They may not admit it, but several celebrities are hunters (12/10/2001)

Josey1

They may not admit it, but several celebrities are huntersSuperstar singer Madonna recently said she enjoys hunting and likes going afield. By Michael Pearce The Wichita Eagle In these days of frequent anti-hunting and anti-gun tirades by some celebrities, it's surprising when someone of prominence steps forward and admits a love for one or both.Recently, one of the world's best-known entertainers did just that. Most people were surprised.Madonna said she and husband Guy Ritchie often hunt pheasants on their rural English estate."I eat birds. You have more respect for things you eat when you go through, or see, the process of killing them," Madonna told BBC Radio One."I wear leather shoes. I eat fish, I eat chicken and I eat game. I like knowing what I'm eating and knowing the process." Madonna also said she goes afield for more reasons than just food."When you're shooting, you are standing in the forest for really long periods of time, so you end up looking at the leaves and the sky and the trees and you have a lot of time to meditate," she said.Jocelyn Stott, managing editor of Gun Games Magazine, said there are quite a few well-known celebrities who at least enjoy target shooting.The problem is getting them to admit it."A lot of celebrities are afraid to come out and say they like to shoot or to hunt because they're afraid of repercussions," said Stott, whose target shooting magazine often features celebrities.Possible "repercussions" could include being blacklisted by directors or other industry leaders opposed to the sports.Some fear a negative reaction from the general public, she said."When we wanted to put Reba (McEntire) on the cover, she had no problems with it," Stott said. "But her agents and people in New York and LA were afraid people would misunderstand it because it was about the time of Columbine." Director Steven Spielberg owns an extensive collection of fine shotguns and enjoys shooting clay targets, Stott said. She said Harrison Ford also enjoys shotgunning.Actor Rick Schroeder is an avid hunter and target shooter who's spoken eloquently on both to the media.Tom Selleck is well known for his love of shooting and many types of hunting.While many professional athletes are sportsmen, several truly big sportsmen are even more dedicated than most.Legendary NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar enjoys shooting, including cowboy-action events.Utah Jazz great Karl Malone is a rabid target shooter and accomplished hunter.Politically speaking, most folks know that President Bush is an avid target shooter and hunter.Despite recent concerns for his safety, Vice President Cheney still made a South Dakota pheasant hunt with friends several weeks ago. Had it not been for a rather busy time at his office in Washington, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was scheduled for a New Mexico elk hunt with several buddies.Famous celebrities with a Kansas twist include billionaire Ted Turner and former President Carter.The avid quail hunters were in Kansas several days last year to bird hunt Turner's Z Bar Ranch in Barber County. http://web.wichitaeagle.com/content/wichitaeagle/2001/12/09/outdoors/celebs1209_txt.htm

prangle

Sure,celebrities enjoy guns and shooting,what they don't like is you and me (the peasants)owning guns.