How to silence those 'selfish' hunters in Bidnija (1)

Maurice F. Mizzi (Is Our Peace About To Be Shattered? March 15) is, once again, concerned that the "relative peace" in Bidnija is about to be shattered by blasts from hunting shotguns that are bound to "disturb the sleep of quite a few families".

The original Bidnija residents are used to getting up very early, but not surprisingly Mr Mizzi is not. An outsider from town to rural Bidnija, Mr Mizzi gives the impression that his extensive property there gives him a right to consider Bidnija his fiefdom, and he expects the local people to forego the hunting they practised for generations.

Remedies exist to protect the peace without depriving people of their legitimate activities. Since hunting seems here to stay, Mr Mizzi might consider a campaign to legalise silencers for shotguns.

The use of silenced shotguns by licensed hunters is legal in the UK, because it allows the discharge of shotguns close to inhabited areas for sporting and hunting purposes without inconveniencing people.

The UK has arguably the strictest gun-laws in the world, but sensibly refutes the argument that legalising silenced shotguns leads to an upsurge in crime. There is no valid reason why Malta should not follow suit.

The advantages are many. For one thing, it would make shooting a moving bird more difficult, thus more sporting. Secondly, there would be less noise overall, not only in the early morning.

Thirdly the "exotic birds" in Mr Mizzi's garden would not be disturbed. Furthermore, people like Mr Mizzi could remain blissfully asleep, while hunting takes place, and there would be no more complaints to the police and letters to this newspaper. One can also add that hunters would not suffer from deafness in later life. And I am sure there may be other advantages to add.

Some final comments will clarify Mr Mizzi's misconceptions. It was not "the European Court's argument" that autumn did not offer an alternative to spring but it was the Maltese government's argument endorsed by the Court.

The Maltese hunter is renowned not for his selfishness but for being practical.

Hunting commences very early in the day for many reasons, but mainly because the birds normally depart before sunrise. By Mr Mizzi's admission, the Maltese countryside is tiny by comparison with other European countries.

This is a characteristic of our islands in many other spheres, and since the hunters are not to blame, control is the answer, not banning hunting.

If Mr Mizzi thinks "many" hunters do not distinguish between birds, he means that "some" do.

This is far better than what can be said about BirdLife, all of whose members do not distinguish between birds that may be hunted and those that may not, and persist with their insolent interference in matters that do not concern them.

That Mr Mizzi considers hunting as a "vice" is immaterial. What matters is that hunters have a right to indulge in it, and the highest EU institution agrees.