A case involving a predator and a citizen protecting his property and family occurred in Bonner County, Idaho some time ago. The case involves three bears (at least one was a grizzly) that came into a man’s yard when his children were outside playing. The grizzly was reportedly climbing into a livestock pen when the owner shot and wounded the bear. The other bears ran off, but the wounded animal came toward the man who was standing on the deck of his home. He shot and killed the bear. There were various accounts in the media as to what happened, but essentially this seems to be the story.

The man was charged by the United States in Federal Court because the Grizzly Bear is labeled an endangered species. Killing an endangered species is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of $50,000. The law says these animals should not even be molested. The criminal charges against the man were eventually dismissed as the result of the involvement of several senators and public support for the man.

The people of the state have a legitimate interest in the protection of animals and wildlife. They have expressed that interest by enacting laws that are designed to balance the interests of the animals and the people who must live with the animals in their back yards.

The Washington State legislature is dominated and controlled by the large urban population on the west side. Most of the people there have no concept of what it is like to have bears, wolves or cougar near by which are capable and often inclined to kill livestock, pets or children. I suspect that if the folks on the west side had the same experiences as the people here do, they would pass laws that would allow folks to kill these large predators when they threaten livestock, domestic animals and people.

It is also a reality that the majority can and does pass laws that are imposed on the minority. The rights of the few give way to the rights of the many. There are those who would argue that the majority has no right to impose its will on the minority, but the majority decided a long time ago that this is the way government will work. The majority controls the process.

A wise man said, “None of us are as dumb as all of us.” Sometimes the legislature gets it right and sometimes not. Historically, the control of predators was not done by the vote of the people; free people looking out for and protecting themselves did it. We cannot depend on others to protect us.