9th July 2015
THREAT TO HUNTING ACT REAL & IMMINENT #keeptheban
The Government is attempting to seek approval for an amendment to the Hunting Act which will permit a pack of dogs to be used to chase foxes into range of waiting guns for shooting. Their justification? Pest control, of course!
The effect of this amendment, if it is passed, would be to render the Hunting Act virtually impossible to apply and open to abuse. The process by which this change will be made is simple and quick. It has begun this week and comes to a head on Wednesday July 15 in the House Of Commons when it will be voted upon by MPs. If passed, it’ll go straight to the House Of Lords and that will be that.
In a nutshell, this is what we know: pro hunt forces within Government have realised that the number of compassionate MPs is such that they may lose a vote on full repeal of the Hunting Act. So they are using what’s called a Statutory Instrument to seek what is effectively repeal by the back door.
The proposed amendment was discussed in a Commons back room yesterday by the so-called 1922 Committee. ‘Flushing to guns’ with two hounds is currently permitted by the Hunting Act in England and Wales but is unsatisfactory to the hunting fraternity because it fails to satisfy their desire for a prolonged chase (i.e., ‘sport’).
Cameron & Co tried something similar in the spring of 2014 but were scuppered in large part by their LibDem partners. Now, as we all know, the shackles of coalition have been lifted. We do still have many friends in all parties though.
In Scotland, where legislation is different, a pack of hounds may be used for flushing to guns. So their tactic is to bring England and Wales in line with Scotland and snooker the SNP (who as far as we know may still vote on this issue) because opposition to these proposed changes will make them look like hypocrites. However, the fresh intake of SNP MPs have acknowledged that their law is being widely flouted by Scottish hunts and are already committed to properly scrutinising it.
So, we have only seven days to go and the outcome rests entirely in the hands of our elected members.
Our job in this time is to contact our MPs and ask them two things:
- To oppose this attempt to repeal the Hunting Act by the back door.
- Crucially, to attend the Commons on Wednesday July 15 and vote against the amendment.
The hunting fraternity and their politician allies are taking the mick out of the rest of us here. They know full well that their sneaky plan is to scupper the Hunting Act by underhand political means. In doing so, they are making fools out of MPs who buy into this stuff and sticking two fingers up at the rest of us who don’t.
Remember, every single vote counts and is important. Yes, this has been scheduled for the very end of a long week just as MPs are about to go on their summer holidays. But lip service means nothing here, actions (meaning being there and voting) are everything.
Please everyone, sign petitions yes, but for fox sake we must ALL write to and email our MPs, regardless of previously stated intentions or political persuasions. If you do nothing else today, do this!
Find out who your MP is and how to contact them here www.writetothem.com
© Joe Hashman July 9th 2015
14 Comments | Leave a comment
Linda brammer says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 9:29 am
I and hundreds like me WILL Sab if the hunting ban is lifted or ‘relaxed’. There will be horrific scenes in the countryside between humans and dogs and foxes… Cameron… Surely you can’t be this evil and stupid?
Stephen Kourik says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 10:04 am
We must fight this undemocratic proposal in every way possible.
Carole Lloyd says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 10:54 am
Why bring this cruelty back? How can you justify enjoyment watching a animal being torn to pieces hearing its screams and calling it pleasure??
Shirley Maiden says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 11:04 am
OH no this must not happen, this is one of the cruelest forms of entertainment for the rich and country gentry, they are phycopaths.
Amanda says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 1:04 pm
This is a disgrace, the rich wanting to run rampant round the country side with dogs and guns killing . Not for controll if a pest or for . But for there sick fun. I say NO NEVER
Liz McCafferty says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 6:30 pm
What a joke - as though a whole pack of dogs are going to obediently chase a fox into the gunfire. The hunts will, of course, apologise that the dogs got there first - Oh Dear!
Trudi Lewis says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 8:06 pm
It seems that no matter how much video or photographic evidence against pro hunters is released to the legal system that Cameron still seems to think a repeal is acceptable. I personally don’t class pro hunters keeping cubs in sheds ready to release for the hunt season as pest control. I also don’t think a huntsman riding a horse into a hunt saboteur and causing her life threatening injuries acceptable. Using terriers is absolutely disgusting as is hunting anything fullstop!! It is a barbaric sport for people who are way behind in mentality in this day and age.
I could go on and on but what i would like to know is if you also have a similar opinion as i do, will you help to stop our moron of a prime minister from taking us back into the dark ages as far hunting is concerned?
marta Falco says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 8:56 pm
pest control is another lie. foxes will not breed as rabbits do. they will only bring so many cubs into the area which is theirs. They are territorial animals . because of this, it is not necessary to cull them at all but yet another lie and excuse. Have a day out hunting and enjoy the excitement when they fox is caught and torn to pieces. then these people are satisfied.
Kate Garner says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 10:09 pm
We have too much death and destruction of animals. We need the laws to protect the ones we have left NOT to encourage more destruction. The foxes have as much right to live as we do. This is THEIR planet as much as it is ours . Please strengthen the laws of protection NOT the laws of killing.
Mark says:
Posted July 09, 2015 at 10:32 pm
This legislation must not be repealed we have moved on from this and if there is any form of control needed it should not be done as a sport.
Della Davies says:
Posted July 10, 2015 at 7:30 am
Its cruel & shouldn’t be allowed ,money talks & these rich sad evil sods think they can do just as they like heartless .no killing and suffering of any animal is actseptable.
Judy Layton says:
Posted July 10, 2015 at 11:42 am
Hunting generally is both cruel and unnecessary. Fox hunting is absolutely disgraceful, it serves no purpose other than to amuse those who believe they have the right to terrorise and slaughter one of God’s creatures for ‘sport’. Most of those taking part, in this sadistic and barbaric activity are usually ‘moneyed’ individuals, who find nothing wrong with torturing a small creature who is only trying to live his life. I find the whole issue of fox-hunting distressing and out dated, so please re-think this whole disgusting debacle for the sake of sanity in an insane world!
jules says:
Posted July 10, 2015 at 11:42 pm
UNACCEPTABLE AND RIDICULOUS BEHAVIOUR
Shelley says:
Posted July 13, 2015 at 11:46 am
Please stop this. Just no to fox murder.