Editor's note: The Daily Herald recently asked readers if the death of a pheasant who ran on the field at a recent football game should be considered a crime. Some responses follow.

Reason upended

It is a sad end to a bird's life, but I believe the individuals who threw the bird on the field knowing that it's wings had been clipped and it could not fly are as responsible as the coach who stepped on the bird and injured it. I believe that society has a long way to go when we abort babies every day and no one bats an eye or lifts a finger, but step on a bird, perhaps even accidentally, and that may be considered a crime. To me this says our ability to reason has been turned upside down!

• Linda Laycock

American Fork

No excuses

I could hardly believe your editorial on the pheasant-stomping incident. Of course it is criminal behavior to stomp a pheasant to death because it is inconveniencing you. It is a very sick person who would do such a thing, and we should not make excuses for their bad behavior. It was perhaps thoughtless of the students who released the bird onto the field, but I doubt that they expected such a vicious and cruel response to their prank. What a horrid example he was to his players.

• Sandi Monson

Orem

Not a crime

The assistant coach shouldn't be accused of a crime. He was just trying to get the pheasant off the field.

• Elsie Medina

Provo

Bad things happen

The stomping of a pheasant shouldn't be considered a crime. It's an unfortunate thing that happened.

•Mark Nelson

Spanish Fork

Do you agree?