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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| New Mexico coyote hunt sparks howls of protest | New Mexico coyote hunt sparks howls of protest |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| They are far from being an endangered species, but plans by a New Mexico gun shop owner to organise a two-day coyote hunt this weekend have sparked a storm of protest. | They are far from being an endangered species, but plans by a New Mexico gun shop owner to organise a two-day coyote hunt this weekend have sparked a storm of protest. |
| Mark Chavez, owner of Gunhawk Firearms in the town of Los Lunas, has set up a simple competition: the team who kills the most coyotes wins a free shotgun or a pair of automatic rifles. | Mark Chavez, owner of Gunhawk Firearms in the town of Los Lunas, has set up a simple competition: the team who kills the most coyotes wins a free shotgun or a pair of automatic rifles. |
| But he now faces a deluge of condemnation by means of irate phone calls and a petition that has already attracted thousands of signatures, including many from outside the United States. There has even been a death threat against him, which is currently being investigated by the FBI. | But he now faces a deluge of condemnation by means of irate phone calls and a petition that has already attracted thousands of signatures, including many from outside the United States. There has even been a death threat against him, which is currently being investigated by the FBI. |
| But Chavez is holding firm, arguing that the state has 300,000 coyotes roaming its ranchland and that the creatures are a plentiful pest that can hurt livestock. | But Chavez is holding firm, arguing that the state has 300,000 coyotes roaming its ranchland and that the creatures are a plentiful pest that can hurt livestock. |
| "This is my right to hunt and we're not breaking any laws," Chavez told the Associated Press news agency. | "This is my right to hunt and we're not breaking any laws," Chavez told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Chavez organised the event after previous plans for a coyote hunt by a different local shooting business were shelved in the face of protests and negative media attention. | Chavez organised the event after previous plans for a coyote hunt by a different local shooting business were shelved in the face of protests and negative media attention. |
| It is backed by the local cattle ranchers association and there are no laws on the New Mexico books that would prevent the hunting coyotes. | It is backed by the local cattle ranchers association and there are no laws on the New Mexico books that would prevent the hunting coyotes. |
| However, the contest has provoked strong condemnation from the influential local newspaper the Albuquerque Journal. | However, the contest has provoked strong condemnation from the influential local newspaper the Albuquerque Journal. |
| In an editorial the paper said: "Let's be clear — staging a contest to see who can kill the most of any one species is not about hunting. At its core, real hunting is about respecting wildlife and its ecosystem. It understands a species' role in its environment and habitat. It is not about a blatant disregard for life that glorifies a weekend of blood sport for the sake of nothing more than mass killings." | In an editorial the paper said: "Let's be clear — staging a contest to see who can kill the most of any one species is not about hunting. At its core, real hunting is about respecting wildlife and its ecosystem. It understands a species' role in its environment and habitat. It is not about a blatant disregard for life that glorifies a weekend of blood sport for the sake of nothing more than mass killings." |
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