Is it Morally Wrong to Hunt and Kill an Elephant for Sport?

Is it Moral to Kill an Elephant?

  • Yes

    Votes: 33 60.0%
  • No

    Votes: 20 36.4%
  • I made the title and quiz confusing on accident.

    Votes: 2 3.6%

  • Total voters
    55

Gene Parmesan

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This question is brought on by this story on NPR (includes graphic video):
Video Leaks Of NRA's Wayne LaPierre Missing His Mark On Elephant Hunt

Given that we know that elephants are incredibly social, intelligent, and emotional animals which even mourn the death of fellow elephants, is it okay to kill them for sport?

EDIT: I did a very confusing job with the naming of the thread and poll question. Sorry. I have great shame.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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This question is brought on by this story on NPR (includes graphic video):
Video Leaks Of NRA's Wayne LaPierre Missing His Mark On Elephant Hunt

Given that we know that elephants are incredibly social, intelligent, and emotional animals which even mourn the death of fellow elephants, is it okay to kill them for sport?

Personally, I'd say it's immoral to hunt elephants for sport ... in fact, I don't think any animals should be hunted for sport. For food, yes. But for fun and entertainment, no.
 
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public hermit

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Killing something is a pretty grave thing to do, not to be taken lightly. As a Christian, I recognize it is through Christ that all things exist, and without him nothing exists. He is the Light of the world, and that Light is life.

So yeah, killing for sport dishonors the Creator. If I kill it, it had better taste good, lol.
 
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pescador

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What is the "sport" in killing an animal, especially if you're not going to eat it? I have done a lot of hunting and eaten what I successfully hunted, but I would never kill an animal for "sport" or "fun" or "an ego trip". NEVER!
 
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Maria Billingsley

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pescador

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Everyone should read "The Elephant Whisperer" by Lawrence Anthony if they want to understand and appreciate elephants. It's a wonderful "page turner" about his life on an African game preserve and its herd of elephants.
 
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Pavel Mosko

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Most people I think would be against hunting Elephant hunting with them being an endangered species. But it doesn't matter what we think, all that matters is the the opinion of African and South East Asian governments as far as if they want to end Safari tourism, poaching etc.
 
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Hank77

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pescador

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Most people I think would be against hunting Elephant hunting with them being an endangered species. But it doesn't matter what we think, all that matters is the the opinion of African and South East Asian governments as far as if they want to end Safari tourism, poaching etc.

But it does matter what we think. We can influence African and South East Asian governments by economic and social pressures to end elephant slaughter.
 
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Basil the Great

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I doubt that St. Francis would have approved of killing animals for sport. He was big on caring for animals. Killing animals for fun seems rather inconsistent with the spirit of the Gospels, though I guess not with the actual written words of Jesus.
 
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Unqualified

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Wild elephants are dangerous exciting game. When LaPierre did this it was legal, not endangered species. Now they are poached for ivory which is not right. We have seen a lot of carnage and have taught to fear a lack of natural species presence. I would never shoot an elephant or deer now. I went through that stage of life. It is morally wrongonly because it is against the international law most places.
 
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renniks

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Nothing wrong with hunting for sport, if an animal population needs management.
The same people that would protest because somebody killed an elephant even if they weren't endangered at the time, are not probably going to have a problem with you killing a wild pig tearing up their garden.
 
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Nothing wrong with hunting for sport, if an animal population needs management.
The same people that would protest because somebody killed an elephant even if they weren't endangered at the time, are not probably going to have a problem with you killing a wild pig tearing up their garden.

But do your salient points justify the killing of these elephants in these circumstances?
 
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renniks

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But do your salient points justify the killing of these elephants in these circumstances?
What circumstances? If they aren't endangered I don't have a problem with hunting. Wolves for example, have not been endangered for a long time in many states. Finally, they are allowing a decent harvest, but only in some states...after livestock deprivation has been through the roof for a long time.
 
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What circumstances? If they aren't endangered I don't have a problem with hunting. Wolves for example, have not been endangered for a long time in many states. Finally, they are allowing a decent harvest, but only in some states...after livestock deprivation has been through the roof for a long time.

Sure, I get all that. I agree that, unfortunately, prey animals have to be put down for the sake of livestock. I get it. There are moments of necessity when killing animals is for the greater good. The world is harsh, that's how it goes.

Do you think that is what we have here? Is this a killing for some greater good or for the pleasure and pride of the killer?
 
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tryphena rose

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The Bible doesn't specify that the killing of animals is morally wrong, per say. God seems to be the one who killed the first animal in the Genesis account to clothe Adam and Eve, not to mention all of the animal sacrifices that took place within the Old Testament, amongst other things. But I can greatly imagine what makes this action wrong when being done for sport today, is what manifests within the persons heart. I agree with a lot of others here - that being, killing an animal for the sake of food for themselves or for their family; for the sake of survival, would leave that person with a more grateful heart. Food after all, is a necessity to survival. However, I'm afraid that hunting for sport most time fills someone with pride, pleasure and seeking the thrill of the next kill. I can imagine it becoming a lust of the flesh, as the one who kills for sport and pleasure may never truly be satisfied no matter how big the game is. It becomes nothing more then a hunt for trophies at the end of the day. A senseless reason to kill anything.

With all that being said, I don't think that the killing of an animal would send someone to Hell, even if it was for sport. The killing of another human being is a different story, as we were the one's created in the image of God and God clearly says that murdering another person is morally wrong. God gave all human beings dominion over animals and I think He allows us to do with them as we please, whether that be wrong or right.

I think it's clear that God loves all of His creation and even the scriptures reference the animals waiting for the day that all things shall be restored because they too have been effected by this world of sin. I think that's a very beautiful picture to imagine, that the whole of creation will one day be in Glory together through the restoration of all things by the coming of the Lord Jesus.

"For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Romans 6:19-22
 
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renniks

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Sure, I get all that. I agree that, unfortunately, prey animals have to be put down for the sake of livestock. I get it. There are moments of necessity when killing animals is for the greater good. The world is harsh, that's how it goes.

Do you think that is what we have here? Is this a killing for some greater good or for the pleasure and pride of the killer?
Doesn't matter. I don't want a canned deer hunt but I don't have a problem with those who do. I'm a hunter. Do I really need to hunt? No I could buy all my meat from a butcher. But I like to hunt and I like deer meat.
I don't have to trap animals for fur either but I do. In some cases it is for damage control but often it's for the challenge.
I spend a lot of time and money to harvest critters. It's tradition, it's the outdoor experience and it's rewarding. I don't expect non hunters to understand. But I don't try to curtail their sports and I don't like it when they try to stop mine.
 
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