Pig was a monster, but he wasn't wild

Jamison Stone poses Tuesday, May 29, 2007, next to the skull of an average-sized hog, left, and the skull of the 1,051-pound hog he killed May 3, in Oxford, Ala.

[Disgusted]

What kind of idiot takes an 11 yr. old hunting? Why is an 11 yr. old shooting a pistol? Who is he going to shoot next, his school mates?

[Mirja Bishop]

This story makes me sick. How the original owner could be so cruel as to sell this gentle animal who had been a pet in her family to a slaughterhouse like Lost Creek Plantation where the animal stands no chance is beyond my understanding. How can any parent teach his child to kill and then parade him around like a hero? How sick is this!!! Places like Lost Creek Plantation should be outlawed. What kind of a person takes credit for killing an animal who has no chance to escape or worse yet who has been brought up as a pet? What has become of our society that we treat our animals with such vicious disdain. Shame on all of us for allowing this horrific practice to continue.

[Denny]

Disgusted wrote:

What kind of idiot takes an 11 yr. old hunting? Why is an 11 yr. old shooting a pistol? Who is he going to shoot next, his school mates?

Although I strongly disagree with hunting for sport the fact that the 11yr. is competent with fire arms is a good thing. This is not one of the people that you will read about in the future going beserk and shooting his class mates. Although I don't agree with this specific activity, the boy is spending time with an adult away from the TV set and video games. I'll bet these people's home doesn't get burglarized very often.

[jim hughes]

hey denny glad you have a crystal ball to predict this kid wont be shooting any classmates or maybe a girlfriend who dumps him . he shot a pig raised as a pet . what neighborhood do you live in where there are no sports or bicycles the only exercise a fat turd like this kid is to run around with a 50 caliber hand gun .

[Sonya]

Are you that sad and pathetic to think that way. These are the kids that learn what danger guns can do. They have the knowledge to know what to do and not to do with a gun. Where do you think you food comes from. People hunting of all ages. I have a nephew who has been hunting since he was 5. It is up to you as a parent to show the good and bad of shooting a gun. Kids kill Kids because the are not shown early enough the conscuince in takeing a life. A kid who hunts see it first hand. Think before you speak. Only an Idoit would try to blame a gun and not the shooters lack of respect for the machine in their hands.This comment pissed me off. So before you eat meat just think some kid probaly helped slaughter that animal you are about to bite into, and I doubt he will end up a murder because of it.

[Sonya]

My previous statement was for "disgusted."

[amazed]

I have to agree with sonya here 100%...I've been in those shoes and I didn't kill anyone. There are different ways of thinking between someone north of the Carolina's and a place like Alabama. No one I ever knew brought a gun to school.
Disgusted...learn a little bit more. Hunting is a man's sport, And when an 11 year old kid can do it, he learns between life and death and what guns can do. Fishing is also apart of hunting...know anyone who brought fishhooks to school?
Mirja...seriously. Human's have been killing animals since the cave man days, no one REALLY keeps a pig as a pet unless it's going to be slaughtered. That beef in your fridge, could have been some ones "favorite" and look where it is now.
JIM...OBVIOUSLY NOT IN 'RICH AS HELL TOWN'out by ATLANTIC CITY NJ. Some people don't have a supermarket and find it cheaper to live on the land. Take a vacation to one of these little towns one day and not to the BAHAMAS or CANCUN. maybe your eyes will open up to the "down side" of america. Worry about those bears creeping up in your area. Guns kill them also and hey...it might be a fat kid.

[Sam - A avid hunter]

Disgusted wrote:

What kind of idiot takes an 11 yr. old hunting? Why is an 11 yr. old shooting a pistol? Who is he going to shoot next, his school mates?

Your an idiot. I Have hunted since I could remember. I was shooting on my own way before 11. I am now grown, but my father trusted me with a weapon since I was 9. I was huntin on my own, loading my own gun, carryin my own gun, and shootin me own gun. And the thought of shooting a class mate never crossed my mind. So be open-minded and stop being a little bitch.

[Funny]

I have no stand in this what so ever because I don't really care either way but when people get on fussing and trying to make points and use the wrong language usage it kills me. Example: to/too, you're/your, where/were, you get my point here.

I think everyone is entitled to an opinion and should express it, but if you are just going to make yourself look ignorant (and no I did not say stupid because you aren't stupid) then you shouldn't bother because people won't take you seriously.

p.s. everyone mis-spells a word now and then

[JTallapoosa]

Ms. Bishop is correct, the original owners, who considered the pig a pet, are the ones everyone should hold responsible. They knew to whom they sold the pig and what would happen to it. Poor pig. Give the boy a break, as I understood the article, he is a straight A student and active in his church. He is just being an all American boy.

[Bremen alum]

All American boys do not shoot animals that are fenced in. Then his dad is a piece of crap for continuing the lie and letting his go on television to tell the lie. Said he tracked it through the swamp on a 5000 acre hunting preserve. More like 200 acres with a high fence, hell the pig was so fat he could not walk. Kid just walked up to the pig and shot it in the head. Fine hunting lesson he is learning there.

As for 11 being too young to hunt/shoot, research has shown time and time again that people who learn how to operate a gun at an early age are far less likely to commit crimes with guns