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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Craig H" data-source="post: 3279070" data-attributes="member: 30046">Before anyone says it I am of course well aware that Hen Harrier persecution is an illegal activity too often associated with Grouse shooting but that doesn't make Grouse shooting itself an illegal activity and the idea that banning it is the answer is nothing more than an opinion. Expressing that opinion is one thing,using your position to try and influence other peoples opinions is a whole other matter and not one the BBC should be involved in.</blockquote>I've been in agreement with you before Adam, but not this time I'm afraid. I'm not sure, how exactly, you can state an opinion, without influencing another persons take on that subject. To take the above eg of Top Gear again. Presenters state their opinions of cars, it may or may not influence you to buy. 'Wish you were here' contained opinions of holiday resorts (generally in the positive if I remember correctly) you may or may not have paid a visit as a result. The point is that CA were offended because it conflicts with their interests. Everyone gets offended, they need to just get over it.Ultimately they have no recognisable figurehead like CP, and I think that hurts them, because they struggle to influence the public. Some of the tweets and remarks I've seen from the 'shooting side' doesn't exactly help their own situation either I suspect. I have, in the past, been of the same opinion as you that if its legal then as much as I dislike something then I need to lump it. I have even supported legal shooters to an extent. DGS is legal, but only possible because it is supported by illegal activities - Langholm showed that. The Badger Cull is legal, but its costing £7000 per animal of taxpayers money (my money) to do it and it is scientifically and ethically wrong and ineffective. I am sick of videos showing farmers looking teary eyed at a cow that has to be put down because it has TB when they'll quite happily send beef cows to slaughter and do who knows what with dairy bull calves. It's about cash. Nothing to do with welfare.[/QUOTE]

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