During my many visits to Malta I have seen and heard the wild shooting of little birds which do no harm and which are not slain for culinary purposes.

Being a hunter myself, I have been following the debate about hunting in The Times. I am of the opinion that there are no real hunters in Malta since there is no game on the island such as partridges, pheasants, wild ducks and hares, roes, stags, chamois or wild boars, or animals shot for their furs.

The so-called hunters are really shooters who murder harmless animals to pass the time. If these men are so keen on shooting and like to play with their shotguns they should use certain places like abandoned quarries and aim at clay pigeons. Hunting and fishing were the prime activities of our ancestors for their survival. They would never have killed animals for fun - only beasts to save their own lives.

A real hunter is a gentleman who observes the game and its population. He decides when, how many and what sort of animals should be hunted for human consumption.

Therefore I think the term "hunter" for the Maltese gunmen degrades and offends the truly responsible hunter.

I hope new laws will call a halt to the shooting of harmless birds for fun even if that means losing votes in the next election.