Editorial
Front Page - Friday, April 9, 2010
Dog the Bounty Hunter promotes second chances on Mercy book tour
Erica Tuggle
Celebrity bounty hunter, Duane “Dog” Chapman, signed a copy of his new book, “Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given” for a fan at the Sunday book signing at the Hixson Books-A-Million. His wife, Beth, shown in the background, talks to the fans about keeping hope in tough times.
- Erica Tuggle
Duane Chapman, also known as “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” turned the quiet aisles of the Hixson Books-A-Million on midday, March 28, into a concert hall atmosphere with over 200 cheering fans, who showed up as early as 9 a.m., for a chance to meet Dog and have copies of his new book, “Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given,” signed.
The man they lined up for is responsible for the capture of over 6,000 felons, is a best-selling author and is the star of a hit reality television series on A&E that features Dog and his family in their daily devotion to giving felons a second chance to straighten up and fly right. Dog’s wife, Beth, and his son, Leland, were also on hand for the signing.
The line to see the trio wound its way along the length of the store and in-between the shelves with fans who were all determined to wait the hours it took to see Dog.
Billy Cowan and Beth Mincey are fan club members of Dog’s and had waited five hours that day to be the first ones in line.
“I have watched his show for years and I wanted to show support for him by being the first here,” Cowan said. “I like how he tries to talk to those he pursues to show them kindness instead of throwing them in jail.”
Mincey said she is a die hard fan of Dog because he is real.
“He shows real emotion. He’s not afraid to get upset, not afraid to cry and he just wants to help everybody.”
Dog gave each of his fans that day a kind and soft spoken word as he encouraged them to take the lessons in his new book and apply them to life.
“Of the lessons in the new book, the main one comes from the title ‘Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given,’” he said. “In other words, if you are nice to people or you give them a break, then when you expect to get a break, you should get it.”
Dog said the book details 11 different stories with lessons from his 35 years on the right side of the law that makes him one of the most experienced in the business.
He said he can attribute success in his career on his belief in his abilities and his ability to be a real person; not an actor.
“I met the guy the other day that was the actor that was Batman, but when you see Dog it is Dog. It’s not someone else. I don’t play someone else, and I think that is the main attraction and, of course, my “Bethie” and the rest of my family.”
Beth said the reality show has given the public a real picture of Dog that Hollywood was missing before.
“The whole time that Hollywood was really pursuing him, I said, you are probably going to have to do reality TV because that is how the world is really going to get you, and really know who you are; your spirit, your warmth and your need to give people second chances, because of the so many chances you needed,” she says. “I think in society today people say let’s put them in jail and let’s rehabilitate them, but then when we rehabilitate them, they won’t let them back into society. They always become a second class citizen; [but Dog] is living proof that rehabilitation works.”
At every book signing, Beth said, they want to give hope and faith to fans to keep trying and not be discouraged or overcome by setbacks
“I think that we have to be an inspiration to other people,” she said. “We have to live the dream and show people how to achieve the dream. It’s a big task when there are only six of us, and we can only touch one town at a time while we are on this book tour. I feel like the book has opened up a lot of avenues for us to be able to show mercy to other people because of the mercy that has been shown to us.”
Dog said the crowds at the book signings strengthen the family.
“We hunt criminals every single day; the show is completely real. We can’t ask a guy, ‘Can you let us beat you up again?’ So this rejuvenates us. It’s amazing because we didn’t get to do it like this on our first book with the whole family.”
The A&E show “Dog the Bounty Hunter” premiered in August 2004, has run for over 167 episodes and now is entering its seventh season. Rick Smigielski, a producer of the show,” said, “I think what is unique about the show is that it has Dog pursuing people who are seen as criminals, but once he has caught them, he opens up his humanity to them and shows he cares for them. I think every show has a moral lesson, shows that everyone deserves a second chance and can be forgiven and sort of the idea of hate the sin, not the sinner.”
Store manager of the Hixson Books-A-Million, Sam Hernandez, said treating everyone in the store as guests during these events ensures safety and enjoyment for all.
“This is our house, and when everyone comes into our house, we want them to feel as welcome as possible,” he said.
With the success of Sunday’s event, he said, Books-A-Million will definitely have more events in the future.
Dog said about the event: “You see these faces as you go through life, the little thank-yous from kids three years old to 93 years old, all creeds and colors and all different jobs. A big guy told me last night, ‘Dog, my grandson watches your show; don’t mess up.’ And I am like, ‘Yes, sir’. When you think you maybe want to mess up, you think of things like that.”
The “Dog the Bounty Hunt-er” episode of his Hixson Books-A-Million signing will air in the seventh season on A&E.
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