I don’t wish to express my opinions on the farcical rules related to reporting birds shot and how easy it is to distort the figures to ensure larger quotas for the following season. Even a simpleton must be aghast at how easy the law is open to abuse. I digress.

I would like the hunters’ federation to inform me of any special dispensation given to Gozitan hunters in relation to the start of the season. Looking forward to a lie in on Good Friday, I was woken up at 6 a.m. by five rapid shotgun blasts. At 6.30 came another three and at 7.40 another.

All in the valley between Nadur and Qala.

With the hunting season starting last Thursday are Gozitan hunters “privileged” to start six days early? That the killing of God’s creatures should take place on Good Friday is disgusting and Godless.

What is sadly going to become evident is the wholescale massacre of anything with wings, protected or not, for there is no protection for these birds. If a so-called hunter is caught with an illegal shotgun shooting protected species out of season too near households and without a licence he can just look forward to a suspended sentence.

That our politicians put these laws in place and defy the EU can only be down to two reasons: revenue from licences and votes. It is a pity they are so spineless and refuse to accept that most people cannot stand these mini Rambos wandering around the countryside causing destructive bloody mayhem for fun.

But, as everyone knows, revenue and votes count more than common decency and morality.