Why is hunting so sacred?

[Willie Pep]

163. I would never hunt but I understand why others do it.

I have relatives in North Dakota and they need guns to deal with coyotes and other predators. They own land where they raise elk and hunters can go and hunt them for a fee. Yeah it is odd that they need guns to keep predators from killing the elk so humans can go and kill them instead but that is what they use their guns for. They hunt for food and sport too. Their living room is filled with mounted animal heads.

I think this is a topic where there really is a big rural/urban divide. I am a city slicker and I really don't get the big emphasis on guns except maybe for home protection but I have read that it is more likely that a gun used to stop bad guys will be used for suicide or accidentally shooting somebody.

But I can definitely see why rural people like guns. I think there are more practical uses for guns for rural people than urban and suburban people. Hunting is one use. Another is sport shooting which is another thing I have zero interest in but many other people love.