Shots fired during seal protest (by the hunters, of course!)

[Catchawave]

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/03/29/975780-cp.html

CHARLOTTETOWN (CP) - A hunter aboard a sealing vessel used a rifle to fire several shots into the sky Friday as a group of sealers and protesters clashed amid the ice floes on the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The violent confrontation - the second in as many days - happened after three helicopters carrying anti-sealing activists and photographers landed near the boat, off the north coast of Prince Edward Island.

At first, about six sealers hurled verbal abuse at about a dozen protesters and observers, some of whom were members of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The protesters, who had observer permits that require them to keep at least 10 metres from the sealers, were then approached by at least one sealer who was swinging a short stick with a hook, otherwise known as a gaff.

At one point, a snowmobile carrying two sealers hurtled towards the activists and swung away at the last moment.

A shoving match ensued, several shots were fired from the boat, and the protesters retreated to their choppers.

No one appeared to be hurt and the RCMP said they had yet to receive any complaints.

more.....also posted on GD

[smbolisnch]

1. Nice...

Sounds like a real fiasco. Off to check the thread in GD....should I be annoyed yet? :eyes:

[Catchawave]

2. Nah, it fell off GD in less than a minute....no responses

bad timing with the Pope's final hours I suppose, that's okay, I may post the whole Captain's Log after his funeral.

Thanks for checking though!