Senseless killings

My reaction to “New Mexico coyote hunting contest sparks protests” [News, Nov. 16] was simplistic. Instead of anger, it gave mea sense of hopelessness; I thought, “Here we go again,‘kill, kill, kill!’ ”

Wildlife is often targeted, likekilling wolves or killing elephants for their ivory and in this case, coyotes as part of a hunting contestdisgracefully applauded by many in New Mexico. Imagine fancy guns and fur pelts for the winner.

Killing humans follows this trend, at a steady rate; there is always a war somewhere in the world, for political and religious reasons. There is no contest there; nobody really wins.

These senseless killingscover our approaching holidays with blood. How can Thanksgiving and Christmas be joyful? Will this “kill, kill kill” mentality ever stop in our tragic, sad world? Wake up, New Mexico. Could we have a peace contest instead?

— Claudine Erlandson, Shoreline