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Hunting is legitimate in so far it is legal. Why it is legal is more difficult to understand. Is it a sport? The dictionary definition of the word sport is: a game or competitive activity.' A game is something done for enjoyment, a competition should consist of two or more competitors or teams on an equal basis. I cannot see how enjoyment is gained from killing a defenceless creature; I also cannot see how it is fair on both sides. The hunter uses, guns, dogs, or even clubs to kill their prey. They plan it, while the animal has no awareness of what is about to happen until it is too late. How can this be fair or equal in any way?

Supporters often claim that if they are banned from hunting it would be against their human rights. Who is it who gives them these rights? Why do they feel they have more rights to live than other creatures on the earth? If it is their so called higher intelligence and higher morals, then they surely should display a responsible attitude and respect for the world in which they live. Animals do not hunt for enjoyment, they hunt to kill and survive. We can not go and kill a human; why should it be different which other species?

Before I perceived as a 'townie' and not knowing what I am talking about allow me to expain my experience with hunting. I have been an owner of horses for many years and worked with horses whose owners have been fox hunters. I know the social side, the tradition and all the rest of the excuses. If they want to meet up to enjoy the countryside and their horses there are many other ways of doing so, point to point, cross country, horse shows all allow social interaction, enjoyment of the countryside and do not involve killing a defenceless creature. I do not need to go hunting to be aware of what happens.

One of the other arguments is that of culling, The animals are too numerous.'They are killing other creatures.' Well apart for the fact that the balance of nature is more often than not disrupted by man interfering in nature, it is highly ineffective way to cull by these means. In fox hunting, compared to the number of horses, people and dogs involved more often than not one or two foxes are killed or injured. In the case of shooting it is also ineffective as the hunter cannot be sure that the animal has been killed, not just inured, also it is unlikely to kill the numbers needed to restore the balance of nature. So as a means of culling it is ineffective.

It is therefore, an extremely outdated, way of life. Before we had shops we needed to kill for food, people in undeveloped countries still have to kill for food. In developed, so called, 'civilised' countries animals if used for meat should be killed humanely not just shot at random or ripped apart by dogs. There is no need to do this anymore and the quicker these people come to accept that they are living in the 21st century and gain respect for their world and nature the better.

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