Italian hunting season leaves 13 people dead
Italian hunters have killed 13 people and wounded 33 in shooting accidents since the season began in September, raising pressure to reform antiquated hunting laws. The death toll rose at the weekend when a 16-year-old was killed by a friend while hunting, a pensioner was shot and wounded in his garden and a cyclist was taken to hospital after being shot.
Hunting groups and environmentalists agree that the law – which allows hunters to roam on private land and fire guns just 150 metres from a house – should be changed, but not how. Hunters claim they help control species such as wild boar that can damage crops.
However, Animalisti Italiani Onlus, an animal rights group, said the accidents proved that laws to protect rare wildlife were ineffective: "Wolves, bears, hawks and other protected species are found killed by firearms. They shoot because something moves."
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