Predictably, ever since I posted about Jaylen Ray Fryberg, the teenager who went on a shooting rampage at a Washington State High School, killing a female student and wounding four others before killing himself, I’ve been getting comments stating that since the school shooter was a native, he was entitled to hunt for food (as though he came from an exceptionally poor household–which he did not). The fact that went completely over their heads was that having been taught to kill an animal like an elk at an early age made it easier for him to shoot his fellow humans. It was as though, to them, he was a saint, even though the news is now telling us he lured his victims to the lunchroom before shooting them.

“…On Friday, after texting five friends to invite them to lunch, he pulled out a handgun in the cafeteria and started shooting. The victims were Zoe R. Galasso, 14, who died at the scene; Gia Soriano, 14, who died at a hospital Sunday night; Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, 14, who remains in critical condition; and his two cousins, Nate Hatch, 14, and Andrew Fryberg, 15.

Andrew Fryberg also remained in critical condition. Hatch, who was shot in the jaw, is the only victim who has shown improvement. He was upgraded to satisfactory condition Monday in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center…”

If a non-native person murdered with such premeditation, people would be demanding to know what was wrong with him to behave that savagely. Or, he would just be considered evil (as perhaps he should).

I decided not to give the would-be commenters special treatment by approving their pro-hunting statements. Natives no longer live in the stone age or use primitive weapons, so why should they remain in the dark ages as far as their treatment of non-human animals? 

Talk about double standards.