Too much coverage given to hunts
I must protest at the publicity given to the hunts. With "Riders in the saddle for traditional hunts" (Mercury, January 3), we had the second large colour photograph with an accompanying article in less than a week.
Hunting with dogs is against the law but it is obvious that hunt participants and followers hope for a repeal of the Hunting Act.
I suggest that readers view "Minority pastime – a letter to David Cameron" on the internet. In this film you will hear a red-coated gentleman say to an elderly male protester: "I'll ******g fill you in."
You will hear about a pet cat ripped apart by hounds. You will see hounds out of control damaging private property and members of the public being threatened, intimidated and injured.
Red coated horse riders may be an impressive spectacle but what they would like to reinstate causes mayhem in the countryside as well as being a cruel and barbaric activity.
Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.
6 Comments
by Peter, Wigston
Monday, January 10 2011, 2:37PM
“Quote: "What I am fervently against is ............. change to a tradition, a way of life for thousands of people across the UK countryside.
So I take it that David of Gt Easton is fervently against NIMBYism, whereby new low cost housing is prevented in villages across the UK countryside, thus ensuring that young people brought up in the countryside are forced out of their traditional rural life into large towns instead.”
by m, le3
Sunday, January 09 2011, 3:37PM
“@David, Great Easton, Rural Leicestershire. - you seem have mistakenly assumed that I was directing my comment to you? How bizarre!
Please note that unless I explicitly address a comment to anyone, it is either addressing the letter, or for my own entertainment. You might agree/disagree/respond/ignore - I dont much care. :)”
by David, Great Easton, Rural Leicestershire.
Sunday, January 09 2011, 10:25AM
“m le3, you have missed the point completely. I am NOT and have never offered hunting with dogs as a "convincing argument to control foxes".
It is a well known fact that hunts kill only a minute proportion of the overall fox population and other methods are obviously required. It is therefore quite wrong to suggest hunting with dogs is a necessary form of "pest control". When the hunts were allowed to go about their business before the Act came in the countryside wasn't littered with dead fox carcases with blood and entrails strewn about about many of the antis state, that is purely emotive language and totally untrue and unfounded.
What I am fervently against is the way in which New Labour sought and brought about change to a tradition, a way of life for thousands of people across the UK countryside - change simply for the sake of change. It was an iniquitous and particularly vindictive piece of legislation all to do with perceived class divisions and different ways of life, city occupier and rural dweller.
Even the former Prime Minister Blair, now says of the Hunting Act 2004 "it was one of the domestic legislative measures I most regret"!!
That, to me, says it all in a nutshell”
by m, le3
Saturday, January 08 2011, 4:06PM
“You can certainly argue that a fox is a pest and needs to be controlled. But you cant convincingly argue that the best possible way to do this is to breed hounds especially to chase the fox, accompanied by hunters dressed in red coats and blowing horns...
Hunters do it because they enjoy it, some are brave enough to simply admit this. But many hunt supporters and first generation country folk are a bit more limp-wristed, and claim it is all about the necessity of pest control.”
by PB, Leicester
Saturday, January 08 2011, 3:37PM
“Don't worry David. The veggie nutter will be busy puting writing a letter on egg production right now. My money goes on it being in the LM by Wednesday”
by David, Great Easton, Rural Leicestershire.
Saturday, January 08 2011, 12:54PM
“Yet more emotive language from the evergreen Ms.Allison. There is and never has been "mayhem" in the countryside apart from when the antis have their day out to attempt to learn what it is all about.
You honed in on pet cats being "ripped apart" but strangely never mention the hens and other animals slaughtered by the fox.
When will you and your ilk realise the fox is vermin. Why is it alright for the fox to rampage through the countryside and farms to satisfy their lust for blood, a thing they do naturally, apparently, but not for a hound to do what it does naturally?!!
You also at ease with a fox to act "barbarically" but not a hound, how bizarre is that. You Ms.Allison, have lost the argument!!”