UK hunting regulations

Mr Raymond Zammit (The Sunday Times, April 1) must not assume that all UK residents support shooting. In any event, two wrongs do not make a right. He also cannot assume that politicians mean what they say.

The issuing of firearms licences in the UK is very strictly controlled. All applicants face a personal interview to determine their suitability, and the licence can be revoked at any time. The police monitor all shooting activity, and it is not uncommon, following infringements of the regulations, for firearms to be confiscated, as well as a lifetime ban on holding a licence. With Mr Zammit's mindset he would never have been allowed to keep a firearm in the first place.

Perhaps Mr Zammit would care to look again at the list of birds shot in the UK that he is so proud of. They are all, with the exception of the pigeons, game birds shot for the pot, not just for fun.

There are no migratory birds listed, no Honey Buzzards, No Shearwaters, no swans, no other protected birds. Shooting any of those will result in prosecution. It is unheard of to break into a bird sanctuary; unheard of to shoot indiscriminately, risking other people's lives; unheard of to break the law by shooting birds out of season; unheard of to fence off tracts of land to which they have no right; unheard of to intimidate people. If anyone did any of those things they would be arrested.

I am sure there must be some responsible shooters in Malta, but the undisciplined rabble are the ones who have tarnished Malta's international reputation, not UK residents here. You don't need any help from us. Mr Zammit, understand that your day is over.