Friend who kills animals

[Romeo]

I have a friend who goes out shooting with her gundog. I could never kill an animal myself and I don't approve of blood sports. I am not a vegetarian, but there's a difference between rearing livestock for food and killing beautiful wildlife. Should I let her live her life the way she wants to, or should I tell her how I feel?

[burnhal]

This is a very difficult question. What kind of things does she shoot by the way?

Basically although I disagree with shooting I feel I have no right to impose my opinion on others. There are times when it is beneficial- for example maintenance of moor-land by grouse shooters has great benefits to wildlife. And today on the reserve the trap caught a mink which was shot. This benefits the rest of the wildlife but I guess the mink wasnt too chuffed.

No harm in pointing out your thoughts though- you obviously know hers.

[Eels]

The animals we farm for our convenience were once beautiful wildlife, it's just that we rationalise it to make it more acceptable to ourselves.

Hunting animals is natural - we are, after all, predators.  To my mind an animal shot and killed while in its natural habitat, doing natural things, is about as close to true 'freedom food' as you can get.

[kaktus]

I must agree with Eels here  and partly agree with you Romeo. I think when people kill animals just for fun it is very disgusting. I actually find it sick that some people kill something living just for the kill. But like Eels says I would much rather eat wild game than a steak from a cow who has been locked up in a very small place all its life. This is the reason I prefer organic meat too.

In my opinion it all comes down to what kind of animals she shoot and what she does with them afterwards.

[Eels]

Slightly off topic, but kaktus, please don't make the mistake of thinking that organic = better.  Organic just means that drugs, pesticides and the like are very stringently controlled.

To buy meat which has been reared in a welfare-friendly manner I suggest you go to a farmers' market and have a chat with the vendors - you might be pleasantly surprised.  It feels good to eat meat from a producer you trust.  Thankfully most cattle in the UK have loads of freedom to wander around and do cow stuff.

[kaktus]

I know that eels. I eat organic meat mostly because of animal welfare and I really do not trust Danish farmers to let their cows do cow stuff and I'm certain that the pigs don't get to do pig stuff.  You're absolutely right about the farmer's market! They're wonderful, I wish they were a bit easier to get to for me, but there aren't many of them in Copenhagen :) Must admit though I've never been to one where the farmers weren't organic farmers. I'll definately think about it next time I see one, as you say, I could be pleasantly surprised!

Sorry for going off topic Romeo

[mycatis]

I don't really have a problem with people shooting animals if they eat them.  I couldn't do it personally but I do think that maybe makes me a bit of a hypocrite cause maybe anyone who is happy to eat animals shouldn't really object to killing them. (hope that makes sense)

[Sasha13]

I'm afraid, Romeo, that you're not going to stop her living her life the way that she wants to. As long as she isn't breaking the law and has the relevant shotgun/firearms certificate then she's well within her rights to shoot. You don't mention what quarry she shoots? Usually anything shot is then eaten anyway and like others who have posted here, I'd rather eat an animal who has llived in the wild than one who has been intensively reared in possibly horrendous conditions. You could tell her how you feel, but it won't stop her, and you should be prepared for the fact that it may make your relationship strained from now on.

[Romeo]

Thanks for your answers, it was an interesting debate. Some of you ask what she shoots? Rabbit, pheasant and other small game. She eats them afterwards and I suppose I am a bit of a hypocrite because I eat meat myself. Still, I just can't understand someone who would point a gun at a little bird unless they had to do it to survive, that's all. 

[Dark Angel]

It is not nice that she shoots birds and then eats them - Then, it wouldn't be nice if she shoots them just for sport either. I don''t like the sound of it either, but then again there's no law against it so you can't stop her. What you could do is tell her that you don't agree with what she does, see what she says.

[kaktus]

I do understand you Romeo, I could never shoot anything unless I was really, really hungry! But I still think that the animals she shoot and then eat have had a much more fun life than if she bought them in a shop.  

I don't think I ever answered your question. If you feel a need to tell her, then you should tell her , just like Burnhal says. You are friends after all and friends don't have to agree on everything :)