hoplophobia Archives -

If It Is Gun Deer Season, Expect To See “Men With Guns”

Police in Ohio recently responded to two reports of “men with guns”. The first report resulted in a lockdown of a high school and a middle school while the second had a number of police cruisers converging upon the scene along Interstate 70.

What in the world is going on in Ohio to cause all these reports of “men with guns”?

Deer season. Or more appropriately, deer season mixed with a healthy dose of hoplophobia.

In the first case, Pickerington North High School and Lakeview Junior High were locked down for about 30 minutes when a student reported a man with a rifle near the schools, said Pickerington Superintendent Rob Walker.

Fairfield County deputies determined that the man was a hunter on his own property. The same thing happened seven or eight years ago, Walker said.

Still, he’s glad students are paying attention: “When in doubt, let’s err on the side of safety.”

In the second case, Columbus police cruisers converged on the Near East Side after reports of a man in camouflage with a gun near I-70 and Lilley Avenue.

Officers soon declared it a nonemergency, saying the man was a lost hunter.

As Miss Emily Litella would have said, never mind.

Going Bob Costas One Better

Josh Byrnes, General Manager of the San Diego Padres, is trying to outshine Bob Costas when it comes to making stupid comments about firearms. He is now blaming firearms for the cut that one of pitcher Andrew Cashner suffered to his pitching hand while dressing out a deer with a friend. The cut will keep Cashner out of the lineup for up to six months.

“As a GM, I am concerned,” Byrnes said. “You’re dealing with young guys, and obviously, we can control things on the job, but away from it, we hope they make the right decisions.

“I don’t know if athletes are predisposed to guns or not, but it’s certainly something that concerns you.”

Cashner suffered a lacerated tendon in his right thumb in a hunting accident last week, and underwent surgery Tuesday. He won’t be able to pitch until May or June, Byrnes said.

Cashner, an avid hunter, was accidentally stabbed in the hand by a friend while the pair were dressing meat, trimming the carcass.

The injury may have been the direct result of a knife wound, but realistically, Byrnes said, it was caused because of a hunting trip with guns.

Oh, please!

Has Byrnes never heard of bow hunting?

Or even cutting your hand with a kitchen knife? I doubt that there is anyone of us who hasn’t done that one time or another.

Accident happen. To blame firearms for the cut on Cashner’s hand is just plain hoplophobic stupidity.