I certainly hope not, too. If the cases were reversed, I could almost see the case for it since I expect even ex-police officers to have higher standard of gun safety knowledge than casual hunters. But the bottom line is that anyone handling a gun needs to be able to control it. I hope the difference between the cases is attributable only to different calls being made in what some prosecutors say is a gray area.

From what I remember of your post a year ago, you and I have a common perspective about how such cases should be handled. I do, however, have to agree with the game warden who was quoted as saying, ""I've never seen a 17-year-old boy who looks anything like a turkey."

There was apparently a case in Minnesota in April 2008 where a father accidentally shot and killed his 8-year-old son while turkey hunting. In August, a Minnesota man who killed his son while turkey hunting pleaded guilty to manslaughter and got a 30-day jail sentence and 10 years' probation. Anthony Klaseus was also ordered to perform 400 hours of community service. According to at least some news <a href= "http://www.startribune.com/local/south/18608114.html>reports</a>, Klaseus had both pot and alcohol in his system at the time of the shooting. He also didn't have a hunting license nor permission to be on the land. To my eyes (and limited information in all three cases), his negligence far outweighs the other two combined.