Letters to the Editor
Last week’s cover story, “Ursus Non Grata,” regarding a local woman defending her right to protect her property against a bear, drew a tremendous amount of response. A few of the letters appear below, along with a few comments from Mammoth Lakes Police Chief Dan Watson.
Jenny and the bear
Dear Editor,
I wonder if Jenny Smith would consider a BB gun a toy if someone were shooting it at her?
Karen Roseme
Bishop
Dear Editor:
I am writing in regards to the article written about Jenny Smith defending her property from a bear. I happened to be on the phone with her before the whole situation happened. She wanted to get on a video chat with my daughter, who is 3 years old. The purpose of her calling was to show her niece how cool it is to live in California where she gets to see bears all the time! She wanted her to see the cute bear that was in her tree.
Jenny’s character and love for animals would never allow her to shoot at a bear. She has been a vegan for many years which all started when she saw a video of the abuse and cruelty that can happen to animals in some of the farms and slaughterhouses they come from. Never would I ever believe she would shoot a bear, so it is absolutely ridiculous and absurd that she could have any of these charges against her.
Marlaina O’Brien
New York
Dear Editor:
While I believe Mr. Searles (Town Wildlife Specialist Steve Searles) has had a positive contribution to Mammoth Lakes and in most cases has good intentions, he has completely overreacted in this situation. Last I checked, a BB gun is by no means a lethal way of dealing with a pesky bear and knowing Jenny, I believe her account that she was only trying to arouse the bear so it would leave her property.
At any time, there are as many as four children playing in her yard. Are they supposed to wait it out? They have a right to play in their yard whenever they feel like and feel safe.
What really bothers me about this incident are the actions of Chief Watson on Searles’ Facebook page after the fact. The Chief has commented on the incident and made accusations regarding Miss Smith’s personal integrity. He has completely violated her right to due process and tainted any possible jury pool (hopefully it doesn’t come to this) with his comments.
Mitch Cahoon
Mammoth Lakes
The Sheet spoke with Police Chief Dan Watson this week. He made a few clarifying remarks regarding the gun used, as well as citing the municipal code section on use of firearms.
“The weapon she used is not a toy Red Rider BB gun. The weapon is a Daisy PowerLine Model 880 .177 caliber pellet gun that is capable of firing either pellets or BBs. The description on Daisy’s website includes the following language:
Our best selling multi-pump pneumatic rifle. Pump the gun three times for indoor target practice or up to ten times to achieve maximum velocity for outdoor shooting and pest control. Daisy’s PowerLine Model 880 is appropriate for adults and those over 16 years of age under adult supervision.
Contrary to Ms. Smith’s description, this ‘toy’ has a crossbolt trigger block safety. Its barrel is rifled steel and it has a maximum shooting distance of 291 yards.
The weapon she used was anything but a child’s toy.”
He adds …
“Ms. Smith claims the Town’s website has nothing on the use of firearms in the Town. The home page of the Town’s website (ci.mammoth-lakes.ca.us) has a link to the Municipal Code. Section 9.08 (Firearms) is easy to find.
She would like this story to serve as education that it is illegal to discharge a pellet gun or BB gun in Town limits. While it is understandable that she and others might not know that the ordinance prohibiting discharging a firearm in the Town limits includes pellet guns and BB guns, common sense should tell anyone that it is not appropriate or legal to shoot either weapon at a bear cub sleeping in a tree.”
