Actually, I touched on this in one of the other threads.
We have already moved into this arena. If you remember foothold traps were, and still are, referred to as "leghold" traps in some instances. I think foothold is a good term, and probably more descriptive than leghold, which is one reason why I am fairly adamant about using that term here on the boards. (You'll note that this is also the term used in BMPs). This term also has a politically correct basis, in that we avoid "perceived" images of traps with a huge jaw spread that catch animals halfway to the shoulder.
Frankly, I was opposed to the term "cable restraint" when I first heard it. But, it may have some merit. It is descriptive of the device. Also, "snares" do suffer from the same perceptions as "leghold" traps. The term "snare" often conjures up the notion of a noose tied to a bent-over pole that when activated is going to jerk an animal off its feet, and hang it like a criminal in the town square.
I really don't know how much the "general public" harbors this notion. I really suspect not a whole lot because Florida and New Jersey didn't bother to ban Snares when they banned other types of traps. (However, since that time it seems like every state that has lost its traps has lost its snares too.) Some of the major opposition to getting snares reintroduced, has come from houndsmen. These folks do have about a
half a notion of what snares are, and they're the ones who envision the snare as a strictly lethal device.
And in truth, the perception of the snare as a strictly lethal device
does not stop with houndsmen. Really, the concept of non-lethal snaring was/is foreign to many trappers. Look right here on this board. We have had trappers on here who were incredulous that folks would set snares in a non-lethal manner. So if trappers themselves can't conceive of non-lethal snares, how are we going to convince everyone else?
There is another element of this in the "relaxing lock" that we use on these non-lethal snares/cable restraints. Anybody who has any more than passing experience with snares, knows that there is more "political correctness" in a relaxing lock than there is real life application or expectations.
The bottom line here? We do exercise our privilege to trap at the behest of the general public, and to some extent our fellow sportsmen. Words mean a lot. As much as
we may find it distasteful, some terms actually do present a more appealing picture. It may be more palatable if we think of these terms as "politically advantageous" rather than politically correct.
-- Hal