Dear HCN,
I am sorry to say that I
will not be renewing my High Country News subscription. I have been
reading your paper with much interest and appreciation for the past
four years, but lately have become increasingly disappointed with
your anti-hunting, and anti-hunter,
sentiment.
While your writers do an outstanding
job illuminating some of the most complex and controversial issues
facing the West today, the idea that hunters as a group are somehow
less cognitive of the matters at hand, and generally harmful to the
causes you celebrate, consistently invades your stories and
commentary. I am not canceling my subscription because I cannot
stomach reading that with which I do not agree. To the contrary, a
vigorous literary debate concerning the issues that envelop
hunting, conservation and environmentalism is necessary for these
ways of life to evolve for the West’s benefit. However, your
commentary consistently derides hunters as a group and is
patronizing and insulting in tone, devaluing the rest of your
paper’s point of view.
Sportsmen and
environmentalists each have their shameful lot. But the balance of
their members are unquestionably cut from the same cloth, sharing
ideals, history and a vision for the future. For a publication of
the High Country News’ caliber and position to immaturely look down
its nose at a group that it could count as an incredible ally is a
sad loss for all.
William Ike
Krasniewicz
Boulder,
Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline High Country News derides hunters.
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