American Who Killed Cecil the Lion Closes Dental Practice

[jpak]

Source: New York Times

An American dentist who admitted that he killed a well-known lion this month in Zimbabwe and planned to mount the head has closed his practice near Minneapolis as the furor online has turned vitriolic and, at times, threatening.

Dr. Walter J. Palmer’s neatly groomed property, adjacent to a preschool, has turned from a dentist’s office to a memorial to the lion, called Cecil, with red roses and more than a dozen stuffed animals laid outside the locked front door.

There was no answer to repeated knocks and doorbell rings at his large, stucco house in an affluent, wooded neighborhood. His neighbors would not talk.

In the hours after Dr. Palmer said he had killed the lion under the impression that the hunt was legal and undertaken with the proper permits, he went from a dentist and longtime hunting enthusiast to the villain at the center of a virtual firestorm over the ethics of big-game trophy hunting. He apologized in a statement: “I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.”

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Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/30/us/cecil-the-lion-walter-palmer.html?_r=0

[villager]

1. He only regrets that it's costing him in the pocketbook.

There is nothing else about this that he regrets. Well, that he was "caught," I suppose.

[glinda]

3. True. "Hunting enthusiast" huh?

Personally "Killing excites me" may be the accurate translation of the term.

[RedSpartan]

4. Exactly.

And also, jackass, that "activity that you love?" You mean, killing innocent exotic animals for fun? You're a sick bastard.

[MissDeeds]

21. Absolutely

What kind of a sick twit "loves" killing? He's depraved and unrepentant. I hope he doesn't have a moments peace the rest of his miserable, wretched life.

[swilton]

14. Exactly

His only regret is that he was caught - His history speaks for itself - a man who loves killing defenseless animals. Where is his bravery now? The coward is hiding out someplace.

I can not believe how upset I have become at this entire saga and I will not sleep until this man/sub-human is brought to justice.

[SoCalMusicLover]

16. Get Some Sleep

Justice in this day and age is Very, Very Slow, if he ever does receive it. Zimbabwe may not pursue him, and so he could get away with it. Life is just not fair sometimes, and unfortunately a lot of evil doers escape justice.

[AngryDem001]

45. A BIG reason that life is not fair is due

green pieces of paper.

But, that being said I have hope that this @#$%head get what he deserves.

[SoCalMusicLover]

52. He Won't Get What He Deserves

He probably will merely have to find someplace other than Zimbabwe to get his hunting fix on. Perhaps staying closer to home.

It would be very nice if his practice suffers greatly, and that he is not able to live anywhere near the same lifestyle that he had. Maybe having to sell his $1M home, being left by his wife, and wondering where it all went wrong. He can wear the "Woe Is Me, My Name Is Poor Tom Brady" look for the rest of his days.

Doubtful he will ever realize what he did was wrong. It's not in his DNA.

[AngryDem001]

54. Sadly, I think you're right.

And I don't think it's completely a money issue.

It's a MENTAL issue. He's a fucking narcissist. They have ZERO empathy. Less than zero actually.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

33. I'm feeling the same.

Really really upset.

I'm sick about the Poaching businesses (i.e. Safaris Unlimited ) that runs these things, too.

[closeupready]

18. Yup.

[catbyte]

36. He probably also regrets that he had to leave Cecil's head behind in Zimbabwe. Now he and his

scumbag, asshole friends won't be able leer at it on his wall while they sip single malt scotch and gloat about being Big Dick Masters of the Universe. I can't think of a more pathetic, soulless form of life on the planet that a very rich man. They have the capacity and ability to make the world a better place--which many do--but it's the ones who spend their money like this that just makes them worse than worthless. They are killing the planet and they couldn't care less. The only thing that can hurt them is to take away their money. I certainly hope he loses a shitload of his.

[JamesC]

39. Walter Palmer's Political Campaign Contribution

http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?14961426731

[MH1]

68. Of course he's a republican. Maxxed to rMoney.

Welcome to DU. Always good to see quality posts right off the bat from a newcomer..

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Just like he regrets lying about that bear he killed earlier.

"I'm sorry I got caught. Now shut up already!"

Funny how a trip abroad, planned for the apparently exclusive purpose of killing a lion, caused a lion to be killed. Go figure.

[geek tragedy]

5. yeah he thought that the baiting of a lion to get it out of the reserve

was legal.

lying, sociopathic monster.

[question everything]

6. Cecil was wearing a collar

what was he thinking? That this is the way lions are born in Africa?

Oh, and by the way - his home is worth $1 million..

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

31. I was wondering the same thing

Unless he only saw the lion from the front or rear it would be hard to miss a collar:





If the dentist spent any time at all observing the lion before putting an arrow in it (talk about inhumane!) there's no way he'd be able to miss it.

Also, you don't "take" a lion -- you f*cking kill it!

[Hello Dragon]

7. Savage

Poor animal.

