You're absolutely right, Johnny - this is going nowhere. There are two sides here, each convinced of its rectitude and nothing I say is going to spark at Damascene conversion in The Shambles (and as for the other way round...!).
I suppose the reason I keep rising to the bait is the faint hope that some who are undecided, or who want to give the issue some thought instead of just jerking the knee, might find some provocative material here.
Though, at more than 300 posts, it would take a masochist to read this thread all the way through! Maybe it is time to call time on this. If anyone wants any more information on hunting and the arguments against the ban, they're welcome to send me a PM.
And, of course, it leaves The Shambles with the last word (which I doubt will have any more information than his other posts)!
I'm off to listen to some music.
TTFN