Or do italics mean irony?

They mean that it was quote that I agreed with - from weelittledrummer's post 03.54.

Gervase, If you or anyone else wishes to start a thread on the subject of capital punishment or anything else - I will be happy to express my view of it in that thread. I would rather like to concentrate here on the matter at hand. It is difficult to do this with all the rather smelly old 'crimson kippers' still being thrown around.

Inflicting cruelty for the sporting pleasure of a few - what the majority of people (not only in the UK) are being asked to support. It should not be too much of a surprise to you that your view is a minority one. I did not invoke anything - you we the one who both mentioned this and dismissed it.

It's because the great mass of the population either doesn't care or doesn't know enough about an issue to make an informed decision, so it's up to those who do know and care to stand up and debate the issue.

I pointed out the obvious fact that whatever your low opinion of them - the people had ignored the 'muddied waters' and had clearly spoken on this issue - and expressed their low opinion upon the views of those who needed to inflict needless cruelty for their sporting fun.