Leading by example? (1)

I was disturbed, but not surprised, to read that Lino Farrugia, president of the FKNK, had urged his members to hunt this spring irrespective of any ban due to the bird flu pandemic (The Sunday Times, April 2).

That this government would have imposed a ban at all would have meant a very serious risk was present.

For Mr Farrugia to deliberately ignore this and at the same time cock a snook at the health and safety of the people, to say nothing of the economy, shows the very height of irresponsibility. For a man who is constantly preaching the virtues of his "responsible hunters" he does not give a very good example himself.

Is there not a law against inciting people to break the law? What if others were to follow his lead and those in a position of influence - such as he has over the hunters - urged their followers to ignore their tax demands, ignore traffic laws, ignore any law which did not suit them? Where would we be? How long, I wonder, would they be allowed to preach such sedition?

The FKNK is not the party in power here - at least they weren't elected to it - and this man should be called to account for his dangerous oratory which amounts to anarchy - and nothing less!

To compound his foolishness he has obviously not stopped to consider what sort of impression this kind of behaviour has on those abroad, in particular the EU - the very people he is trying to win over. Or does he think he has the same hold over them that he has over this government?