What was the Secret Service thinking?

[soupkitchen]

Should the Vice-President ever be in a situation where he can accidentally shoot somebody (or be shot himself?)
I mean, under the circumstances, it could have been him that was shot as easily as the lawyer.
The government spends tens of millions a dollar protecting him every year and he puts himself in harms way so he can kill pheasants.
I mean, professional athletes have clauses in their contracts that forbid them from riding motorcycles or engaging in other dangerous activities.
You would think that maybe a sitting vice-president should have the sense to avoid playing with firearms while he is in office.
But that's right, nobody in the administration has any sense.

[Missy M]

1. Also, they shouldn't allow Bush to ride a bike!!!!

[Infomaniac]

2. Or Eat Pretzels

Or have classified information in their possesion.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if the VP was the only one with live ammo at

the time.
The SS may keep inventory of all ammunition except Cheney's.
It could be dispenced one at a time on an "as needed" basis to the other hunters.

This is the administration that stripped weapons from the troops who joined in on Buxh's Thanksgiving photo-op in Baghad a couple years ago.

[gimama]

4. at least they're safe from GSFP Mamas in threatening t shirts!

now there's some spooky stuff. I'm just sayin'..

[napi21]

5. Shooting birds isn't SUPPOSED to be dangerous!

Millions of people hunt all the time, and a "canned shoot" is by far the safest! I know shooting accidents happen during every hunting season, but I'd be interested to hear how many, IF ANY, happen during controlled shoots like this one!

You can't blame the SS for Cheney's activities, of Shrub's either. Those on the SS Presidential and VP detail have ONE job to do, and that's to protect the life and safety of their "ward". BEyond that, they take orders from those guys, and for the most part do what they want. The SS can advise or suggest they not do something, but they are NOT able to forbid anything!

You talk of "it could just as easily have been Cheney who was shot." I doubt that. The SS would have pushed him to the ground and taken the shot in his place. Unfortunately, that's their job!

[Poppyseedman]

6. You have a point,

but it's pretty hard to kill a human with bird shot, unless it is at point blank range. Now, it can do some serious damage even from afar.