“Thomas,
I may not agree with what you do but I have to give you credit for your honesty!

When you say that hunting is the best way to protect your sheep, does that mean you wouldn't hunt if there was a better way to protect them?

I would really like to know.”

“For anyone here who does not want to see a repeal of the hunting act, please get your name on the R.O.A.R. (Register Online Against Repeal) at :

www.campaignfordecency.org.uk

It is an 'all party' register for those who want to have their voices heard.”

“mhayworth.......It wasn't just any old six people was it? It was actually the leadership of the LACS. Who maybe saw some sense?

Anyway, I am one who goes hunting for the kill. No excuses from me. That is the whole point. As a sheep farmer I need to control the numbers of Foxes and deer. So I do it the best way there is.

To Mr Phelps of Exeter...I can assure huim I was not one who signed any declaration. But I frequently break the hunting act as it is a nonsense.

Why shoot five deer when you only want to kill one?”

“Nigel,
I just wrote a very long answer to your question below but got an error message after I submitted. So - bear with me if I duplicate some of it here - if the other one goes through.

I will say this: If you don't ride for the kill and you seldom or never see the kill, and hunt membership is up all over the country - then why on earth are the hunts and the CA trying so desperately to get the 'kill' back into the hunt by way of repeal?

We both know that foxes can be captured and shot humanely so please don't do the 'hunting is more humane than causing a slow and painful death' point. Many of us have caught foxes in cage traps to help them so the 'shooting and wounding' concept just doesn't make sense as an argument. We also know that the hunts openly claimed to be encouraging the breeding of foxes for the hunt - so pest control is never a good argument (see the parliamentary debate leading up to the ban - it is all online).

Finally, six people leaving an anti-hunting group and moving to a pro-hunting group doesn't add up to much in the grand scheme of things.

I don't base my opinion of cruelty on what six other people believe and certainly not on those who have conflicting loyalties - and you may want to check out why they really left. - from someone who doesn't hunt.”

“With reference to Nick Singer's comments that he finds comparing paodophiles to hunts that kill with dogs offensive. I find Mr Singer's support of killing with dogs extremely offensive, having witnessed the killings of a TERRIFIED vixen and her tiny cubs,. For CHRIST SAKE and for DECENCY and COMPASSION, will you hunt supporters please try to find a conscience. Killing a defenceless animal FOR FUN is every bit as bad as sick sub-humans that predate on defenceless children..”

“Mhayworth ¿ Could you please stop making up why you assume we go hunting, its very obvious you have not got a clue what you are talking about.

. I go hunting and get pleasure from riding my horse across land not usually available to me; I also like watching hounds work. Like everybody who hunts I know I take no pleasure from the kill. (The vast majority who hunt never witness a kill)
The kill is just an accepted part of the hunt as the vast majority who hunt will firmly believe other methods used can be less welfare friendly and cause greater suffering. This view supported by the fact six League against cruel sports officials (Including a Chairman and Chief Executive) left the organization after arriving at the conclusion any ban would lead to an increase in suffering.

That¿s why I go hunting, and why do you have a problem with that?”

“Many people in this country want their civil liberties restored but no decent human being considers hunting with dogs to be such a liberty. These are just people who get their kicks from getting together in gangs and inflicting pain on animals. Surely there are more civilised things to do.”

“You assume that the nunber of people involved in hunting has grown because of the absence of 'a kill'. Ludicrous!
Perhaps the farce that was Labour's handling of the whole issue simply created publicity and the prejudice displayed by the government attracted people who value civil liberties and are appalled at how the present regime is slowly taking them away!
Oh, and likening enforcement of the hunting ban to that of laws against paedophiles is offensive and speaks volumes about some of those who oppose hunting.”