British Law Run Amok

Tim Blair has a few words for the British concerning a new law recently enacted:

COUNTRY sportsmen keen on pigeon pie will need to put the cat among them first. Farmers and landowners will also need to hone their windmill gyrations and scarecrow impersonations if they are planning a potshot at crop-eating birds.
The Government has ruled that it is now illegal to shoot a crow, rook or pigeon for the pot without scaring it first. The legislation says shooters must attempt to frighten off the birds before pulling the trigger.
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Only when the birds fail to respond can he or she shoot it for dinner. The same rule applies to farmers who have shooting days blasting woodpigeons and rooks to protect their crops or gamebirds.

I like the British, in fact I think that Tony Blair is as much a key to democratization in the middle east as is George Bush. However, you've got to be concerned when they spend taxpayer money on such trivial issues as this.