Josef Camilleri, president of Malta Pyrotechnic Association, in a reaction to the holding of a referendum on spring hunting, insisted that it was not correct in a democracy to deny a group of people their enjoyment and pastime simply because they were a minority (January 13).

Saviour Portelli, Malta Shooting Federation president, made a similar argument.

Here we go again.

I am all for minority rights and these rights should in nocircumstance be trampled upon by the majority but living in a civilised society one has to keep in mind the common good, which should always be given due consideration when laws are being proposed.

It is a fact that individual rights, very often, would have to be sacrificed for the good of the whole community.

The aim of those who want spring hunting abolished is not to deprive a minority group from following their pastime but to protect those birds that fly over Malta on their annual migration to northern Europe from being shot because hunting these birds in spring would affect their breeding and population.

It is both false and unfair to reason that those who are against spring hunting are against minority rights.

The good of society as a whole should always prevail.

When smoking in enclosed areas was abolished, it was not to deprive smokers from smoking anywhere but to protect the health of those who were being affected by those that smoked.

Unfortunately, nowadays, when our society is becoming more inclusive and where every sector is fighting for its rights, we are losing sight of the common good and, in order to please everyone, the whole society becomes jeopardised.

Let us not confuse issues.

The referendum on spring hunting is not about minority rights but about the abuse of a minority who wants to use one’s pastime to shoot at anything no matter what and when.

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