Dick Cheney Shooting Followup Blogging

I wrote this letter to the TV reporter who did the story about another hunting accident. I doubt if she will respond, but hey, just thought I'd try.

Lynn Giroud
WCPO

Hi Lynn:I'm one of those "bloggers" you have heard so much about. I blogged your story about the hunting accident and I was curious if there is any more information about this story.

The reason I asked is because I track the media and politics and since this story happened so recently after the Vice President's accident it would be interesting to compare and contrast the two. Of course this is a much more serious and tragic event, but Harry Whittington could have died in his hunting accident.

I'm curious about the following things:

1. How long did the hunting party wait to inform people? 2 hours? 18? How long did it take to inform police?
2. Who informed the police?
3. How was the incident investigated?
4. Were basic questions like, "Were people drinking?" asked?
5. Were blood alcohol tests administered? Are they SOP with the police after a shooting accident?
6. Did the police at the scene interview all witnesses?
7. How soon after the accident were they interviewed?
8. What is the history of the person who shot the weapon? (of course this person was not a public figure, but did he have 2 DUIs on his record? Other accidents?)
9. Were there any diagrams of the distance that the person was shot from? Does this distance jib with the forensics evidence?
10. Did the person who fired the weapon have the correct hunting license?
11. Did he complete any mandatory hunter safety classes?
12. Were other members of the party drinking? On drugs? On medication that would make one drowsy?
13. Was the type of accident unusual for this kind of hunting?
14. Other things that raise suspicions with the police or you?

The Vice President shouldn't be above the law, but when something like this shooting happens and the law is obviously flaunted (the delay, the questions that weren't asked, the cover-up of the drinking by the designated spokespersons) we can all see a double standard. Your shooting is a tragic coincidence in which the two events could prove the lie to people that the Vice President was treated different than someone else would have been treated in the same situation.

I don't know your political leanings, but our political system is one of laws and not of men. When men feel that they are above the law tragic things happen in this country. You might be able to move the national political dialog forward with a through follow up of your hunting accident story. Then when people want to show an example of politicians acting above the law and the press or the police not getting the correct information in a timely fashion, you can provide a solid contrast to prove the case. I know you don't want to intrude on the tragedy this family faced, but I'm guessing the police had to ask hard questions of them already. They might appreciate the ability to both clear the air on this issue and offer an example of the importance of safety while hunting for others.

Thank you,
Spocko