Dead Squirrel Contest for Cash & Guns?
February 01, 2013 | view comments (17) | add yours
Friends of Animals Protests at Holley Fire House Saturday, Feb. 16, 3 pm - 6 pm
New York — Friends of Animals (FoA), an international animal advocacy group founded in New York in 1957, is descending on Holley, NY on Saturday, Feb. 16, outside the Holley Fire Department from 3 pm - 6 pm to protest the town’s annual “Squirrel Slam,” — a squirrel-shooting contest for children and adults under the guise of raising money for the Holley Fire Department.
“Holley officials are dead wrong in proceeding with this obscene killing contest involving children as young as 12 — which offers cash and gun prizes to participants who kill the heaviest squirrels,” Edita Birnkrant, Friends of Animals’ New York Director says. “Firearms like an AR/22 Semi and other rifles will be raffled off as rewards after dead squirrels are weighed at the Holley Fire Hall, 7 Thomas Street in Holley, NY, starting at 5:00 pm on Feb. 16th,” Birnkrant adds.
“Squirrels are not shooting targets, and the NRA’s brainwashing scheme to indoctrinate children to seize guns — and then to create a spectacle of dead animals for prize money and firearms is a disastrous, convoluted idea,” Friends of Animals’ President Priscilla Feral says.
Local groups, Animal Advocates of Western New York, and Animal Rights Advocates of Upstate New York will join the demonstration to raise the conscience of people inside and outside the Holley community, FoA reports.
A national conversation on gun violence is happening now in our country, and killing contests such as Holley’s “Squirrel Slam” subvert a civilized human culture — brainwashing children to think guns are cool and that terrorizing and killing animals is a fun, rewarded activity, FoA says.
Birnkrant said Friends of Animals asked Holley officials to cancel the squirrel-killing contest, while thousands of people across the country signed petitions, sent e-mail messages and called the Fire Chief and Mayor to object to the event.
“On February 16, Holley will be filled with animal advocates who believe that violent, regressive events like the ‘Squirrel Slam’ need to bite the dust,” Birnkrant says. “There are plenty of creative, entertaining ways to raise monies that don’t involve prompting children to kill animals with guns.”
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17 Comments
On February 2, 2013, Marinella Ferrara wrote:
Please save our squirrel friends
On February 2, 2013, dave wrote:
WOW, is this for real, people being that stupid and teaching there kids to follow in there footsteps, this must be a hick town away from the city were everybody’s DNA is the same and there’s no dental records. never heard of people doing things this idiotic, outright slaughter of animals for pleasure,cant tell me these people running this don’t have mental issues. don’t know how the boneheads running this can’t be charged with animal abuse. this is a clear example of it. you would never see something like this going on were normal people live.
On February 2, 2013, Martha Milne wrote:
For shame. Incredible.
On February 3, 2013, Susan Stokes wrote:
Unbelievable. I am sharing.
On February 3, 2013, Sally wrote:
It’s called open season on squirrels in NYS. Don’t like it? Contact the NYS DEC ( Department of Environmental Conservation).
On February 4, 2013, Emily wrote:
“Sally”, the protest isn’t about hunting season. It’s about killing for prizes and drawings for semi-automatic weapons.
On February 4, 2013, D Man wrote:
Is there any end to the abuse on animals? This is outrageous!!
Isn’t it against the law, too?
On February 4, 2013, susie dezarn wrote:
our country is battling violence as it is, why promote killing among 12 year olds of harmless animals??? incredible, America! if you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention!
On February 4, 2013, Big Lil wrote:
In the book of Deuteronomy, the Bible instructs parents to teach their children about the ways of God. In Deuteronomy 4:9, the Bible tells God’s people to teach God’s laws “to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:10 goes on to instruct the Israelites to assemble so they “may learn to revere (God) as long as they live in the land and may teach (God’s laws) to their children.”
Squirrels can be backyard pests. But before you write them off, remember that they have a purpose.
On February 5, 2013, barbara pike wrote:
The attempts to communicate with anyone in the town of “Holley” have been unsuccessful. “Anyone” means the fire chief, several town representatives etc.
Perhaps this is the event yearly your residents look forward to for entertainment and the raising of needed funds, but there are events that could be introduced for the next generation.
Barbara Pike CT
On February 5, 2013, Maggie wrote:
Perhaps this organization might be interested in FACTS? It’s open squirrel season here in New York. It has been since Sept 1. Hunters will still be out harvesting their daily limit according to the DEC regulations regardless if the Holley fundraising event was taking place or not. Guns are NOT be awarded as prizes. They are being raffled off. Hence, the fundraising part. According to the DEC, children 12 and up can hunt provided they attend and PASS a 10-hour hunter safety course which includes the safe handling of firearms with their parents’ approval AND they’re accompanied by a licensed adult. Lastly, we are NOT advocating the use of guns and killing as fun to our children.
FoA comments:
Oh, we know the facts. A shameless promotion to involve children too young to make a moral decision either for or against the killing of animals for fun is being undertaken in Holley NY.
