Editor:
I think we should be really clear about the reason behind the current push for bow-hunting of elk in West Sechelt.
This proposal has nothing to do with the desire to provide comfort to those members of the community who are frightened by elk or to protect the elk from the possible stress of overpopulation or any of the other reasons I have heard from originators of this move. What they want is simply to shoot elk in Sechelt with a cross-bow.
Even with the bylaw currently in place forbidding it, bow-hunting of elk in Sechelt has been going on for at least four years that I know of. This is made possible by generous municipal exemptions granted to individuals to go ahead and shoot. Perhaps hunters just want to dispense with this little condition.
The serious and important issue here is what kind of community values we want in Sechelt. I'm hoping I'm part of a community that values the opportunity and privilege of living side by side with other species and that abhors cruelty of any kind. I'm hoping council will do their research on the cruelty of bow-hunting and defeat any proposed bylaw to allow an elk hunt in Sechelt.
Gene Errington
West Sechelt
