Florida bear hunt over, but questions, issues remain

The bear hunt is over. Didn't take long. Killing them in the forest sure taught 'em not to raid neighborhood garbage cans.

You say that makes no sense? You're right. But maybe it does show that, due to the time hunting was prohibited, bruins lost some of their wariness of people. A fatal mistake.

You hunters took part for pleasure, not to provide a civic "benefit." Why do you enjoy making something dead which, except for you, would still be alive? Is that a behavior we should applaud?

What do you do with the carcass? Have it stuffed and stand it in the family room so you can gloat whenever you look at it? Have a taxidermist provide you with a head on a plate so you can mount it on the wall?

Or skin it and stretch its fur out on the floor in front of the artificial fireplace? Maybe turn it into a fur stole that your wife can wear on winter's coldest night.

Does it have parts considered as aphrodisiacs in certain cultures, so you could sell it on the black market?

Do you eat it? I've never heard it's good for that, though pioneers may have done it on occasions when there was little alternative.

Are any of these valid reasons to do it today?

Our country does seem to love violence. How many movies or TV shows have none? Many actors prefer to portray villains, claiming it's more fun.

No matter how much bloodshed there is in real life, the NRA continues to adore firearms. No matter the carnage of abortion, too many refuse to oppose it. I haven't even mentioned war.

Is aggression in our genes, so we should rejoice that hunting at least has no human victim (usually)? Or is there another answer?

Arlene Flisik

Bradenton

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Florida bear hunt over, but questions, issues remain ."