Various reactions and intense discussions have been caused by the submission of a bill to the Parliament for granting a student hunting license to 14-year-olds. The issue is of wider interest, however the analysis of its various parameters may have a monopoly on hunting circles.
The reason, of course, is that hunting in Cyprus is one of the most widespread sports with over 45 thousand people engaged in it. Nevertheless, for several years now, hunting in Cyprus has been going through a serious crisis, due to a decrease in prey.
Therefore, any decision related to hunting events, it is logical to provoke high interest and intense discussions about the effects that will have on hunting in general. After all, we must not forget that in addition to being a sport of high interest, it is also a sport that carries the risk of serious accidents, since it has to do with the use of weapons. Beyond that, since it is clarified that the student leave does not in any case imply with a firearms license, then the issue is mainly limited to its impact on the hunting events in Cyprus.
"The rationale for the proposal is that when someone takes their son or a relative to hunt, it is an illegal act," said the press officer of the Thera Service, Petros Anagiotos. "On the other hand, it is something that happens to a large extent. So, under these circumstances, the Thera Service and the Ministry decided, if this happens, to make it as legal and controlled as possible. That is, the young people who will go out and be accompanied by adult hunters for hunting, to have some training, in terms of legislation, in terms of fauna and in terms of proper storage and use of hunting weapons. These things, the younger they are said, the easier they are to assimilate. Our experience from the lessons that take place at the age of 18 is that it is more difficult for us to pass some messages to them than at a younger age ".
The major concerns, however, lie in two issues. That of safety, but also that of the effect on the number of prey as with the right under conditions, hunting to 14 year olds, the number of hunting weapons in the habitats automatically increases.
"If the parents think that a 14-year-old is ready to get a student hunting license and use the weapon, we are in favor. Providing them, above all, with training and education ", said Mr. Anagiotos. "We believe that when what is provided by law is complied with, there is no increased risk of accidents."
He also clarified that the head of the Thera Service can reject an application for a student hunting license, if he finds that a young person does not have the maturity and ability to obtain a hunting license. "The information we have from the shooting range is that young people follow the safety rules much better than older people."
Beyond that, the representative of the Hunting Service, notes that the effect on the prey will be the same as the one that today has to deal with the prey in the illegal way that is hunted by minors. "We estimate that there will not be any effect on the prey, but on the contrary, the benefits we will have in the future will be multiple. "Because the hunting consciousness will be consolidated in the young person and therefore in the long run the benefits will be much more", he said.
The application process
The procedure that one will follow for the issuance of a student permit is the submission through the parents of the application and at the same time to attend the classes, to pass the exams and then to issue a student hunting permit, after first being declared by his parent, who will accompany him . The courses are related to legislation, proper storage, use and transfer of weapons and topics. That is, the same lessons that are done for 18-year-olds who want to obtain a hunting license, but will be done in much greater detail.
"Today, for an 18-year-old to issue a license, it has a total cost of 205 euros, while for a 14-year-old it will be 50 euros. Lessons, application and student hunting permit. The student permit is valid, however, only until the age when he can issue a regular hunting permit. Then he will not be able to hunt with the student hunting license. At the same time, we must say that for 18-year-olds, the issuance of a hunting license is reduced to 175 euros ".
Supported by the Arms Dealers Association
In a statement, the Pancyprian Gun Dealers Association says it supports efforts to properly train young hunters, as provided for in the government's bill on the implementation of student hunting licenses.
He notes that similar bills have been passed and are in force in other European countries (eg Malta, Finland) and aim at the proper hunting and environmental education of young people and the strict control of the temporary use of firearms, paternal property, by minors. . "We believe that the bill prepared by the Ministry of Interior in relation to the adoption of the institution of student hunting permit, is moving in the right direction. It's time to settle issues, which will now be governed by laws and regulations. "
Source: Liberal