Even things up abit.... give the fox a shotgun! (Foxhunting - is this sport?)

Member Name: Judgee

Product:	Foxhunting - is this sport?
Date:	08/03/02 (172 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Cruelty

Well I am going to try to give a balanced review, but it's not easy. For many years the debate has provoked hatred and outrage from both sides. It was not that long ago that protestors and their actions were plastered across every daily newspaper and on every news program. Recent legislation in Scotland has made me take another look at my own personal thoughts on this issue. Living in a London suburb, it is quite easy to forget what goes on in other parts of the country.


The hunt itself consists (at least as far as I understand it!) of several members of the upper-middle classes chasing after a fox with a pack of excitable dogs. Too simple? All right then, let's try to expand on this a little. Certain members of the public, being of a financial status that will allow this somewhat expensive hobby, kit themselves out in suitable attire for the hunt. This usually consists of a hunting jacket (often but not always red (they tend to look like Butlins redcoates if you ask me!)) jodhpurs, riding hat and crop. They then choose a suitable horse, mount it (sit on a saddle.. what else did you think I meant!)) and prepare the hounds for the off. Someone blows his horn (trumpet thingy!) and the hunt begins. The fox is then chased around the countryside by the dogs who in turn are followed by the hunters on horseback.


Ultimately the hounds catch up with the fox first and the idea is for the hunters to try and catch up with them. The fox then endures minutes of excruciating pain and fear whilst being torn to shreds by the pack. Anyone on their first hunt is then bloodied, in an oh so civilised ceremony where they have their face smeared in the foxes blood. (I am trying to make this a balanced review, honest!)


Right that is how a hunt is carried out as I understand it, although I am sure someone will be more than happy to point out any inaccuracies in the above paragraphs. Now to the issues in hand, the good the bad and the do
wnright disgusting. What is achieved from hunting, the reasons it should be allowed or why should this barbaric so-called sport be banished from the face of the earth (struggling with the balanced view, but still trying!)


Foxes are apparently a nuisance in the countryside, spreading disease, leaving their filth everywhere and killing livestock. Thier numbers need to be humanely controlled or else they would overrun the place.


Fox hunting is a pleasurable pastime for the hunters (their words, not mine!) requiring stamina and skill. The thrill of the hunt is unbeatable and in organising these events, jobs are created and the economy in the areas that they are run, benefit financially too.


So, they are the pros or at least the arguments for allowing this murder to take place. For the bored rich people with more money than they no what to do with (really not doing well on the balanced thing am I?) Well let's take a look at the arguments in favour of banning it shall we.


So foxes are a bit of a nuisance, fine, I can appreciate that but please bear in mind they do a lot of good also. They keep the number of rabbits and other small creatures down. So suppose I guess that argument really depends on which you prefer lots of Fox poo poo or millions of rabbit droppings?


"Fox hunting keeps the number of foxes to an acceptable level in a humane way?" Sorry but you would have to be completely bonkers to consider this method of control as humane! The foxes are as good as tortured by the dogs, torn to shreds in a death that can go on for minutes. You want to humanely kill them fine, get a gun and shoot them in the head.


Hunting is a sport? Well yes I suppose the horsemanship involved in a hunt can take a great deal of skill, fair enough. But why terrorise a poor creature? Are there no other ways to prove you horsemanship? Can you not still gallop across the countryside, jump over the s
ame bushes without targeting an animal?


Money, money, money? Job losses, loss of income? What complete and utter rubbish. How many tourists go to see a fox hunt? Not many I bet. Yet equal amounts of revenue for the area can be raised by focusing on the beauty of the countryside. Job losses? So who exactly is employed just to work on a hunt and could these people not still be employed if the hunt continued, just without the participation of a fox?


Well I have tried to be impartial, but have probably failed miserably. I can't help it, I just think that is a barbaric pastime that should be banned as soon as possible. I do not condone a lot of the violent action taken by the fox hunt protestors. Let's not forget that some of the protestors have in the past acted quite badly, causing both damage and injury to not only the hunters but their poor horses as well. That being said, I can understand why they feel so strongly about it, I just don't always agree with the action they take in order to get their point across.


Recent legislation has banned fox hunting in Scotland and this can only be a good thing. Unfortunately, in England the bill has always been blocked by the House of Lords (full of wealthy people with more money than sense, so what do you expect!). However, the decision in Scotland cannot be ignored, the house of commons is set to ban hunting and it can only now be a matter of time before the Lords cave in and realise that this blood sport will no longer be tolerated by ordinary members of the public.


To anyone participating in fox hunting, I would like you to consider the following suggestion. Let me chase one of your relatives around a field with a baseball bat. I will give them a head start (seems only fair!) and when I catch them, I will beat them to death with it. It will take a few minutes yes, but what the heck it's a sport right? You have too many relatives any way, let me humanely c
lub them to death, after all it is humane right? They wander around the countryside leaving litter on the floor and creating a mess so it must be justified right? I promise that I will get no satisfaction from beating them to death, I just like the thrill of the chase you know!


It is cruel.

It is barbaric.

It is wrong!

Is it a sport? Don't make me laugh.


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