Outrage over Gazette’s article on trapping

I was very disappointed to see the front-page picture and story regarding an individual who “relieves stress” by trapping and killing animals (“Top trapper,” March 24).

People may differ about trapping but it is cruel and tortuous for the animals and should not be treated in such a nonchalant fashion. The pictures of numerous animal skins, including fox, which are struggling to make a comeback, and beaver, whose habitat is increasingly threatened, was appalling.

I hope and believe that the featured individual's values and lack of regard for animal suffering are not shared by many of your readers. Apparently the editors of your paper don't regard compassion for animal suffering important. I would expect that most of your readers do and are outraged by this article.

Stephen Scheckel

Iowa City