Sarah Palin likes to brag about killin' things

In 1972 Congress passed the Federal Airborne Hunting Act making it illegal for hunters to shoot animals from airplanes and helicopters as this practice violated the "fair chase" ethic; but, in 2009 Alaska governor Sarah Palin changed all that just because she likes to go out and shoot things.

Aerial hunting is considered inhumane since it is nearly impossible to make a precise kill, rather the hunted animals are shot repeatedly and are chased until they die of exhaustion or heart attack. Both wolves and bears are currently threatened by not only the State of Alaska, but also other States that threaten to follow lead. Defenders of Wildlife, a not for profit organization founded in 1947, launched a campaign against Palin and her "extreme anti-conservation policies". The organization was initially developed to stop cruelties against mammals which were being trapped for fur using steel-jawed legholds but has since expanded their focus to include the preservation and conservation of endangered and threatened species through the protection of biodiversity and habitat. With the aid of actress Ashley Judd Defenders of Wildlife launched a campaign video against Palin in which Judd voices, "It is time to stop Sarah Palin, and stop this senseless savagery."

Palin retaliated against the campaign referring to the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund as a fringe group that “distorts” the goal of Alaska’s predator control programs. In her statement Palin says:

“Alaskans depend on wildlife for food and cultural practices which can’t be sustained when predators are allowed to decimate moose and caribou populations,” She added: “Shame on the Defenders of Wildlife for twisting the truth in an effort to raise funds from innocent and hard-pressed Americans struggling with these rough economic times.”

Palin addressed predator hunting on the campaign trail last September in off-the-cuff remarks at an Ohio fundraiser, calling the practice “kind of a big darn controversial deal up there in Alaska.”

Now I may not be from 'round them Alaskan parts but I find it difficult to believe that the cultural practices of Alaska are on the brink of extinction and that the people are faced with the reality of starvation deeming these extreme measures as acceptable. Other states and other countries have managed to control wildlife populations with solutions that didn't require White Fang and The Three Little Bears to endure multiple gunshot wounds to the back of the head, why the hell can't this woman get it right?

Pictured below: Snapshot of yellow pages listing for grocery stores in Alaska.