On February 7, 2013, wendy westphal wrote:
The facts is.. that although it may be legal, it is immoral for a fire dept to condone and sponsor such an event. People that have taken an oath to save lives..not just human lives, but ALL life! Smoking and drinking are legal..but is it good for you? Is it good for ANYONE?? I think NOT
WHAT did the world DO before you came along? That’s RIGHT
And oh.. they have diseases! Should we just pop off everything that could possibly carry a disease?? Check the CDC..are squirrels on that list of horrible disease carriers?? NO!! And if they are so disease ridden,why in God’s name would you want to eat them?? And even though it is legal hunting season..the hunting laws do not take into account that due to global warming and the climate changing so drastically,the baby squirrels are coming earlier than usual.You people want to kill the heaviest and win a prize? What is wrong with this picture? Would you want someone to kill your mother for a $50 prize?? I read somewhere in an interview,that someone from Holley said “I’ve heard stories that they all get eaten.” LOL! I’ve heard fairy tales also!! I’ve heard ALL of Holley’s excuses and they just don’t FLY! You people are seriously MESSED UP! There are MANY other ways to raise money..oh that’s right..Holley has turned down the offer for money that has been raised for you!! So don’t try to say it is to raise money!!! Just WRONG on so many levels!
On February 8, 2013, Mary wrote:
Why is there no outrage over this one???
Mississippi Squirrel Hunt
On February 9, 2013, Laura Slitt wrote:
Another reminder of how illiterate our nation is about the connection between human and animal violence. Another stark reminder that in a nation rampant with cruelty and abuses of power, we teach it at a very young age.
This is exactly the reason our nation must continue to deal with high crime rates, high addiction rates, mental illness, and other abnormal manifestations of what children are being taught.
When children who have a natural affinity for animals, as it should be, are desensitized, their inner bond with nature destroyed by adults who encourage this horrific killing, they become mentally confused and emotionally harmed. We seem to be a nation of emotionally retarded, spiritually void, boardering on merciless consumers. A Fire Department, Police Department, School District, parents, who abide in teaching killing of tiny creatures who simply want to live, is the reflerction of a society turning in on itself, with exactly the outward sysmptoms we are experiencing. I would hope and pray that this community chooses to educate itself on the human/animal violence connection. Our relationship with animals, ALL animals, is critical in growing to be a whole, compassionate, empathetic human being, and the lesson this FD teaches is the exact opposite of right thinking. Please Read Dr. Frank Ascione’s book, Children and Animals, Exploring the ROOTS OF KINDNESS AND CRUELTY. Teaching children gun violence towards animals is emotional abuse. Really, that’s what it is.
On February 9, 2013, Lucy01 wrote:
How can you do this to your children? Now that you have taught your children, at the age of 12, to be killers of small animals, they can be the serial killers that you have taught them to be by age 13. Oh, how proud you must be!
It has been proven that serial killers start by killing small animals. And no 12 year old should be taught to shoot a gun. Have all the school shootings in your country taught you nothing? Children and guns do not belong together. Smarten up!
On February 9, 2013, DMan wrote:
Didn’t the governor just pass a law about guns? Why would
he say nothing about putting Guns in kids hands?
On February 12, 2013, Alison wrote:
Here is the latest email which I sent to the Holley Fire Department in my attempt to persuade them to cancel this event. According to what I just learned from one poster, I may have one small factual error in it in that guns are apparently being raffled and not awarded as prizes at the event. I am correct however in my assertion that cash is being awarded for the number and weight of animals and that this is being presented as a fun family event.
I write to make my final plea to you to cancel the squirrel hunt contest.
My reasons in opposition (very briefly - I could provide more detail if desired) are:
The cartoon animal on the poster advertising the event is a frightened squirrel. This to me this does relate a great insensitivity to the fear and pain the animals will definitely feel during this event. The title of the event “squirrel slam” also conveys disrespect and a willingness to inflict pain.
This is NOT a normal hunting event: it is advertised as a “fun” CONTEST where killing animals is rewarded with cash and guns. The taking of a life — any life — should NEVER be seen as “fun.” I have found out that there are a number of hunters who in fact agree with me 100% on this and they are opposed to this contest.
The image of the fireman, a life saver who is pictured not infrequently administering oxygen to rescued animals, is not compatible with what will occur late Saturday afternoon as hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of lifeless and maimed bodies are presented to the Fire House.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands of animals will be removed on Saturday February 16 and their removal has a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem. You have removed a prime food source for the large non-human predators (hawks, large mammals) for instance.
A number of animals are nursing and pregnant females and you will not only remove them but you will leave their orphans to die by starvation.
I can honestly say that I HAVE listened so, so carefully to ALL viewpoints and ALL arguments, but I still come down on the side of cancelling the event.
There are so, so many ways to raise funds for your fire department. If you cannot think of any there are many, many people and resources who will help you do so. Your local business leaders, concerned citizens, town officials and educators should be able to come up with solid support and great ideas.
Let’s all try to do what we can to make a positive change in the world and consider the real impact our actions have on wildlife, the environment, and ALL living creatures, including our brothers and sisters.