Posted on 11/06/2004 4:42:48 PM PST by Pharmboy
LONDON (AP) - Tens of thousands of hunters and their hounds raced through the countryside on horseback Saturday, opening a fox-hunting season that could be one of Britain's last. The more than 300 hunts had a defiant air, with participants still angry over the government's plans to ban hunting with hounds.
The House of Commons voted two months ago to outlaw the sport. The House of Lords refuses to endorse the bill, but the government has threatened to force it into law anyway by next year.
Fox hunting supporters were undaunted.
"We are just as determined to be here next November and the November after that as we ever have been," said Darren Hughes, a spokesman for the pro-hunt group Countryside Alliance.
At the prestigious Beaufort Hunt on the Gloucestershire-Wiltshire border in western England, some 200 people on horses and about 400 supporters gathered under rainy skies in a stalwart mood.
"A lot of people are committed to continuing to hunt whatever happens and a lot of people just cannot believe that a government could be so irresponsible as to put this as such a high priority when there's so much wrong in the country," said Nigel Maidment, secretary of the hunt.
Supporters of the ban argue that killing foxes with hounds is cruel, and have advocated other methods of population control.
At the Beaufort Hunt, some said traditional hunting methods, in which dogs kill the prey, are still the most humane.
"(The ban) is the most misplaced idea on animal welfare one could imagine," said Christopher Mulholland, the vicar of Badminton, from his horse.
Hunting supporters also pointed to the possible economic consequences of a ban. One estimate said a ban could put as many as 8,000 people out of work - not only employees of some 200 hunts around the country but also saddlers, blacksmiths, grooms and stablehands.
"Hunting is too important to lose for the local community," said Ian Farquhar, a captain of the Beaufort Hunt.
Lawmakers' efforts to ban fox hunting have brought fierce resistance from pro-hunt activists since the House of Commons passed the bill in September.
In October, five pro-hunt supporters ran into the House of Commons chamber and disrupted debate. Individual Labour Party ministers and lawmakers have recently been the target of protesters, including Leader of the Commons Peter Hain, who was pelted with eggs during a speech in Oxfmrd.
Pro-hunting activists have also promised open defiance of any ban on hunting.
"An awful lot of people have said they will defy any hunting ban," Hughes said. "People are more determined now than ever."
AP-ES-11-06-04 1510EST
Beautiful dogs, but I love my german shepards. They'll get it one day.
Someday, when the countryside is overrun with Foxes
the government will come in and poison them, for the
sake of the community.
I would never speak against German shepherds. They're excellent dogs: smart, loyal, protectors of families, etc. BUT, if ya wanna bag a fox...
This reminds me of the deer problem we have in the South.
Liberal deer-lovers got all upset over deer hunting so they got stricter limits put on the deer harvest.
Now we have a glut of deer we can't get rid of, and they've become pests.
too late now... they shoulda stood up for their RKBA and they didn't
the excess foxes will end up as road kill. For supposedly clever animals, they have as much luck crossing the road as possums and coons, more than armadilloes, and less than chickens.
I have a compromise...........Instead of hunting foxes they could perhaps import their steeds and hounds to hunt liberals over here.
Dang. Where's the sport in that? What,the hounds need direction from the riders to know where the foxes are? Seems to me you could just open the gate to the pen and let the dogs go to work. Why get all dressed up for that?
Instead of poisoning the foxes, they will probably ban the human population.
Cheers to them! Saddle Club *ping!*
Thought that this might interest you.
The Brits should wake up.
This is what you get with a "progressive socialist" govt.
They want to cut all ties to the past, a little at a time...like the frog in the boiling water...a little at a time.
Eventually they will go after the Royal family...you might laugh now, but who would have figured they would go after Fox hunts 10 years ago.
Middle England should not get mad, just get RED!!!
I think he attempted the term "git".
Jockstraps of steel and dogs; the dogs do it!
Roger that. Methinks I really stepped in it this time. LOL!
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