Why the media frenzy?

[darth tang]

Ok, Cheney accidentally shoot a friend while hunting this happens. But I have never seensomeone that shot someone while hunting, call the the police, and ambulance and then turn around a contact the newspapers and tv media. Normally that is done by the authorities...like police and investigators....with any criminal act or accident.
Yet, here the media is pissed off because they weren't told fast enough. Get over it, you were told the next day, when most other incidents such as this would have been reported.

 

[sdpetie]

k

 

[lovethesea]

and can you say H.I.P.A.A. ? I am throughly sick of the media tantrums. One popular media mouth said "well, someone should have called the hopital and Doctor and gotten a statement"

:hilarious

 

[sdpetie]

media did it because it knew it would rile you sensitive people up.
it was right.

 

[molamola]

It is a bit ridiculous, but Cheney's accident did slow down some of the bad reporting from the War in Iraq, and muffled Jesse Jackson's protest of the olympics.
I feel bad for Cheney, and he seems like the kind of guy that will be riled with guilt over it for the rest of his life. The man he shot, however, seems to have a good sense of humor about it.

 

[crimzy]

Just another point to this issue... any ordinary person will be charged with an offense such as reckless use of a firearm. Is Cheney immune to prosecution for shooting someone? Obviously this wasn't intentional but it was at least grossly negligent and possibly reckless. I do think the law should apply in an unbiased and fair manner. Selectively prosecuting certain people and failing to prosecute others opens the door for problems such as nepetism, racism, discrimination and others. JMO.

 

[dogstar]

I agree that the press core harped too much on the timeing, but I understand why. I myself wonder about why we are not hearing so much from " the authorities...like police and investigators" like you mentioned.
I understand that the SS didnt let the local Sherif interveiw anyone until the next morning after the news was posted on the web. Could be wrong.
Im not saying that it was not an accident, but all we have as far as I know and I have not really been researching everything on it, but just their ( Cheney's ) story and there sticking to it. I dont even know if the press knows but right from the beginning they also reported it as an accident and I dont think they could be sure.
I know accidents happen and that it probably was one but the details there giving sounds fishy to me. I have been a hunter myself and understand small gauge shotguns and at 30 yards I dont think the pellets would enter deep into the body thru clothing and a vest. I dont know why they would coverup something like an accidental discharge at a closer range or any other possibility and Im not saying they are.
I doubt we will ever know but one thing is that I dont beleive every thing I hear from the press or the authorities and thats been my conserns from the start of this. Where are they ? Local ones. The investigation. If there is one.
Its news and it should be reported on so I feel the media is just doing their job, if anything I would hope they would do it better and ask the important questions instead of reporting the statements as facts.
I will wait and "investigate" haha, more myself befor I beleive anything about it. As I think we all should do. JMOs

 

[darth tang]

Originally Posted by crimzy
Just another point to this issue... any ordinary person will be charged with an offense such as reckless use of a firearm. Is Cheney immune to prosecution for shooting someone? Obviously this wasn't intentional but it was at least grossly negligent and possibly reckless. I do think the law should apply in an unbiased and fair manner. Selectively prosecuting certain people and failing to prosecute others opens the door for problems such as nepetism, racism, discrimination and others. JMO.
I have known of two shooting accidents while hunting. One a father shot his son's leg off and the other guy shot his friend with bird shot. Neither incident had charges come out of them as they were accidents. This is not a case of above the law and selective prosecution. There is legal precedent for this as this type of thing has occurred before.
On a brighter note, Cheney's popularity has gone up since it has been discovered he shot a lawyer.
Darth (Taking a jab a crimzy) Tang

 

[darth tang]

I agree dogstar it is news and should be reported on, but a lot of reporters are turning the story into a story about them, instead of what happenned.

 

[crimzy]

Originally Posted by Darth Tang
I have known of two shooting accidents while hunting. One a father shot his son's leg off and the other guy shot his friend with bird shot. Neither incident had charges come out of them as they were accidents. This is not a case of above the law and selective prosecution. There is legal precedent for this as this type of thing has occurred before.
On a brighter note, Cheney's popularity has gone up since it has been discovered he shot a lawyer.
Darth (Taking a jab a crimzy) Tang
I wonder if I can get Cheney's cell phone #... I have some adversaries who he may want to go hunting with.

Crim (why am I always arguing?) zy

 

[molamola]

A little something from Steve Martin in the Huffington Post...
Vice President ---- Cheney, while hunting wild geese in the Rose Garden, accidentally shot President Bush twice, once in the heart and once in the head. "I didn't really shoot the President twice," said Cheney. "The second time I shot him, I was president. It wasn't until my third shot, where I accidentally shot my own foot, that I had shot the president twice. I was officially injured and unable to govern, when Dennis Hastert came in, and stepped on the butt handle of the rifle causing it to swing up like a rake and shoot his hair off. I guess I'm officially responsible for that too, meaning I shot the acting president for a total of three occupants of the oval office. I'm not proud, but it is a record."

