Free speech is the lifeblood of democracy, but protesters in Oak Bay abused that freedom on Saturday. About 45 demonstrators opposed to Oak Bay鈥檚 plan to cull deer marched from Oak Bay Avenue to the home of Mayor Nils Jensen. That was a street too far.
When someone suggested picketing Jensen鈥檚 home, and the rest of the group followed, they turned from demonstrators into bullies.
Oak Bay council has approved a deer-management plan that includes killing 25 deer if other strategies don鈥檛 work. The venison, hide, antlers and hooves would go to the Songhees First Nation.
Opponents of the cull say the net 鈥渃lover traps鈥� and bolt guns are an inhumane way to kill the animals, and non-lethal measures should be used instead.
Emotions run high whenever the issue comes up, and there are strong arguments on both sides. Those who oppose the cull are within their rights to argue their case and to stage public demonstrations to build support for their cause.
But the place to debate public issues is in the public square, not at the homes of politicians or anyone else involved. The cull opponents would be justifiably outraged if their own homes were picketed by pro-cull demonstrators. Politicians and their families are equally entitled to privacy.
We expect a lot from our politicians, much of it fair and a lot of it unfair, but it is still a job. Like every other working person, they deserve a life outside of work, where they can take refuge from the cares 鈥� and the protesters.
