When Pigs Fly

Millions of wild pigs weighing up to 300 pounds have been marked for death by state Rep. Sid Miller of Fort Worth, Texas for shredding crops. He wants to begin issuing permits to aerial hunters to "solve" this problem. Since Alaska's Former Governor Palin gave permission to slaughter wolves and bears in the same manner, it was only a matter of time before the gun toting twits of that ilk in other states would devise a plot to join in on the fun. I spent just enough time in Texas as a kid to appreciate not living there as an adult, but never more so than now with the possibility of having good 'ol boys in helicopters flying above armed, probably with a six pack.

If the damage of the boars is as bad as has been described, I agree that something should be done, but I also agree that something should be done about world hunger. Rather than shoot these animals to lay them waste on the ground, no matter how tough and gamey the meat may or may not be, there are hungry people who could benefit from this not altogether bad situation. There are many people willing and able to supply funds necessary to arrange for a more humane trapping and distribution of the animals. Where Does This Little Piggy Go -- and the meat it provides? Why isn't Representative Miller worried enough about his starving constituents as well as his NRA ones? The carcasses, as it stands now, will be left in the field as it cannot be sold for meat under U.S. agriculture regulations.

An estimated 2 million wild hogs are causing $52 million a year in crop damage in Texas, according to agricultural experts, but by how much of an advantage can they be measured were they caught alive and distributed to agencies who will see to it they are butchered within legal standards and given to those in need. This is a bad situation that some politician wants to make into a worse one, but it can be turned into an excellent opportunity if handled properly.