Posted tagged ‘bald eagle’

Bush Pardons Eagle Killer

November 28, 2008

bald-eagle–With less than two months remaining in office, G. W. Bush is extending an increasing number of presidential pardons, including one to Leslie Owen Collier, who pleaded guilty in 1995 to unlawfully killing three bald eagles in Charleston, Mo.  Hoping to kill coyotes in his area, Collier wound up taking the lives of other animals as well, including a red-tailed hawk, a great horned owl, an opossum, a raccoon, and seven coyotes in addition to the three bald eagles.

This lamest of lame duck presidents issued 14 pardons on Monday, including some to those convicted of drug conspiracy, tax evasion, bank embezzlement, dumping hazardous waste, and theft of government property.

Pardoning the perp of a veritable wildlife massacre doesn’t make much sense either, and isn’t it especially ironic when one of the species involved is a symbol of America ?