Smoking Gun has Cheney's "Hunting Accident & Incident Report Form"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0213061cheney1.html

See Dick. Run! First official report released in Cheney hunting accident

FEBRUARY 13--The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department today issued a report on Vice President Dick Cheney's accidental shooting Saturday of a fellow quail hunter on a sprawling Texas ranch. The hunting accident report, a copy of which you can find below, briefly recounts how Cheney plugged Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old Austin lawyer, with birdshot in the face, neck, and chest. According to the state report, Cheney was wearing a "blaze orange" cap and "coat/vest" and brown trousers and was toting an Italian-made Perazzi .28-caliber shotgun. In addition to the document's release, wildlife officials reported today that while Cheney had purchased a valid non-resident hunting license, he did not obtain a required "upland game bird stamp." As a result, a warning citation--which carries no fine or penalty--will be issued to Cheney, which state officials described as "routine." And as for whether Cheney would have needed to previously take a hunters education course, state wildlife officials noted that such classes are only required of hunters born on or after September 2, 1971. Cheney was born January 30, 1941. While yet to release its report on the shooting, the Kenedy County Sheriff's Office this afternoon issued a press release noting that an "investigation reveals that there was no alcohol, or misconduct involved in the incident." In an interview with deputies, Whittington "collaborated Vice President Cheney's statement," according to the release, which concluded, "This was no more than a hunting accident." (3 pages)

[Orangepeel]

1. what "game law" was violated?

it indicates "yes" for both of them, so it has to be more than "lawyers who might know too much" being out of season. :D

[Robb]

5. NPR said Cheney didn't have the right stamp to be hunting

...Something about getting a warning, per Fish and Wildlife policy with a "new" regulation (started in September, IIRC).

[Steve A Play]

13. SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code

79R2885 KCR-F

By: Geren H.B. No. 931


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED


AN ACT


relating to stamps for migratory and upland game bird hunting.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended
by adding Subchapter S to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER S. MIGRATORY AND UPLAND GAME BIRD STAMPS

Sec. 43.651. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Migratory game bird" means:
(A) a wild duck of any species;
(B) a wild goose of any species;
(C) a wild brant of any species;
(D) a wild coot;
(E) a mourning dove;
(F) a white-winged dove;
(G) a white-tipped dove;
(H) a Wilson's snipe;
(I) an American woodcock;
(J) a sandhill crane;
(K) a gallinule;
(L) a moorhen;
(M) a king rail;
(N) a clapper rail;
(O) a sora rail;
(P) a Virginia rail; or
(Q) any other species of bird that the commission
by rule designates as a migratory game bird.
(2) "Upland game bird" means:
(A) a wild turkey of any species or sub-species;
(B) a northern bobwhite;
(C) a scaled or blue quail;
(D) a Gambel's quail;
(E) a Montezuma quail;
(F) a ring-necked pheasant;
(G) a lesser prairie chicken; or
(H) a chachalaca.


Sec. 43.652. MIGRATORY OR UPLAND GAME BIRD STAMP REQUIRED.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not hunt a
migratory or upland game bird in this state unless the person has
acquired a migratory or upland game bird stamp, as applicable,
issued to the person by the department. The commission by rule may
adopt requirements relating to possessing a stamp required by this
subchapter.

[kestrel91316]

14. Hmm - where I come from, hunting something without ALL the proper

licenses, permits, tags, stamps or whatever is called POACHING, pure and simple.

Time to shout it from the highest hill: CHENEY IS A POACHER!!!!!!!!!

[Staph]

2. Something keeps bugging me . . .

"Sheriff Salinas was informed shortly after the incident by Secret Service Agents by phone due to incompatibility of radio equipment."

Okay, you're a Secret Service agent, guarding the second (or first, depending on your personal opinion) most powerful man in the world. Your job is to guard him against any possible threats, foreign or domestic. But your radios are incapable of communicating with the local law enforcement! What if there were some sort of incident that would require calling in reinforcements? How do you expect to quickly communicate? Or is the VP's detail expected to call 911 in an emergency, just like the rest of us poor slobs?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Richard D]

3. Well, I think I might have a clue about this . . .

. . . wouldn't that give cheney a chance to sober up before talking with the police?

[kath]

4. If sheriff was notified "shortly after the incident", which was onSaturday

why was the report dated MONDAY???

Methinks it quite likely that the sheriff was NOT notified promptly.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Should find out if Hospital reported the incident...

I am sure that is the law in every state.

Would the Game Warden also be responsible in reporting incidents to local law enforcement?

[Robb]

6. Likely county sheriff's dept. is still on older radios

There's an 800 mhz requirement coming down the pike, but they're like $850 each, versus $120 for a good one now.

[radio4progressives]

8. Communications failures...

we've been through this before... just about five and half years ago on 9/11/01 ..

remember? :tinfoilhat:

all because of "communications problems".... :evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

9. I wouldn't doubt that some local law enforcement agencies have...

incompatible communication devices. Our county updated to something new and it is suppose to allow city and county police and other public safety agencies to be communicate directly.

The system allows public-safety agencies such as city and state police, fire agencies and EMS professionals to communicate directly and securely with each other. Awarded to Motorola in 1999, the contract is worth $82 million. The contract also includes a long-term quantity purchase agreement agencies can use to buy mobile and portable radios, as well as a system maintenance agreement.
PROJECT TIMESCALE

Launched in 1997, the Project Hoosier SAFE-T initiative was created to develop a statewide voice and data radio communications capability. The initiative allows public safety agencies throughout Indiana to voluntarily participate in a sophisticated, shared communications system while maintaining their individual autonomy.

The first stage of Indiana's network was completed in Fort Wayne and Allen County in February 2001. The 800MHz TETRA system has cost the state $13.3 million. This links the State Police and Federal Agencies (FBI, DEA and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Department); Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne; the emergency services agencies and the Indiana Department of Corrections.

[Bozita]

7. Katherine Armstrong listed as witness -- NO mention of Swiss Miss?

I thought it was a foursome.

[justice1]

11. Was he or was he not wearing an orange vest?

The report says "yes", the WH said "no".

[Ouabache]

12. whoops, not keeping their stories straight

are they?

bastards.