[turbinetree]

8. Poaching is Poaching.................

and his mind set in my opinion is just like his political contributions when Mittens was running, he gave over $5,000 (open secretes.org)-------------he just didn't care.

And then he comes out with this statement:

“I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.”

-------------I mean really---------you didn't see the fricking collar and you like to "Poach" animals for the thrill of it------------you really are a hypocrite

[Still In Wisconsin]

10. Extradite his ass

and let him die in an African prison. Let him spend his last days among the general prison population there instead of his posh MPLS suburban home.

[turbinetree]

12. He knew exactly what he was doing.......................

and now he is trying to have it both ways---------------- no------------there are a lot human beings that are really tired of this stuff..................

They are extraditing POACHERS from Africa when it comes to elephant tusks and rhino horns.
There are international, local laws against this kind of barbaric acts----------------he knew and his accomplices knew what they were doing

I still have no -for him---------none..

[A HERETIC I AM]

56. Well, guess what? This is the SECOND lion he has killed and he killed a Rhino in the past (image)

[Reter]

62. How is that even possible without a high-powered rifle?

Killing a rhino with a bow? I hate the guy, but that's best-in-the-world status, and beyond difficult. He should have put his archery talents into the Olympics.

[catbyte]

37. I guess it's harder to see the tracking collar when you're illegally hunting at night, which this

piece of shit did. It's just like shining deer--completely cowardly. I don't know why this is bothering me so much, but I am just so sad and outraged over this.

[turbinetree]

46. This Lion......

was baited to get murdered at night.
And this jerk, because he is more than a jerk had no morals of what he was doing---------he knew what he was doing----------he knew this like a POACHER he is not a hunter he is a POACHER and he should be branded as a POACHER.

And hope the good people up in the Twin Cities boycotts this mans place of business, anyone that walks into the front door to get there teeth fixed, cleaned, x-rayed is supporting a criminal POACHER --------------enough is enough
This poor creature was tracked down and then killed with a gun and was skinned and beheaded and any taxidermist that mounts this head should be boycotted also


------------NONE

[Still In Wisconsin]

9. What the FUCK is there to love about the activity of killing an AFRICAN LION?

There is no legitimate reason for this no fucking matter whether it is "legal" or not. What kind of walking piece of SHIT gets off on taking the life of an endangered animal so much that he is willing to drop fifty G's for the opportunity?

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Extradite him to Zimbabwe,

send him into the wild without food, water, or weapons, and wait three months before sending out a search party to recover his remains - those fake looking piano-key teeth will be all that's left.

[catbyte]

38. Knowing him, they're probably made out of ivory from the endangered elephant he murdered.

[christx30]

13. So when he went to school to become

a dentist, did he minor in passive aggressiveness?
"I was doing something that I loved that millions of people find deplorable, and for that, you're giving me shit?! I'm feeling hunted. It's terrible!"

[dhill926]

15. yeah right...

fuck 'im....

[ZombieHorde]

17. Sucks for his staff who now probably have to scramble to come up money rent, bills, food, etc. nt

[secondwind]

20. how true ... :-(

[Polly Hennessey]

29. Why?

They knew he hunted exotic and wild animals for fun. Also, his sexual assault charge and settlement happened approximately two years ago. His family and his practice knew what he was doing. No sympathy.

[ZombieHorde]

30. I have more compassion than most people.

This often puts me at odds with those around me. I've made a lot of mistakes throughout my life, so I understand someone who doesn't quit their job because their boss enjoys trophy hunting. Just an fyi, it was sexual harassment, not sexual assault. Sexual harassment is destructive, but not nearly as destructive as sexual assault.

[catbyte]

41. The settlement states that he engaged in "unwanted touching of the employee's breasts and

genitals." That's sexual assault in my book. He probably wormed his way out of criminal charges because it was a he said/she said type of deal.

[ZombieHorde]

49. You could be right.

His employees still need money, and I still have sympathy for their sudden job loss. It's cool with me if you don't. I don't judge you.

[progressoid]

63. Yep. I worked for years for a right wing Rush Limbaugh fan.

At the time, the kid's needed food so I just had to deal with it. As soon as I could afford to, I quit.

[catbyte]

72. No, I kinda feel for them too, I'm not completely heartless. Sometimes you have to take a job

where you can get it. Sometimes that means working for an asshole. If he was any sort of a man, he would compensate them for lost wages. If he can spend $55+K to kill a magnificent creature, he could pay his employees, but who am I kidding...

[Duppers]

50. Here either.

I wouldn't work for such an asshole. However, I admit I did for one year, until I'd had enough of his religious proselytizing (prayed for me on the phone every morning)....and then I discovered he was posioning stray cats. That did it.

[ZombieHorde]

64. I'm glad you had the resources or new job lined up to quit.

Not everyone does.

[Duppers]

65. Yes, i know and well understand your point

and your compassion.
There are people without resources who literally need a pay ck for their next meal and that's one of the many reasons I support social programs.

