Honest curiousity
The Kenedy Police Department isn't planning on filing any charges against Vice President Dick Cheney for the accidental shooting of Harry Whittington. That's fine since the incident was an accident, and it's quite apparent the vice president feels very badly about what happened.
But I'm a bit confused - and not in a snarky way - even if an incident like this was an accident, shouldn't there be some sort of penalty? I mean, if I rear-ended someone because I was changing radio stations and not paying attention to the road, it would be purely accidental ... yet I'd still be cited for something like 'following too closely.'
I would think accidently shooting a man in the face would fall into a similar category. Cheney shouldn't go to jail or anything like that, but why do traffic violations - and other sorts of accidents - still carry some sort of penalty, but this one doesn't?
Seriously ... I'm asking.
But I'm a bit confused - and not in a snarky way - even if an incident like this was an accident, shouldn't there be some sort of penalty? I mean, if I rear-ended someone because I was changing radio stations and not paying attention to the road, it would be purely accidental ... yet I'd still be cited for something like 'following too closely.'
I would think accidently shooting a man in the face would fall into a similar category. Cheney shouldn't go to jail or anything like that, but why do traffic violations - and other sorts of accidents - still carry some sort of penalty, but this one doesn't?
Seriously ... I'm asking.
posted by Jmac at 6:05 PM
3 Comments:
First of all, it has to do with Texas state law and whether or not this is a violation of some statute. Cheney's only reported violation was a new $7 stamp required for the hunting of game birds.
Second, it has to do with Texas hunting licenses and the contract you sign with the state regarding your hunting privilages. In that contract may be a release clause preventing these accidents from becoming statute violations.
Third, you would have to check out any release form required to go hunting on the hunting ranch on which the accident happened.
I'm not an expert on Texas state law or hunting lisences by any stretch, but I do know that when you have a wreck with another car, the majority of the police paperwork must be filed and the 'fault' of the accident must be determined mainly because of your auto insurance, not because any specific law was violated.
I'm sure Cheney will have to fill out a great deal of paperwork persuant to Mr. W's medical insurance, though I bet that's going to be kept under a 'confidentiality clause.'
Good deal. Thanks for the answers.
There was a mention in an article that if the hunting buddy had died then Cheney could have been subject to a charge of negligent homicide. That is interesting because many states don't have such a law.
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