[mou] GGOW shooting

[Hawkowls@aol.com]

     I strongly suggest the birding community follow any developments in the shooting. In the 90's a friend of mine witnessed a GGOW shooting on the upper penninsula of MI. He followed through and had the man brought to court. I can't remember the details exactly, but it happened in this general manner. The jury was taking a few hours to deliberate. The judge called the jury out and said something to the extent of, "this is ridiculous, this is over a bird, I want a decision." In spite of the fact that there was an eye witness to the shooting of a federally protected bird, the man responsible was found not guilty. The judge's attitude towards the case seems to have had a strong impact on the verdict.
    This is an account of the story I was told first hand from my friend who witnessed the shooting and took the man to court. I'm not saying this would happen again, but we can't take for granted that if the shooter is brought to court, justice will be served.
    Chris Neri