Dick Cheney used a 28 gage shotgun in his accidental shooting of a Texas millionaire attorney. The damage was not critical and the lucky attorney's eyes were not hit by the buckshot as it slammed into his face.

The Vice President has a medical staff and an ambulance on hand and the attorney was given the best of care. He was put on a helicopter and hustled off to a Texas hospital where he is recuperating.

Catharine Armstrong owns the ranch where the accident occurred. She said there would have not have been much fuss about the accident if the Vice President were not involved. The attorney was hit by about 50 pellets from the 28 gage. Harry Whittington, the attorney, probably didn't think the accident was all that trivial.

I was surprised by the Vice President's choice of weapons. For attorneys and other homo sapiens, the usual weapon is a 12 gage pump. The shot is double-aught-buck. (Just kidding!)

Anyway, the Vice President was using a suitable weapon for the quail he was aiming at. Quail have erratic flight and you must not only follow them but lead them if you want to hit them. There is a lot of twisting and turning while shooting. You must use a 28 or 410 gage if you want to eat the quail. Anything larger decimates the little birdies.

The Vice President didn't know that Harry was creeping up behind him. The report was that Harry gave no warning of his approach.

In my

day, Harry would not have had to warn anybody about his position. It was the hunter's job to keep his eyes open for any unwanted targets.

The media picked on the President's Press Secretary again. They thought the incidence of great importance. The Press Secretary had to explain why the press had to wait until the next day to get the story. Poor Scotty had to shovel the manure again. Poor guy!

I agree with Catharine Armstrong. It was not that big a deal. Just another hunting accident. Farmers are always dodging bullets here in Idaho. Too bad Harry was not fast enough to dodge a bundle of shotgun pellets.

Let's be glad that the poor rich man didn't lose his sight.

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