You know, like how we control the feral hog population. Just have dudes in helicopters shoot them down. Simple right.

This was an idea Kansas Republican Rep. Virgil Peck had.

Peck says he was joking, which, duh, but how would anyone ever think that is funny, or appropriate to say in a House Appropriations Committee? I know he doesn’t think this would be a real policy, but do you think he’d be making the same joke about any other population? Can you imagine someone saying this about meth heads? Wall Street crooks? Illegal gun holders? Computer thieves? Weed dealers? Etc.

I think it demonstrates a problem that currently arises in illegal immigration discourse: it’s dehumanizing. It’s often discussed as an infestation or simply a problem. I guess apparently they’re also considered wild pigs.

How are you supposed to remember they are human beings when they are discussed in this way? When it’s funny to crack jokes about hunting them down? It’s hard to see how a policymaker could possibly think this was acceptable.

Enjoy knowing this will do nothing to improve the discussion.

Adam Feser