BRITAIN: Record turnout despite hunting ban:
Date: Dec 27, 2006 11:57 AM
PUBLICATION: Edmonton Journal
DATE: 2006.12.27
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: B9
SOURCE: Agence France-Presse
DATELINE: LONDON
ILLUSTRATION: Photo: The Associated Press / Guy Mather of the
CheshireHunt takes part in the Boxing Day meet in Tarporley, Cheshire,
England, on Tuesday.
WORD COUNT: 405

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Record turnout despite hunting ban: Group wants new law overturned

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LONDON – Countryside campaigners said more than 300,000 people took part
in traditional Boxing Day (Dec. 26) fox hunts across Britain Tuesday,
claiming it proved a ban on hunting with dogs was not working.

“We think we’ve had a record turnout this year,”said Charlotte Fiander
of the Countryside Alliance, which has been at the forefront of a drive
to overturn legislation in force since last February outlawing hunting
with dogs.

“We were expecting a big turnout as there is a lot of support for
hunting across the country. Everyone is still going out to show their
support — this ban just isn’t working … It shows that this law needs
to be changed.”

In all, 314 hunts took place on Tuesday, including some of the oldest
and most famous, such as the Beaufort in Gloucestershire, western
England, which counts Prince Charles and other members of the royal
family as supporters.

“The ban has not affected the popularity of the hunt at all,” said Jo
Aldridge, from the Beaufort. “In fact, we seem to be being supported in
greater numbers than ever, so the ban hasn’t worked from that viewpoint.

“Foxes are still being killed by the gun, probably in greater numbers
than when they would be killed via the hunt.”

The large turnout of riders and supporters was a renewed show of
defiance to the Hunting Act 2004, which outlawed fox hunting, deer
hunting and hare coursing with dogs in England and Wales following
similar laws in Scotland.

Campaigners have tried to have the act declared invalid and claimed it
would devastate rural communities and local industries supporting hunts,
such as kennels for hounds and farriers who ensure hunt horses are
well-shod.

The legislation — which followed years of campaigning by those who
viewed the bloodsport as cruel and inhumane — means dogs cannot be used
to pursue and kill quarry. Under the terms of the Hunting Act, hounds
are still allowed to follow a scent and flush out foxes and other
quarry, which can then be killed by a bird of prey or shot if only two
dogs are involved.

Only one person has been convicted of breaking the controversial act. A
huntsman was fined 500 pounds ($1,100 Cdn) and ordered to pay costs in
August on a charge of hunting a fox in April last year.

The prosecution was brought by the League Against Cruel Sports, which is
monitoring hunts for any breaches of the law.

“The League does not have a problem with hunts meeting to either drag or
trail hunt on Boxing Day, as long as they do not violate the Hunting
Act,” a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security !