ENE, Ore. (AP) In a showdown between Willamette Valley values and coastal Oregon practicality, a Florence, Ore. man faces animal abuse charges for fatally shooting a bear with a pellet gun.
The young black bear had wandered into the backyard of 29-year-old Florence resident Blake Christensen, who grew up in the coastal town of Tillamook. He says it's natural on the coast to shoot bears if they're on a person's property.
The bear died about 20 minutes after being shot, the Eugene Register-Guard reports. State wildlife law permits killing a wild animal that is causing damage or is a public nuisance.
A state trooper decided not to press charges, but Florence city prosecutor Floyd Prozanski charged Christensen with first-degree animal abuse
Christensen hired an attorney and says he will fight the charge
Do you know who Florence city prosecutor Floyd Prozanski IS. He is chairman of the Oregon senate judiciary committee and a RABID anti gunner.He is the one that messed up some good bill this last session.
The young black bear had wandered into the backyard of 29-year-old Florence resident Blake Christensen, who grew up in the coastal town of Tillamook. He says it's natural on the coast to shoot bears if they're on a person's property.
The bear died about 20 minutes after being shot, the Eugene Register-Guard reports. State wildlife law permits killing a wild animal that is causing damage or is a public nuisance.
A state trooper decided not to press charges, but Florence city prosecutor Floyd Prozanski charged Christensen with first-degree animal abuse
Christensen hired an attorney and says he will fight the charge
Do you know who Florence city prosecutor Floyd Prozanski IS. He is chairman of the Oregon senate judiciary committee and a RABID anti gunner.He is the one that messed up some good bill this last session.