chickens and eggs -- anything that, as Sam Washington put it, will prohibit Michigan from "using its renewable natural resources wisely."

And watch for them, if they follow earlier scripts, to gradually eliminate "hunt" from their propaganda and replace it with "harvest."

Toward the end, of course, they will almost certainly up the ante by railing about how, down deep, what the do-gooders really want is to wipe out the Second Amendment and take away guns -- maybe even arrange to dig up Charlton Heston, once he dies, and pry loose whatever's in his cold, dead hands.

That's all nonsense, of course. It may well be that lots of so-called do-gooders are anti-hunting or anti-guns. But most of 'em are realists, too, and recognize that Michigan isn't about to turn its back on a long, popular outdoor tradition -- hey, hunters can blow away something like 40 other species of birds here in addition, now, to doves. And, yes, there are more important issues afoot, such as water and air quality, Great Lakes diversion, etc. But what this little saga is about is doves -- only doves -- and the people who enjoy their mournful but intriguing coos and appreciate the fact that, for nearly a century until now, Michigan has let them rest in peace.

It's also about whether it will be the people of Michigan -- or the NRA, the MUCC and assorted other gun nuts -- who will decide whether doves should or should not be slaughtered for fun and entertainment -- or, as Nugent would put it, for "food."

HUGH McDIARMID SR. is a retired Free Press political columnist.
For information about the proposed ballot initiative, visit www.stopshootingdoves.org or call the Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban at 1-517-321-DOVE.

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