Dead-Eye Dick Meets Lonesome Dove-Err, Quail

Cheney Shoots Fellow Hunter in Texas Accident
Companion in Intensive Care With Upper-Body Wounds

By Shailagh Murray and Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, February 13, 2006; Page A01

Vice President Cheney accidentally sprayed a companion with birdshot while hunting quail on a private Texas ranch, injuring the man in the face, neck and chest, the vice president's office confirmed yesterday after a Texas newspaper reported the incident.

The shooting occurred late Saturday afternoon while Cheney was hunting with Harry Whittington, 78, a prominent Austin lawyer, on the Armstrong Ranch in south Texas. Hearing a covey of birds, Cheney shot at one, not realizing that Whittington had startled the quail and that he was in the line of fire.

Whittington was treated on the scene by Cheney's traveling medical detail before being taken by helicopter to a Corpus Christi hospital. He was in the intensive care unit at Christus Spohn Health System and listed in stable condition yesterday evening.

Katharine Armstrong, the ranch's owner, saw what happened Saturday and told reporters yesterday that Cheney was using a 28-gauge shotgun, which shoots fewer pellets and has a smaller shot pattern than a 12-gauge shotgun, making it harder to hit the target. Whittington was about 30 yards away when he was hit in the cheek, neck and chest, she said.

According to Armstrong's account, she was watching from a car while Cheney, Whittington and another hunter got out of the vehicle to shoot at a covey of quail. Whittington shot a bird and as he went to retrieve it, Cheney and the third hunter discovered a second covey.

Whittington "came up from behind the vice president and the other hunter and didn't signal them or indicate to them or announce himself," Armstrong said, according to the Associated Press.

It was Armstrong's decision to alert the news media. Cheney's office made no public announcement, deciding to defer to Armstrong because the incident had taken place on her property. Armstrong called the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, and when a reporter from the paper called the White House, the vice president's office confirmed the account.

Honestly Mr. Vice-President, I believe in tort reform too, but I don't think that shooting individual lawyers one by one is the solution (although it does sound like fun).

Actually it doesn't sound like Mrs. Armstrong is terribly upset about this event which is a good thing because it indicates that it isn't very serious. Accidents do happen, especially when you do not remain cautious when you are doing dangerous things. In industry you are taught that all accidents are preventable, and in this case it sounds like Mr. Whittington should have sounded off as he was approaching. It also sounds like Cheney, who apparently was somewhat blinded by the sun when he fired. All Gun owners should know that you never ever fire when you are not dead sure what you are going to hit, and you never fire in reaction to sound. I blame the Vice-President for this lapse.

Seriously, I'm glad Mr. Whittington is going to be all right.

Full Story: Dead-Eye Dick Takes Aim at Tort Reform

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