What are you in the UK hearing about this? If it has merit, I hope that you can stop this!

"... a ban on hunting in England and Wales is likely by next year".

From:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=444121

Best regards, Bill

Specifically, they are referring to hunting with dogs, as in fox hunting.

George

Now that I re-read it, I think you are right George, thanks for the clarification!

Bill

Hey the Brits insist on their own terminology for the chase of wild critters: "hunting" is this thing on horses, "shooting" is with a shotgun and "stalking" is what the rest of the universe calls hunting - i.e. the rifle thingie...
Just enough to keep the rest of the world unaware of what is actually happening...
- mike

George has the right idea. However this is far from a foregone conclusion. The Bill is being debated in our second house (House of Lords)and it looks likely that they will ask the Government to make extensive changes effectively watering the ban down considerably...This political foot ball will be kicked back and to a few more times before anything happens. I would guess it will take around two years for any changes to come into effect and then only if things are not scuppered.....

Hi,
This ban is just a misinformed attack based on the unresolved animosity between classes and is an issue which raises pulses although most people against foxhunting don't know that more foxes die on motorways every year than are caught by hounds and that the success rate varies but is very low 40-60% and many/most foxes that are fit and agile escape...
A ban doesn't prevent foxes being shot however, as is being done in Scotland where foxhunting in the traditional sense has been banned for a year or two ...the ban hasn't saved the life of a single fox and some would say more foxes are being killed than before as the foxes are driven to waiting hunters who do not let 60% get away

Pete,

I wish I had your optimism. I think the upshot of it is that Tony and his cronies will force this through by invoking the parliament act. The said they would and we have no reason to disbelieve them.

It's a sorry state of affairs, but bit by bit we will lose our sport in the UK if we don't get ourselves a central representative body.

FB

Fallow Buck,

I am not exactly optomistic, but we have been in this situation a couple of times before...

I actually wonder if Tony has the stomach for this particular fight. It seems that the promise of a ban is a convenient "carrot" he holds over the heads of his back bench MP when ever they get troublesome for the Government...

As to the Parliament Act, there was a very a very good article in one of teh Shooting magazines a few weeks back.

As I understood it, the Parliament Act can only be used under fairly strict circumstances. The House of Lords and the Tories are aware of this and I predict that they will try to scupper things by making sure the Bill's passage does not meet the correct requirements for the Act to be invoked...

Regards,

Pete

Not that I have a personal interest in hunting foxes on horseback, but what I find sad about this whole story, is how the "majority" (i.e. city dwellers) are capable of ignoring and overruling traditions with direct lines in history back to the Middle Ages. Parforce hunting is still a part of life in many other countries, e.g. France. Why should this tradition in its special British form be outlawed??
I'll get off my soapbox now,,,
- mike

Most town/city dwellers really don't give a fig about the hunting issue. Sure, they have been "programmed" to say they think it cruel when prompted, but thats about as deep as it goes. This is why neither the anti's nor the labour MP's want a national referendum on the subject.

This ban is being driven by a very vocal minotity who hide behind the animal rights banner when in reality it is a "class hatred" thing...

Pete,

I have to agree that they won't be able to get it through easily but I doubt that we will see the season out with hunting carrying on. If the Lords look to be making life difficult, then they wil change the lords.... Talk this week of only having appointed peers, and no more hereditory peers,(typically conservative), will achieve their goals that way round.

I spoke to the CLA representative at the Edenbridge and Oxted show this year. He put a very strong argument as to the reasons why the bill won't pass but all the time he was preaching to the converted...

I made enquiries last week about getting a crash course in horse riding to follow the hounds once before it is banned. It was a friends idea but I sooo hate being told I'm not allowed to do something!!

FB

There are only 92 hereditary peers left in the Lords, but the appointed peers have already voiced an aversion to the bill, and hopefully will be able to delay the passing of the bill for at least a year, or perhaps allow hunting in areas such as Northumberland/Essex where it is more than a pastime but a BIG aid to struggling farmers...

Gentlemen

The latest is that Blair want to removed the inherited lords from the house, how dare he. Blair is digging his grave quickly, no re-election. I wonder if the royal family is next on the agenda

/ JOHAN