Texas governor shoots Coyote while jogging

[bstrawse]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 04373.html

Pistol-packing Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a message for wily coyotes out there: Don't mess with my dog.

Perry told The Associated Press on Tuesday he needed just one shot from the laser-sighted pistol he sometimes carries while jogging to take down a coyote that menaced his puppy during a February run near Austin.

Perry said he will carry his .380 Ruger - loaded with hollow-point bullets - when jogging on trails because he is afraid of snakes. He'd also seen coyotes in the undeveloped area.

When one came out of the brush toward his daughter's Labrador retriever, Perry charged.

"Don't attack my dog or you might get shot ... if you're a coyote," he said Tuesday.

Perry, a Republican running for a third full term against Democrat Bill White, is living in a private house in a hilly area southwest of downtown Austin while the Governor's Mansion is being repaired after a 2008 fire. A concealed handgun permit holder, Perry carries the pistol in a belt.

"I knew there were a lot of predators out there. You'll hear a pack of coyotes. People are losing small cats and dogs all the time out there in that community," Perry said.

"They're very wily creatures."

On this particular morning, Perry said, he was jogging without his security detail shortly after sunrise.

"I'm enjoying the run when something catches my eye and it's this coyote. I know he knows I'm there. He never looks at me, he is laser-locked on that dog," Perry said.

"I holler and the coyote stopped. I holler again. By this time I had taken my weapon out and charged it. It is now staring dead at me. Either me or the dog are in imminent danger. I did the appropriate thing and sent it to where coyotes go," he said.

Perry said the laser-pointer helped make a quick, clean kill.

"It was not in a lot of pain," he said. "It pretty much went down at that particular juncture."

Texas state law allows people to shoot coyotes that are threatening livestock or domestic animals. The dog was unharmed, Perry said.

Perry's security detail was not required to file a report about the governor discharging a weapon, said Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tela Mange.

"People shoot coyotes all the time, snakes all the time," Mange said. "We don't write reports."

The governor left the coyote where it fell.

"He became mulch," Perry said.

[Paul]

Nifty.

It's nice that he carries a gun, but disappointing that he doesn't carry it with a round in the chamber.

[Shipyard]

now thems some apples.

[David]

He even carries a gun made by a manufacturer with a facility in Arizona. Nice PR!

[westberg]

Among my friends in Texas he is a popular Governor, they don't want him to lose in November.

The dog was unharmed

The little furry critters running around aren't the only thing referred to as a Coyote..........

[Joecool]

Where did it mention in the story that he didn't have one in the chamber?

Read it like twice and maybe I missed it.

[Paul]

Where did it mention in the story that he didn't have one in the chamber?

Read it like twice and maybe I missed it.

By this time I had taken my weapon out and charged it.

[JoeH]

He even carries a gun made by a manufacturer with a facility in Arizona. Nice PR!

That's good. An STI would be even better.

[DeanC]

People are losing small cats and dogs all the time out there in that community," Perry said.

Still trying to figure out if this is a problem.

[justaguy]

.

[John S.]

My wife and daughter are afraid of snakes too!

[infidel]

It is a good thing he wasn't threatened by aliens.

[Snowgun]

My wife and daughter are afraid of snakes too!

My family has a 2.5 section ranch in ND, and though it is beautiful, it came with a mondo den of rattlesnakes right by the house. (Not to mention the ever increasing mountain lion population in western ND who hunt people)

So when we are there we carry a Night Court Judge fill with 410, 410, 410, 410, 45 LC, 45 LC (and wear snake chaps). (45 LC is for the possible Lion)

We've taken about 25 snakes last year. No Lions yet, but 5 of them can be shot a year state wide (for DNR data). Of course you can shoot one in self defense anytime.

[1911fan]

Where did it mention in the story that he didn't have one in the chamber?

Read it like twice and maybe I missed it.

By this time I had taken my weapon out and charged it.

Its not battery powered, he ran toward the coyote to try to scare it off, but it didn't then he shot. Nobody has "charged" a handgun since the days of black powder.

[Paul]

Where did it mention in the story that he didn't have one in the chamber?

Read it like twice and maybe I missed it.

By this time I had taken my weapon out and charged it.

Its not battery powered, he ran toward the coyote to try to scare it off, but it didn't then he shot. Nobody has "charged" a handgun since the days of black powder.

Maybe. Or maybe he uses different terminology than you do.

I have heard plenty of people refer to chambering a round as charging their weapon.

ETA: I have also lived down south, and people use different terminology in different parts of the country.