Momentum said Sunday that across this September, three separate reports were filed by members of the public who were placed at risk by hunting activities - two of which included people getting directly hit by shotgun pellets, which should serve as a serious wake-up call for the government.

In a statement on Sunday morning, Momentum condemned how September saw three reported incidents where Maltese citizens who were passing through the countryside were shot at by hunters or had shots fired right next to them.

"People should not have to risk their lives simply to walk, cycle or enjoy Malta's countryside," Momentum said.

In one incident, a dog sitter was struck by three shotgun pellets - once in her arm and twice in her back - while walking two dogs near Fort Campbell. Another incident witnessed a cyclist get hit by hot shotgun pellets at the Victoria Lines. A second incident at the Victoria Lines allegedly featured a hunter firing at a bird just a few metres away from passersby.

Momentum executive member Alaistair Farrugia questioned, "Where is the enforcement? Where are the government rangers? Where are the officers responsible for ensuring that hunting regulations are being respected? How many inspections are being carried out in areas where hunters and members of the public are sharing the same spaces? And how many reports of dangerous or illegal hunting practices actually result in prosecutions?"

It said that "the countryside belongs to everyone" and that the Maltese government is responsible for ensuring that people can roam into public countryside safely.

"A person walking a dog, a parent taking a walk, a cyclist or anyone else enjoying Malta's rural areas should not have to worry about being struck by shotgun pellets," Momentum said.

Aside from the dangers imposed on citizens by hunters, following these incidents, Momentum expressed disappointment towards the political priority being given to the interests of the hunting lobby "at a time when enforcement remains a concern."
Momentum said that, earlier this year, the government agreed to a set of proposals put forward by the hunting lobby to reduce certain penalties and make it possible for some people who have received lifetime hunting bans to eventually regain their licences. 

In addition, Momentum has also called upon the the Nationalist Party, "to clearly state where it stands on reducing hunting penalties and on the possibility of reversing lifetime bans, since there have been pro-hunting and pro-trapping commitments from PN too.

Farrugia concluded that the party is calling for stronger enforcement in this regard, as well as for the proper monitoring of hunting areas and full accountability when hunting regulations are breached.