Bill to ban British trophy hunting to be voted on in Parliament Open Access Government March 2, 2023 See link <https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/bill-ban-british-trophy-hunting-going-parliament/154110/> for photos. Several high-profile celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench, Ricky Gervais, Liam Gallagher, Kate Moss and Ed Sheeran, are urging MPs to vote for an unprecedented trophy hunting ban on March 17th. The government bill, called Sally’s Law in honour of a tiger cub who was rescued from being slaughtered, aims to ban British trophy hunters from bringing home the bodies of innocent and defenceless animals they murder for ‘fun’. A number of high-profile celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench, Ricky Gervais, Liam Gallagher, Kate Moss and Ed Sheeran, have signed the petition. The full list of celebrities who have signed the campaign can be found here. Sir David Attenborough commented on the proposed ban: “For species such as elephants and rhinos to be fighting for their existence due to human exploitation and interference is unacceptable, and we must do everything within our power to turn this dire situation around. “We are responsible for the problem, and we must be held responsible for the solution. It will indeed be a very sad indictment on our species if rhinos and elephants are no more, and that day will come sooner than we think if we do not take action.” As well as a wave of celebrity supporters, a recent poll revealed that 9 out of 10 Brits want their MPs to cancel their constituency plans and get to parliament to vote in favour of the ban at 9.30am on Friday 17th March. If passed, this bill will be the toughest legislation implemented by any government in the world and will send shock waves across the trophy hunting industry. Hundreds of endangered animals are killed by British trophy hunters every year Hundreds of endangered animals are hunted by British trophy hunters every year, including: · Lions · Elephants · Giraffes · Polar bears Current legislation allows trophy hunters to bring dead animals home to Britain for taxidermy and trophy purposes. Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting founder, Eduardo Goncalves, added: “Many people are shocked to learn trophy hunting still goes on. Survation’s results reflect people’s clear views on this issue. It’s critical that people encourage their local MP to attend the House of Commons on March 17th to enact the world’s strictest legislation and help prevent the brutal killing of innocent animals.” Take Aim Safaris: Trophy hunting ‘holidays’ in Africa Over the past four decades, British hunters have brought home approximately 5,000 trophies of animals classed as endangered by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It may sound shocking, but many British companies operate trophy hunting ‘holidays’ in Africa. Take Aim Safaris is owned by Surrey-born Carl Knight, a hunter who admits to having personally gone on more than 400 trophy hunts. Knight has shot and killed and shot many of Africa’s most recognisable and endangered wildlife, from lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting was set up in 2018 by Eduardo Goncalves, former WWF International Director Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, and actor and leading animal advocate Peter Egan, and to date, has garnered cross-party support and endorsement by big celebrity names including Dame Joanna Lumley, Dame Judi Dench and Ricky Gervais. Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ letter to ban British trophy hunting Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ambassador for Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting, has urged our readers to sign the campaign. He pointed out, “We often think trophy hunters are just Americans like the awful dentist Walter Palmer who shot Cecil the lion. However, British trophy hunters are shooting lions, elephants, giraffes and hippos. Some British hunters have singlehandedly killed hundreds of animals.” With British trophy hunters shooting some of the world’s most endangered animals, including rhinos, cheetahs and polar bears, something needs to change. “It is time to put an end to this disgrace. Trophy hunting is vile. It is carried out by cowards who bring shame upon our nation. I cannot think of anything less British than killing an innocent, defenceless animal purely for pleasure” pointed out Fiennes The bill coming to Parliament on March 17, aims to stop British hunters bringing home their ‘souvenirs’ of animal bodies, heads and skins. It has the support of both the government and opposition parties. It also has the strong backing of voters. “Survation has just conducted a poll which asked voters if they thought their local MP should come to the Commons and vote for it. The results are unequivocal. Over 8 out of 10 constituents want their MP to ensure this ban is put in place” according to Fiennes. “MPs are there to represent us. If readers want this bill to become law, they should – politely but firmly – demand that their local MP go to Parliament on March 17 and vote for it.” Enter your postcode here to send an automatic message to your local MP, asking them to attend the vote and seal this proposed change into law. https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/bill-ban-british-trophy-hunting-going-parliament/154110/