Comments on: Sports and hobbies themselves CANNOT be subjected to an abrogative referendum

By: Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 05:54:44 +0000

So, in a sense, the possibility of calling for an abrogative referendum protects rather than threatens hobbies.

If, for example, a government were to pass a law prohibiting stamp collecting and enough citizens feel strongly about it (I don’t collect stamps, but I would feel strongly against a law prohibiting others from doing it), one remedy they would have would be to call a referendum repealing the law.

By: bob-a-job

bob-a-job — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 19:45:51 +0000

In reply to Xjim Purtani.

Wrong! They do.

Visit Gozo any summer night and you will invariably see torches, headlights and hear shooting in the darkness of the countryside.

Most of them are hunting rabbits.

By: Wheels within wheels

Wheels within wheels — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 18:48:01 +0000

This is great but needs to be translated for the masses. Preferably by pictures.

By: Wheels within wheels

Wheels within wheels — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 18:46:33 +0000

In reply to Giovanni Bonello. Could we go a step further and say that spring hunting is unconstitutional as it violates those higher values enshrined in the Constitution?

By: bob-a-job

bob-a-job — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:01:01 +0000

It is admirable to note that a number of highly reputable lawyers had to clarify that the argument being bandied around by the hunters’ lobby is ‘totally without any legal basis’.

That the hunter’s lobby has to resort to such blatant lies in its arguments exposes the mentality of the pack.

This is not the creation of an individual rogue hunter as they would have us believe when illegal hunting takes place but mindset of the whole horde.

By: Xjim Purtani

Xjim Purtani — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 14:27:54 +0000

I am all out for the ‘No’, but adding rabbit in the hunting days is also somewhat unfair to them. No one go rabbit hunting nowadays. So do not give them reasons to scaremonger.

[Daphne – Lots of men go rabbit-hunting. I can confirm this, living as I do right in the thick of it.]

By: Denis

Denis — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 14:06:39 +0000

The problem is (and remains), the picture of a chain with hobbies on it, versus reading and understanding what four highly educated judges are saying.

What do you think will stick?

By: simca

simca — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 12:15:26 +0000

Come on, SHout – out with a poster of a chain showing ‘spring hunting’ on one loop disengaged from the rest of the chain on both sides.

By: Mister

Mister — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 11:23:48 +0000

So can I be guaranteed that my hobby of collecting folded stamps every second Tuesday of the month while eating vanilla ice-cream will be protected?

And what if I choose to eat chocolate ice-cream instead, am I still protected after this referendum?

Can these lawyers guarantee this in writing? Actually, let’s get it engraved in stone and stuck on the front door of Auberge de Castille just to be sure.

I am very concerned about my hobby because once there is a precedent with this referendum (to save the lives of free roaming birds.. in bla bla spring… whilst they are bla bla breeding… living their lives…. bla bla…) my hobby needs safeguarding too.

I am thinking of voting for the hunters to keep shooting those pesky birds and killing them, just as I voted for Taghna Lkoll – just to give them a chance, msieken.

By: Malta_LOL

Malta_LOL — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 10:43:44 +0000

And the environment commissioner does not want to say how he will vote… spineless!

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150129/local/environment-commissioner-karmenu-vella-refuses-to-declare-vote-on-spring-hunting.553889