On Christmas Eve, 2017, owners of a parcel of land in Victoria, Texas, had several oak trees removed from their property. The owner’s actions renewed a debate that has been raging across Texas: Should property owners be allowed to remove trees on their land whenever they desire? Or should government regulate tree removal?
As the trees were being removed, one Victoria resident expressed her opinion, telling the Victoria Advocate, “These oak trees are an integral part of our history. And for them to do this the morning before Christmas, it’s morally wrong.
There is a moral issue involved, but what is it? Is it immoral to remove trees? Or is it just immoral to do so on Christmas Eve? To answer this, we must look at the full context. Only then can we reach an informed decision.
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