I get to see a lot of stupid from day-to-day, but I recently came across a letter to the editor that just had me shaking my head. A woman in Fargo, North Dakota of all places took issue with the acceptance of hunting in the city, especially in its newspaper.

Personally I feel that loving nature and killing wildlife are mutually exclusive. I am appalled at this woman’s glee over taking the life of animals in their own habitat. And I am disgusted at having her story front and center in my newspaper. It belongs in a “Outdoorsmen” magazine or a Scheels hunting ad.

I expect many angry responses to my opinion. And that’s fine; I’m angry too. I also expect most hunters to ask the same old tired question of me: Do I eat meat? If you ask that question then you are not listening to me. My primary issues are twofold: killing animals in their own environment and the character of people who do so, and for sport, no less. Shame on you.

All I can do is shake my head…until I remember that people like her exist, and their number may well be growing.

Anti-hunters are a thing. We tend to forget about them within the context of the Second Amendment discussions we focus on since a common refrain is that no one wants to take our hunting rifle, but they exist.

Her personal feelings are all fine and good, “that loving nature and killing wildlife are mutually exclusive,” but she’s not the only one who has feelings on the topic.

You see, once upon a time, our ancient ancestors foraged for food. They ate all kinds of plant life, but it was the introduction of protein in their diets that really kicked things into gear. Protein gave our ancestors the brainpower to learn how to make tools, many of which made their ability to gather food far easier. Tools like spears.

As a result, hunting isn’t mutually exclusive to loving nature. It is nature. It is the nature of mankind to take up arms, venture into the woods, and try and seek out prey. It’s nature because it’s natural.

We are hunters.

Yes, most people don’t hunt. For whatever reason, they don’t. That’s their choice, and it’s fine. I haven’t had the opportunity to hit the woods in far too long myself.

However, that doesn’t make those who hunt some kind of monster who goes against nature. They’re perpetuating the natural order, recreating the key factor in human development. Far more important than the discovery of fire was the discovery of hunting.

So, on behalf of hunters in Fargo, ND, allow me to tell this humorless scold that no, there will be no shame on me or anyone else who hunts. They are doing nothing shameful. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They’re merely continuing the natural order of things since time immemorial.

If anyone deserves a “shame on you,” it’s someone who would turn their backs on natural processes like hunting somehow makes them morally superior.