As far as to the "why" of shooting prairie dogs, or any other species of animal, I've got my theories.
Whether you believe that we were evolved, or created by our Lord or even evolved by our Lord, I think that the act of killing has been added to our genetic make-up. And for good reason; we humans need to be skilled at killing for several reasons.
Killing and eating creatures of all kinds has been an incredibly important part of our survival and success as a species. And through the history of mankind, you better believe that prairie dogs, rats, bats, lizards, bugs, birds, and --- everything that crawls, swims, flies, burrows, and hops has been converted into a meal.
Even though I am a towering intellect among modern man, I have turned many of these small creatures into tasty meals. I started killing critters when I got my first BB gun at the age of 9 or 10.
Getting good at hunting and killing these ummmm sub-species, helped me to acquire the skill and the nerve to kill more conventional large species, as well as domesticated animals that were raised specifically for table fare.
It has probably also prepared me to endure the ordeal of helping several dogs and cats which I've loved and shared my life with, in their trip to the other side. I'm sure it probably has helped me in some small way, endure the death of humans that I love.
I've never had to kill a human being, and hope I never do, but I bet I could do a decent job of it if it was necessary. Heck, I've killed truck-loads of other living creatures for food and recreation, and gotten pretty good at it.
The "if I don't eat it, I won't kill it" philosophy is fine for anyone who feels that way. But don't try to ignore or discount the tremendous instinct, skill, and love for killing that apparently lives within our genes.
Prairie dogs, and other "pest species" have always been perfect for teaching kids about killing, but I still don't think that their deaths should be taken too lightly. A life has ended, and it is permanent. I often wonder if these punks who kill their class-mates might have benefitted from a day shooting ground squirrels. They may not understand the finality of death.
I could go on and on, but I hate long posts.
I'll just add that as a 63 year old killer, I find myself enjoying many of the same things that I did as a kid. Life was so clean and simple then, and sometimes now. I still love catching 8" trouts and perch, shooting squirrels, picking night-crawlers, picking off starlings from the tree-tops, and smacking a tin can with a slingshot.
jd
