Contact:
David Perle 757-622-7382

Spartanburg, S.C. - Feathers are flying in South Carolina today as PETA is calling on state superintendent of education candidate Karen Floyd to cancel her planned dove shoot in Florence, which is scheduled to take place on September 11.

Friedrich goes on to point out, "As a candidate for education superintendent of South Carolina, your goal should be to set a compassionate, kind example for children. In our culture of escalating youth violence, it is irresponsible and downright dangerous to teach kids that killing is OK. According to FBI profilers, law enforcement officials, and child advocacy organizations, children who hurt animals will often direct violence toward people."

Friedrich’s complete letter to Floyd follows.

September 8, 2006

Karen Floyd
113 W. Main St.
Spartanburg, SC 29306

1 page via fax: 864-596-7502

Dear Ms. Floyd,

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) more than 1.1 million members and supporters worldwide to urge you to cancel the dove-hunt fundraiser that you have scheduled for September 11.

Gentle birds who mate for life and share child-rearing duties, mourning doves are the only species that is hunted during part of their nesting season. If one parent is killed, the remaining adult is often unable to successfully raise the young and baby birds often die from starvation.

As a candidate for education superintendent of South Carolina, your goal should be to set a compassionate, kind example for children. In our culture of escalating youth violence, it is irresponsible and downright dangerous to teach kids that killing is OK. According to FBI profilers, law enforcement officials, and child advocacy organizations, children who hurt animals will often direct violence toward people. For example, the teenage shooters who went on the killing spree at Columbine High School first practiced killing animals before they turned their guns on their classmates.

Sincerely,

Bruce Friedrich
Vice President of Campaigns