Kansas lawmaker compares shooting wild hogs to immigrants

Topeka - A Kansas Republican lawmaker on Monday suggested the problem of the country’s immigration problem could be addressed in the same manner the state of Kansas is addressing the feral hog issue: shooting them from a helicopter.

Kansas state Rep. Virgil Peck (R-Tyro) has caused an uproar over comments he made at a session with the state House Appropriations Committee regarding a budget for feral hog control. According to the Wichita Eagle, Peck said: “Looks like to me, if shooting these immigrating feral hogs works, maybe we have found a (solution) to our illegal immigration problem.” Peck’s comments came during discussions on the state’s $175,000 budget for the Department of Agriculture to control the roughly 500 wild pigs roaming the state’s breathtaking landscape. On occasion, the DoA will hire a helicopter to be used in shooting the hogs from the air. When asked about his inflammatory remarks, Peck defended himself, saying: “I was just speaking like a southeast Kansas person,” the Lawrence Journal reports. Today he apologized, saying, "My statements yesterday were regrettable. Please accept my apology. In response to Peck’s comment, Rep. Marc Rhoades (R-Newton), chair of the appropriations committee, said: “ I know that the preface to your question was an attempt at humor, but I would ask that in the future you refrain from comments that could be deemed inappropriate.” Peck's comments can be heard here.