State agents who enforce hunting laws often have to confront suspects who are carrying guns. Very seldom does that result in violence.

It did last week in Ohio’s Clinton County, as state Department of Natural Resources officers were investigating a deer poaching complaint. One of the officers, Kevin Behr, was shot. He was taken to a hospital, fortunately, with no life-threatening injuries. Three suspects were arrested. It appears one of them fired the shot that hit Behr.

Assuming charges against the three are accurate, they should be punished as severely as the law permits. Shooting a DNR officer — or any other law enforcement agent — ought to bring the full wrath of the law down on the offender.