Dear Beagle Editor,
What better way to spoil our Unspoilt South Coast than to encourage a festival of hunting with sale of guns and promotion of animal killing to take place annually in Narooma? I note that Councillor Lindsay Brown says that we drag out the Nature Coast when it suits our argument. Well, Lindsay Brown.... we remember exactly how you voted and you have Buckleys of ever getting back in and that includes your good mate Burnside who we understand wants to run again. Buckleys. How hard it must be to wake up being a self righteous pratt ? Hope we get the right councillors representing Narooma next time. Constable might like to take note here.
The Eurobodalla Shire Council and the councillors of the day must take blame for this “spoiling” by granting an extended licence to the new chief sponsor. the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia , so that they may sell guns on crown in the heart of our beautiful sea-side town. It was a decision of great importance in which the constituents have had no say.
The Council’s most recent holiday guide which has previously lauded the benefits of such a festival fails to even mention HuntFest or to list it with the other June festivals on its web-site. Are they embarrassed ? They should be. Were the members of Council's tourism staff so embarrassed by the obvious contradiction that a festival of animal killing makes to our friendly nature coast image that they decided to ignore or downplay it? Does it agree with the aims of Destination NSW?
Hunters from all over Australia have been able to get the information they need from the web-site of the S.S.A.A. This powerful organization, with strong political links aims among other things to promote hunting as a legitimate family sport, to extend the areas where hunters can shoot, and to water down existing gun regulations such as the age at which children can legally fire guns.
Of great importance for hunters, but alarming for the people who live here, are the “exciting”announcements that both firearms and ammunition will be on display and for sale, and that the SSAA mobile air-rifle range will be at the year’s event!
Why does council ignore the Federal government and community concerns over gun proliferation by allowing the continuation of a festival of hunting with sale of guns to blight our safe and friendly reputation?
NATURE COAST not HUNTERS HEADQUARTERS. Name and address supplied
