As a horse and pet owner, I, too, was saddened and angered by the recent killing of two horses in Pittsfield. However, I am also tired of the news media referring to the boys who did this as “hunters.” What they did had nothing to do with hunting. They deliberately and maliciously committed a crime. They also shot at a tractor- trailer driver. Were they hunting him?

Every October and November it seems any firearms crime that occurs is reported as being committed by hunters. If these horses had been shot in, say, June, would the perpetrators be hunters? Wearing orange and carrying a rifle doesn’t make a person a hunter. By that same logic a person having sex with his child is a loving parent, a man who terrorizes his wife into fearing to leave her home is a concerned husband and a heroin dealer is an entrepreneur.

It’s time for the media to distinguish “hunters” and “criminals” especially in a state which derives much of its income from hunting related activities.

Ellen Lonergan

Troy