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prospect of arresting thousands. Jimmy Young, joint-master of the Fauquier-based Orange County Hunt, said that, in fact, this is vital.
“That is one of the most important ways they can protest the ban,” Young said. “There must be unanimity of massive disobedience. I’d hope every single foxhunt will be out Feb. 18.”
The ban on hunting with hounds does not extend to “exercising” hounds, nor to drag hunting — the practice of laying a scent for a pack of hounds to course and mounted riders to follow. Still, supporters are expected to lash out against the ban in force.
“True civil disobedience is now on the horizon,” said John Jackson, chairman of Countryside Alliance.
What now?
Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had initially promoted a compromise to regulate hunting, agreed with both sides in predicting that the battle would quickly move to the courts.
The hunting with hounds issue sparked an enormous protest in September 2002, when 400,000 hunting supporters marched through central London in what was called Britain’s largest protest in 150 years.
This September, five hunting enthusiasts stormed onto the House of Commons floor as lawmakers debated the ban. . About 10,000 protesters massed outside Parliament that day and some clashed with police in riot gear.
Opposition Conservative Party environment spokesman James Gray at the time called the ban proposal a “disgraceful, prejudiced and ignorant little bill” and said the Tbries will repeal it if they win 2005 elections.
Since the civil disobedience, should it happen on Feb. 18, precedes elections, many in England wonder if the actions will affect voting.
“Honestly, I can’t believe it really happened,” said English native and huntsman John Gray. “I thought they’d come to the compromise of some sort of licensing procedure and be done with it. I don’t know what will happen now.”
What is certain, however, is that many in Virginia’s hunt country are nervously watching how English foxhunters react.
“In the U.S., we must learn from the mistakes of our English friends,” said master Jimmy Young. “We must be aggressive and proactive to protect our rights as hunters.
“First, we must identify the threat,” Young said. “Everyone must realize many of the socalled ‘animal welfare’ organizations are not interested in welfare, they are interested in abolishing your rights. Second, we’ve got to form alliances with other outdoor sports organizations.
“But at the very grassroots level, we have to develop educational programs to help people understand field sports and how they affect the balance of nature.”
Young, like Old Dominion Hounds master Gus Forbush, felt that the English hunting ban could have yet another
See HUNTING, Page A8
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