Even Lobsters Deserve Protection

* Animal protection activists expressed outrage at the decision by the city attorney to rescind the ban against the Sumo Sushi Seafood restaurant in Irvine, allowing patrons to participate in the lobster game.

And that is a good thing: Animal welfare is their concern.

The concern of the city attorney’s office is to uphold the laws to ensure a safe and secure community. Sanctioning sadistic behavior seems to contradict this mission.

That should be of concern to citizens of Irvine.

MITCH BROWN

Redondo Beach

* I was appalled to read the insensitive commentary from readers Aug. 1 about the Sumo Sushi lobster game.

Yes, a restaurant is a restaurant, but an animal is also a living creature and not a stuffed animal or prize to be won for $2.

It’s simply crude to allow patrons to abuse lobsters; it’s tacky and pointless. Why stop with lobsters? Let’s try other small animals like bunnies, chickens and piglets next!

The lobster will suffer an excruciating death by being boiled alive, so why should it also be subjected to the claw and being dropped down a chute?

Cruelty in any form isn’t amusing, but is apparently profitable for this restaurant.

This game teaches children and adults alike that living entities are nothing more than entertaining props. Where’s the reverence for life?

We need to respect all forms of life, including . . . yes . . . even lobsters. Respect for life has a direct impact on how we live and treat others.

If you read anything about serial killers you’ll note an important commonality--animal cruelty. They start out torturing animals as children, then graduate to humans.

Our society can’t stand idly by and watch death be trivialized in a game. I urge everyone to call and write this restaurant and ask them to stop using this idiotic lobster contraption.

CHRIS HEIN

Huntington Beach