 

[beth]

The reason it is in the news is because Cheney is the V President. He shot someone, accidental or not. He shot him. It is newsworthy. Now, the issue about some news affiliates getting ticked because they didn't find out soon enough, is a tad lame.
Any shooting will require an investigation by law enforcement. And any investigation of the VP, should be headlined. The outcome of the shooting remains to be seen, depending on the victim's condition. The repercussions of this accident remains to be seen and the worst case scenario could be serious...that is why it is newsworthy.
Just because Cheney is a R-VP, and most media leans Left, does not mean that whatever happens involving the Presidency should be hushed; it just is not going to happen, nor should it. It comes with the job.

 

[darth tang]

I don't think anyone is saying it shouldn't be reported on. I am personally tired of the media whining that they weren't told immediately. That is all. Report the story....that is it.

 

[37g joe]

Originally Posted by crimzy
Just another point to this issue... any ordinary person will be charged with an offense such as reckless use of a firearm. Is Cheney immune to prosecution for shooting someone? Obviously this wasn't intentional but it was at least grossly negligent and possibly reckless. I do think the law should apply in an unbiased and fair manner. Selectively prosecuting certain people and failing to prosecute others opens the door for problems such as nepetism, racism, discrimination and others. JMO.
What are you talking about. My cousin acidently shot his dad in a very similar incedent and he wasnt prosecuted as long as the other person does not press charges these cases are never brought forward. Cheney is not being prosecuted because he did not commit a crime.

 

[crimzy]

Originally Posted by 37g Joe
What are you talking about. My cousin acidently shot his dad in a very similar incedent and he wasnt prosecuted as long as the other person does not press charges these cases are never brought forward. Cheney is not being prosecuted because he did not commit a crime.
A part of your comment is incorrect. It is a misconception that a victim has absolute discretion regarding whether or not someone is prosecuted. A criminal case is "The State vs. Defendant" and not "Victim vs. Defendant". In a criminal case, the prosecutor has the responsibility of deciding whether or not to issue charges. In your cousin's matter, maybe there was no evidence that he was acting recklessly or negligently. Maybe Cheney was not acting recklessly either, I honestly don't know. But based on the injury sustained to the victim, it seems clear to me that Cheney probably was not acting in a prudent or responsible manner with his gun.
Apparently based on a couple responses that I've gotten, hunting accidents are regularly not prosecuted. I can only speak to the Michigan law regarding reckless use of a firearm and this incident would fall within those confines.
Possibly the answer is more of an issue of natural selection. Let the hunters take each other out... then the more intelligent members of society will reproduce.

(this

is not directed at joe in particular... just hunters in general).

 

[37g joe]

Originally Posted by crimzy
A part of your comment is incorrect. It is a misconception that a victim has absolute discretion regarding whether or not someone is prosecuted. A criminal case is "The State vs. Defendant" and not "Victim vs. Defendant". In a criminal case, the prosecutor has the responsibility of deciding whether or not to issue charges. In your cousin's matter, maybe there was no evidence that he was acting recklessly or negligently. Maybe Cheney was not acting recklessly either, I honestly don't know. But based on the injury sustained to the victim, it seems clear to me that Cheney probably was not acting in a prudent or responsible manner with his gun.
Apparently based on a couple responses that I've gotten, hunting accidents are regularly not prosecuted. I can only speak to the Michigan law regarding reckless use of a firearm and this incident would fall within those confines.
Possibly the answer is more of an issue of natural selection. Let the hunters take each other out... then the more intelligent members of society will reproduce.

(this

is not directed at joe in particular... just hunters in general).

Never been hunting befor but now because of that last comment I want to go hunting

 

[darth tang]

Originally Posted by crimzy
Maybe Cheney was not acting recklessly either, I honestly don't know. But based on the injury sustained to the victim, it seems clear to me that Cheney probably was not acting in a prudent or responsible manner with his gun.

From what I have read and learned (and it has been extensive) both individuals broke a rule regarding hunting and gun safety. And as we all know in football, if each team has a penalty they off set and negate each other out, and the game continous on unhindered.
Darth (The Official) Tang

 

[darth tang]

Originally Posted by 37g Joe
Never been hunting befor but now because of that last comment I want to go hunting

Normally in hunting accidents, The stupid one is the one holding the gun and the smart one is missing a body part or on the ground.
Darth (I buy Venison for a reason) Tang

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by crimzy
Apparently based on a couple responses that I've gotten, hunting accidents are regularly not prosecuted. I can only speak to the Michigan law regarding reckless use of a firearm and this incident would fall within those confines.
Silly Yankees and their gun laws...
Anyone who has ever been bird hunting has been hit by pellets... I went hunting with my dad as a child... I had pellets "rained" on me. This was more of a direct hit (as it penetrated skin), but still fairly common... to think it had to be "reckless discharge of a firearm" is silly.
The reason this was such a media storm imho was 2 fold: 1. The Washington Press was out of the loop. They were mad the C.C. press scooped the story. 2. It fell on the same weekend that the media's golden boy Gore was in Saudi Arabia spouting off his borderline treasonous comments. If they didn't cover Cheney they would have had to cover Gore.

 

[beth]

I no little about hunting, but is it not a rule that you don't shoot until you see the prey?