From: "SA Mail", [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS RELEASE 17th January 2001 THE HUNTING BILL This afternoon members of the House of Commons will be voting on the second reading of The Hunting Bill. Most informed speculation suggests that MPs will vote overwhelmingly for an outright ban on hunting with dogs. This Association still finds it incredible that a most peaceful and law-abiding section of society is being targeted by Parliament. Those who choose to hunt foxes and other animals with hounds are not criminals, though they will become so if this legislation is successful; they are honest, hard-working men and women who take pleasure out of a sport that helps to keep the numbers of foxes, considered vermin, at manageable levels. Their sport brings financial benefits to the countryside and is an integral part of many rural communities. Let us contrast those who hunt with dogs and who generally obey the laws of the land with animal rights activists. Animal rights activists have nearly succeeded in putting a company out of business because it uses animal experiments for medical benefits to human beings. Directors and workers have been subjected to verbal abuse and have been spat upon. Animal rights activists were responsible for the theft of hounds belonging to the Wye Beagles and have apparently placed the animals into "loving homes" - a totally unsuitable environment for them. These animal rights activists, who profess to love animals, have been witnessed attacking packs of hounds with whips and causing injury to horses involved in hunts. There have also been cases of physical assault on hunters who are jeered when they quite legitimately defend themselves. There have also been cases of the property of hunters being vandalised and set on fire and allegations of car bombs. Who are the real criminals here? Why are the Government and Police apparently doing nothing to prevent the illegal activities of the animal rights activists? Why does our Government give more priority to the rights of animals than the right of human beings to have the freedom to pursue their chosen sporting activity? Perhaps we should not find it incredible after all. In 1997 the then Conservative Government targeted another peaceful and law- abiding section of society, those who chose to pursue the sport of target pistol shooting. Their sport was banned and their private property confiscated with totally inadequate compensation paid out. Criminal use of pistols continues unabated; from March 1999 to March 2000 in England and Wales 42 people were killed with handguns and they were used in 2,700 robberies and over 200 burglaries. What is the Government's response to this problem? They ask the Firearms Consultative Committee to look into good reason for the possession of shotguns. The mind boggles, it truly does. When is the Government going to get its priorities in order and target the criminal classes of this country; rather than law abiding citizens pursuing their chosen sporting activities? Perhaps they have another agenda! Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