Just wondering if there's a point at which you would draw the line? (I mean no offense.)

I have much more respect for prostitutes than I do for this psychopathic dentist.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whoring. 3rd definition.

[secondwind]

19. he doesn't regret squat.. he KNEW what he was doing. n/t

[Warpy]

32. I doubt he knew it was a protected, celebrity lion from a protected area.

I think he just didn't give a flying fuck. As long as he got the head, he didn't care where it came from or how it died.

[4dsc]

60. He regrets being caught

other than that he's needs to hide for a long time and think about what he did.

[ToxMarz]

22. Am I missing something?

His office has been closed the past two days for obvious reasons, where is it reported he has closed his practice. Not in this article that I saw.

[PoliticAverse]

28. Yes, important semantic difference. The title on the article says:

"American Who Killed Cecil the Lion Keeps Dental Office Closed"

[Dont call me Shirley]

23. So you love slaughtering animals for sport, that would be called a psychopath, Walter.

[SunSeeker]

24. Good.

[rocktivity]

25. "Has the predator become the prey, sinsei?"

"Better to call him the victim of the world's first Bill Cosby-ing, grasshopper..."




rocktivity

[Triana]

26. He regrets "taking" THIS lion.

What about the other big game he needlessly killed to feed his obviously too-needy ego? No. Only THIS one.

"Taking", he says?

T A K I N G?

He shot the lion with an arrow, left it to suffer for FORTY HOURS in excruciating pain, until it was so weak it couldn't stand up anymore, shot it, beheaded it, tried to destroy the GPS collar Oxford had on him for tracking, skinned it and left the carcass.

" T A K I N G " ?!?!?!

He fucking MURDERED him in the WORST and most BARBARIC way possible. Just to feed his goddamned vile ego.

And he 'regrets' it.

REALLY?

I don't doubt that what this psychopath regrets is the disruption to his own oh-so-precious life after he brutally ended Cecil's -- and his 25 or so cubs that will likely now die too - at least some of them - because Cecil is no longer there to protect them.

What a fucking dirtbag. The man just has NO clue.

[Auggie]

34. Fuck this prick. He can rot in an African prison.

[Helen Borg]

35. I hope one day...

A lion gets to give him a root canal!

[L0oniX]

40. I'd just get a hide if said what I wish to happen to Walter.

[catbyte]

43. You and me both.

[bullwinkle428]

67. Add me to that list...

[WinkyDink]

42. He still doesn't get it. Just say it, Doc: "I like to kill large and rare mammals. Makes me feel

MANLY!"

[AngryDem001]

47. "It makes me feel better about my tiny pee-pee!"

[niyad]

71. yep, compensatory actions.

[matt819]

44. The usual RW apology

I apologize if I've offended anyone.

And I'm sorry I got caught.

[niyad]

69. no, the "apology" is "I'm sorry if anyone was offended". no agency.

[matt819]

70. You're right

All passive voice. No responsibility.

[MsMAC]

48. The news reported he was previously under arrest for

killing a bear in Wisconsin! So what is RESPONSIBLE and LEGAL about that?

[ann---]

51. How could

ANYONE with a brain and a heart LOVE
killing endangered beautiful animals for sport? I don't
understand it.

[olddots]

53. there is still room in rhe Clown Car

Plus he has that Tony Robbins smile .

[Curmudgeoness]

55. Is his practice closed for good?

Or is it just closed for a week or two until everyone moves on to something else to be pissed about?

Until that I hear that his practice is closed for good and that he has to move to Outer Mongolia to find patients, I will not be happy.

[SoCalMusicLover]

59. No Way It's Closed For Good

He's just waiting for the heat to lessen. It may be awhile though, and thanks to the internet, this could follow him around for years to come.

Eventually he may have to relocate and change the name of practice, but I doubt he's going to give up his dental work, he needs the income to sustain his lifestyle and hobby of killing animals.

[nikto]

57. We need to ask THIS question ...

Are "trophy-hunters" sociopathic????


Hunting game to fill your freezer with meat for your family, or hunting game
for the dinner table (quail, ducks, rabbits, deer, elk, and the like) is totally defensible, IMO.

Trophy-hunting, in this day and age, is indefensible and immoral, IMO, and reveals a character-disorder
in the so-called "hunter" that should be roundly condemned by society.

[Ruby the Liberal]

58. Small step in the right direction

Now he needs to suffer and then lose every dime he has ever acquired. Rat bastard.

[malokvale77]

61. If only...

Rat bastards never seem to pay for their crimes.

[sendero]

66. I have no problem with hunting..

... but when I think hunting I think deer or turkey or duck, something you eat, something plentiful. I cannot fathom why anyone would want to kill something like a lion or tiger or other beautiful beast.

Maybe this idiot should learn to "love" something that is not so wantonly destructive.