Honestly, I’ve been debating tackling this issue all morning. We knew shortly after the $120K potentially illegal campaign contribution scandal broke last May that John Oxendine knew the guy who was at the center of it – Dee Yancey. After all, they had been on international hunting trips together.
Yesterday, however, came the tale of a hunting expedition inside the State – in either Dade or Walker counties, depending on who you ask. Apparently, Ox had taken his sons (I’m assuming the 7 month old was not among them, but with Ox you never know), out hunting without any of them having a license on land owned by Dee Yancey, the man who gave him $120K in potentially illegal campaign contributions. While they were out, someone in the party accidentally fired their weapon and shot another member of the party, resulting in what has been described as a “superficial” wound.
If Ox is a “sportsman” as he claims, why didn’t he – or anyone in his family – have a hunting license? Now, some of the McBerry supporters have already come to his defense on this one, saying that he shouldn’t need a license from the State to hunt. To an extent, I agree with them. However, much like my issues with Karen Handel’s flagrant violations of Federal law, this is a State law and it should be followed – even when we disagree with it.
But hey, we already knew Ox likes to play fast and loose with the laws. That’s why I was debating on writing about this at all – in a sense, it really is “old news”, simply with yet another fact coming out that supports it.
[UPDATE]: It is now being reported that the shooter was one of Ox’s sons. Yes, that’s right. This “sportsman” can’t even teach his own children that humans are only valid targets in video games, not real life. Considering that the shooter’s father seems to live in a complete fantasy-land, however, is it any wonder that the son had trouble distinguishing between real and fake?
Mr. Oxendine should be forced, regardless of his position with the State, to have to follow the rules like everyone else. No license, no hunting! I just wonder how many citizens in this State would get an opportunity to review the DNR report ahead of time to see how they are writing up their investigation into the incident. He should have been preparing for the debate which he refused to attend because, as his campaign told the Clarke County GOP, he would not appear at any debate or forum with any candidates who were polling at five percent or less.
Plantations follow different rules, they are “hunting Preserves” and a license individually isn’t necessary as long as the preserve is permitted. Know the laws before you throw Ox under the bus..I’m sure he couldn’t handle a real hunt with birds you didn’t have to kick up to shoot at.
Tim,
My comments are based on the law quoted in the AJC articles. I’ll go into OCGA myself for a looksee this afternoon.
Tim, perhaps I didn’t say what I was meaning to say and for that I apologize. I was meaning that if Mr. Oxendine is the “regular Joe” he is trying so desperately to appear, that it is odd that he has not been licensed since 2000. Most avid hunters do purchase licenses, unless, as you pointed out, he only hunts on hunting preserves. Laughed hysterically at your comment about only hunting birds you have to kick up. Very funny stuff!
Ox is far from a regular Joe! I have been in GA 8 years and have still never been invited to hunt a “Game Preserve” I mean I could pay the $1500-$2500 the plantations charge to hunt, which is something I am sure the Ox should have reported in his numbers as a donation because I doubt he fronted the dough for he and his son.
Tim, you are exactly right. Would this not be the same as collecting sort of a campaign contribution while the Georgia General Assembly is in session? I thought you couldn’t do that. If he paid for the hunting trip that’s one thing; if he didn’t, then that’s something else. I also hope you didn’t think I thought Ox was a regular Joe. He’s an elitist pure and simple. I think that’s another reason why he chose not to debate Tuesday night because his campaign told Clarke County GOP in December that he would not appear at a debate/forum with any candidates who were polling 5% or less. Elitist.
[...] to turn around, right when people were actually somewhat beginning to forget about the $120K, the shooting of his friend (on yet another hunting trip involving people associated with the $120K), and his [...]