This week's winner is Ian Purchase, of Dorset, England, for his letter about fatal hunting accidents. He receives a copy of Essential New Zealand Short Stories (Random House), selected by Owen Marshall. The letter was published on Tuesday.
Hunting tragedies are not inevitable
As the father of Matthew Purchase, accidentally shot in the head out hunting in 2007, I have followed with despair recent stories surrounding other such accidents.
I welcome the call from coroner Wallace Bain that the Government should "urgently investigate" rules and regulations as well as increase penalties in respect of hunting deaths.
However, I despair when I read comments such as that from the anonymous hunter in your article (ODT, 28-9.12) who states "Shootings are going to happen whether there are harsher penalties or not", and can't help but feel that this sort of resigned acceptance from some people is at the seat of the problem.
I have hunted all my life and just don't accept that accidents are an inevitable part of hunting.
The utter despair and heartache that each and every accident causes to so many people requires a more responsible attitude from a small, but significant minority of hunters.
Ian Purchase
Dorset, UK
