Hunting ban 'deal' urged

Ian Craig

October 12, 2004

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PEERS will be urged today to agree a compromise on banning fox-hunting.

As they debate the second reading of the Hunting Bill, which prohibits hare coursing and hunting with dogs, some peers will propose a "middle way", allowing hunting to be licensed.

But a majority of MPs, led by Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) insist on a complete ban.

That means the Parliament Act will have to be used by the government to force through the Bill in time for the state opening of parliament on November 23.

The Tory leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde, is urging peers to back licensed foxhunting.

Members of the pro-hunting Countryside Alliance held a rowdy demonstration outside the Commons when MPs last debated the issue and several broke into the chamber and disrupted the Labour Party conference in Brighton.

Should hunting be banned? Have your say.

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Angela, Stretford (12/10/2004 at 13:52)

Of course hunting with dogs should be banned.

One pro-hunt supporter recently said in a televison interview that "it's traditional", um well if you check your history books, so is painting your body with wode, burying people in peat bogs and, yes, even cannibalism (we were still practising this as little as 2,500 years ago over here in Briton) - but we don't do it today!

If you're so desperate to hunt something, what about letting the dogs chase a drag?

And if people are saying that a total ban will be unworkable, think about this. Dogs used to hunt can never, ever be kept as family pets - they're too unreliable - so if they are found being used, the whole pack should be put down and the horses taken under a court order and rehomed.

c evans, powys (12/10/2004 at 13:53)

hounds are essential to control foxes, thet do the work that would require a regiment of farmers to replace them. shooting often wounds a fox, many of those killed by hounds have been previosly wounded by gun fire.

Tricia Rowe, Oxfordshire (12/10/2004 at 14:12)

The majority of 'ordinary' people who have lived in the countryside for several generations oppose hunting and cannot wait to see the end of it.

When the 'foot and mouth' episode prevented the hunt from hunting; the foxes didn't increase in numbers.

philip canham, norfolk (12/10/2004 at 14:43)

I had always been told that the Labour Party was first and foremost there to protect the working classes jobs and homes and by this ban they are taking them away. By banning hunting with dogs will not just efect fox hunters, but the people who work in factorys,building sites the man who wants to work his Lurcher or terrier just working people who want to get away into the country side for a few hours.

philip canham, norfolk (12/10/2004 at 15:11)

I live in the country side and have lost livestock to foxes they killed everything and not one was taken, how can foxes be controled shooting is not always practical all the time traps and poison are too indiscriminate, cars kill more foxes than hunts so whats the next step ban cars!

Tony Moore, Southport (12/10/2004 at 15:12)

We are always told that the way to "conserve" the hares is to course them. Strange, but in Northern Ireland where hare coursing has been banned for a year, because of falling numbers, the hare population has increased. All the arguments put up by the hunters are just that, arguments. If they were honest they would tell the truth, the reason they do it is bloodlust.

Vinny, Middleton (12/10/2004 at 16:07)

Blood thirsty morons. Enough said.

barry sharp, pembrokeshire (12/10/2004 at 17:01)

This bill will not only stop men in red coats on horses chasing foxes. It will also stop hundreds of thousands of people like myself from catching a rabbit with a lurcher or killing a rat with a terrier. Beware Mr. Blair you've lost this working mans vote and I suspect many many thousands of others too.

Peter, Stockport (12/10/2004 at 17:35)

Meanwhile in our towns and cities, teenage girls are gunned down; cats and dogs are stolen and suffer cruel torture. They get no protection - lucky old foxes - free to rip heads off chickens and slaughter young lambs.

Thurston, Hulme, Manchester (12/10/2004 at 22:51)

I think a total hunting ban is the only humane answer. If killing foxes was the issue, then why chase them for hours on end over farm land dressed in daft costumes. The people breeding hounds and moaning because their 'livelihood' that has been for generations is going to be taken away will maybe now have an idea of how the miners felt.

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