THE reason the Hunting Act is a 'complete mess', according to Neil Parish, is because those who participate in these despicable sports are reluctant to obey the law and we can't expect the police to go chasing them around the countryside.

It's business as usual for most of them, as some will admit.

A return to hare coursing, an endangered species in many parts of the country and which does no harm to anyone, would be criminal. And do we want to see a return of the monstrosity that is the Waterloo Cup?

Many laws are passed that people disagree with but they are expected to abide by them. I'm a smoker so I'm on the receiving end of that one. Not pleasant but I have respect for people who don't smoke and they are now a majority.

The hunting fraternity should respect the majority of people in this country who would like to see a permanent end to the killing of wild animals for fun. It is a minority pastime.

As Ben Bradshaw says, Lib Dem supporters have been betrayed. In his interview with Jeremy Paxman on television, Clegg said he did not approve of hunting wild animals with dogs. I depended on him to not allow a vote on the Act. I wonder how many people like me won't be voting Lib Dem anymore.

D Goodenough

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