(Image source: Opposing Views)
BY BLAKE HANSON
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Imagine three grizzly bears, roaming in the yard your children are playing in. It was the situation for one Idaho father who kept his kids safe -- but now could face time in the slammer for doing so.
KHQ has the story...
“Mike Hill says his son was taking a shower on mothers day when dogs started barking and kids started screaming. Jeremy Hill reportedly ran outside this home and saw three bears in the yard where his kids were playing basketball. Jeremy grabbed his rifle and killed one bear, scaring the other away.”
After killing the bear, Hill reported the incident to state authorities who didn’t express concern. Then the Feds got involved. Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade gets fired up over the charges Hill faces.
"He says he did it to protect his family now he’s being charged with killing an endangered species. It’s like taking out a great white shark in the ocean! Which is how grizzlies are classified as outside of Alaska. He faces up to a year in prison and a $50,000 fine.”
Even Idaho’s governor is getting behind Hill. Newser writes...
“The case has inflamed passions in the state, and Butch Otter, Idaho's Republican governor, is among Hill's many supporters. ‘I strongly support the right of individuals to defend themselves and others in such situations,’ Otter wrote in a letter to the Obama administration.”
Three big bears in a yard -- but was there ever a threat to the kids? A writer for Gather offers this analysis...
“If he can prove that the threat was present, then this should be an easy case to get tossed out in court. If, however, it turns out that the bear was simply on his property grazing, then it would be nearly impossible to prove that an imminent threat was present.”
But a Stir blogger takes issue with anyone trying to justify the charges, writing...
“Is this bizarro world? Since when are bears more important than people? Species preservation (no matter how important it is) cannot come at the expense of children's safety”
The Daily Mail reports a jury trial has been set for Oct. 4. If convicted, Hill could face penalties of up to one year in prison and fines up to $50,000.
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