Hit the Birdie?

U.S.A. Today carried the story yesterday about Nationwide Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour who was charged on Wednesday with intentionally killing a hawk. According to the story, the incident occurred on December 12 when Isenhour was filming a video segment for his show, Shoot Like a Pro.

Apparently Isenhour's filming was repeatedly interrupted by a red-shouldered hawk, protected as a migratory species, that made a lot of noise. The newspaper cites court documents that state Isenhour began hitting balls near the bird, (at the time about 300 yds. away) to get it to move. He gave up until the bird re-located within 75 yds.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine indicated in a report that Isenhour allegedly said, "I'll get him now." and aimed for the hawk. Baine wrote: "About the sixth ball came very near the bird's head and [Isenhour] was very excited that it was so close." A few shots more and witnesses say that Isenhour hit the hawk, knocking it out of the tree. It fell to the ground where it lay, bleeding from both nostrils.

Isenhour's sound engineer said no one on the crew intervened, a fact about which they are now remorseful. Isenhour was charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird. He faces a minimum of 14 months in jail and $1500 in fines, if convicted.

Now here's the clincher. "Americans have no tolerance for cruelty to animals," said Michael Markarian, executive vice-president of the Humane Society of the United States.

I agree. But why is it that the public can be so outraged over Michael Vick's cruelty to dogs and Isenhour's brutality toward an endangered migratory bird, and not seem to be able to convince their government representatives to pass legislation to ban inhumane treatment of horses?

Maybe you can explain it to me.