Post by jh45gun on Sept 15, 2005 5:58:58 GMT -5
Many of you have probably heard that the anti-hunters have scored a victory in Australia. The state of Queensland has banned duck and quail hunting, claiming that it is cruel to animals. There’s a lesson here for American hunters.
Australia and America have quite a bit in common. Both countries have large rural areas where hunting is common and densely populated areas where many people never get a chance to hunt. Both countries also have an active anti-hunting movement.
Where the countries differ is that the gun banners in Australia have had quite a bit of success. Gun ownership in Australia has become extremely difficult and the number of gun owners has dwindled as a result. With fewer gun owners there are fewer hunters and the hunting itself is put in jeopardy.
The anti-hunters who banned hunting in Queensland claim two things. First they claim that duck quail numbers are declining. If this is true it is probably due to declining habitat much more than hunting. As we’ve seen in this country the loss of suitable habitat has a far greater impact on game populations than regulated hunting ever could.
Their second claim is that hunting is cruel. They claim that wounding rates are unacceptably high and animals are forced to suffer. If in fact wounding rates have increased, the answer is to relax restrictions on shooting ranges so that hunters can become better shots. The truth really is that the claim about high wounding rates is an excuse used by those that hate all hunting. They don’t want anyone to hunt anytime.
Mark my words this is a first step. Today Australians have lost duck and quail hunting, the clock in now ticking on the rest of their hunting rights. There is no way to predict what type of hunting will be next to go, but one thing is certain the next ban is just around the corner.
This ban in Queensland is the result of hunters becoming a political minority. The anti-hunters in government feel that they can ban hunting with impunity because hunters can’t touch them at the ballot box. It is a lesson America’s hunters should heed, we must stand together and make our voice heard.
Australia and America have quite a bit in common. Both countries have large rural areas where hunting is common and densely populated areas where many people never get a chance to hunt. Both countries also have an active anti-hunting movement.
Where the countries differ is that the gun banners in Australia have had quite a bit of success. Gun ownership in Australia has become extremely difficult and the number of gun owners has dwindled as a result. With fewer gun owners there are fewer hunters and the hunting itself is put in jeopardy.
The anti-hunters who banned hunting in Queensland claim two things. First they claim that duck quail numbers are declining. If this is true it is probably due to declining habitat much more than hunting. As we’ve seen in this country the loss of suitable habitat has a far greater impact on game populations than regulated hunting ever could.
Their second claim is that hunting is cruel. They claim that wounding rates are unacceptably high and animals are forced to suffer. If in fact wounding rates have increased, the answer is to relax restrictions on shooting ranges so that hunters can become better shots. The truth really is that the claim about high wounding rates is an excuse used by those that hate all hunting. They don’t want anyone to hunt anytime.
Mark my words this is a first step. Today Australians have lost duck and quail hunting, the clock in now ticking on the rest of their hunting rights. There is no way to predict what type of hunting will be next to go, but one thing is certain the next ban is just around the corner.
This ban in Queensland is the result of hunters becoming a political minority. The anti-hunters in government feel that they can ban hunting with impunity because hunters can’t touch them at the ballot box. It is a lesson America’s hunters should heed, we must stand together and make our voice heard.
