No to an exception for hunting during the second lockdown

The lobby given one special privilege after another

The exception that allows hunters to leave their homes in circumstances other than those authorised by the current regulations was granted after they had been refused an "hour of relaxation in the form of hunting" within a radius of one kilometre from home.

That showed that the hunters would use any excuse whatsoever in order to continue to kill. They aren't motivated by the desire to render any sort of service to the public but rather by the pleasure of shedding the blood of animals.

A ministerial circular that broadens existing prerogatives

On 31 October a Ministry of Ecology circular asked departmental prefects to "grant exceptions to the lockdown relating to wildlife control and destruction of species of animal likely to cause damage".

In this way the Ministry is sowing confusion between two distinct practices: 'control' and 'destruction'. Hunting (control) is therefore added to a practice (destruction) that was already authorized during lockdown in the event of damage.

Inequality among the French

At this time, so painful for so many of us, solidarity and decency should take precedence over the destructive pleasure and pointless interests of hunters. Such a get-out clause is the embodiment of the privilege of a very small category of the population unwilling to sacrifice any of its leisure time even to protect others.

We are writing today to the Minister and her Secretary of State responsible for biodiversity in order to have this circular amended: forests, meadows and their wildlife are part of the common heritage of the nation and those who don't hunt, who are in the majority, have the right to quiet enjoyment of nature within the regulatory limit of one kilometre from their homes.

Translated by Patricia Fairey