Animal Activists Attack Anglers

(Lancashire, England) Thirty masked members of a radical animal rights group are being blamed for a violent attack against fishermen on August 12.

From Manchester Evening News:

The gang, who were armed with baseball bats and blocks of wood descended on the lake, shouting and smashing fishing rods then damaging cars and starting fights.

Two fishermen were assaulted and a woman was punched in the face.

One woman who was fishing at the lake and had her rod smashed was told to leave or she would be thrown in the water.

In response to allegations, the Hunt Saboteurs Association issued a letter stating that they believe fishermen are legitimate targets.

The group wrote: "There is no 'new campaign' against angling - it remains an abhorrent and cruel activity, and as such will continue to be included within our remit as an organisation against all bloodsports. It's not about 'people-hating,' it's not about 'class hatred' and it's not about 'terrorism.' It's about cruelty - plain and simple.

"If you want to spend an afternoon by the riverbank then by all means do, just take a good book, or maybe a bin bag and gloves so you can clean a bit of our countryside up for others to enjoy.

"Leave the hooking of a fish out of the equation, and we'll gladly leave you alone."

So, in a nutshell, they say "Quit fishing, pick up litter, and we won't beat you with baseball bats." Evidently, any form of dialogue or discussion is out of the question.

Although this particular episode happened in the UK, rest assured that there are plenty of loonies in the U.S. willing to replicate the violence. To preclude future attacks, the justice system needs to treat these animal rights radicals with harsh punishment. Despite their denials, they are terrorists.

By the way, these animal rights loonies have attacked hunters and anglers and it would be my guess that next on their list are pet owners.