It
would appear that I am not the only one who is wondering who the prospective
candidates are for the new Police
& Crime Commissioners office. After contacting both the B.A.S.C and
the Countryside Alliance to see if they had any ideas I have received a reply
from the B.A.S.C, they too are more than a little concerned with the lack of
information pertaining to the candidates, after all it’s less than ten weeks
before you get to cast your vote. Despite all the media covering the fact that
you will be able to vote for the new Police & Crime Commissioner to the
best of my knowledge none of them have presented details of any of the
candidates. The following is an extract from the email I received.... “One of the problems with this election has been the lack
of information available to voters and even now we do not have a complete list
of candidates. With regard to Sussex we understand that the following are
confirmed as candidates: Godfrey Daniel for Labour, Katy Bourne for the
Conservatives and the following independent candidates: Ian Chisnall, Nigel
Goodyear, Philip Jones, David Neilson and Matt Taylor. According to our
information the Liberal Democrats have not yet announced a candidate.”
Why should this lack of information bother you? Well, whoever
does get the job will be responsible for policy in the whole of Sussex. We have
had in the past Commissioners and lower ranking officers making policy as they
see fit, and then having to fight them in the courts, costing us, the tax payer
money. Imagine if the man or woman in the Police
& Crime Commissioners job was not supportive of either shooting or
the rural way of life, and don’t get complacent, just because you do not take
part in one aspect of the hunting or shooting sports don’t think for a minute
that your particular branch of the sport will be safe. Those who would deny a
target rifle will also deny a shotgun; anti hunting, anti shooting and anti
civilian gun ownership groups all walk the same path. Often these individuals
will be a member of many anti groups and they will use their position to
promote their agenda. The wrong person sitting at the head of the Police &
Crime Commission table could mean that resources better spent elsewhere will be
used to prevent or stop you from being able to pursue your currently legal
pastime or hobby.
As
and when more information is available I will post the details for the world to
see. I am not telling you to vote for anyone individual, but what I am asking
you to do is get informed about the candidates and based upon what you think is
important to you, cast your vote for the person you think will best help
support and promote in a positive way what we hunters and shooters hold most
dear, our way of life.
So
before November 15th get informed, make sure that you are registered
to vote and then on the day itself, get out and VOTE!!
