Last week saw the launch of The League’s film ‘Gunsmoke and Mirrors’ set to reveal the truth behind the UK’s shooting industry in a brand new exposé.
Over the years we have come across the same horrific issues associated with the industry time and time again. The details of what happens on a shoot, as well as all the unacceptable and needless cruelty of the industry needs to be brought to the attention of the public.
The film contains the culmination of almost ten years of undercover work into sporting estates and the shooting industry by our investigators shining a light on the truth behind this so called ‘sport’.
Using footage obtained from estates and game breeding farms around the UK as well as interviews with key spokespeople, the stark reality of this industry is exposed and the myths squashed.
Broken into three parts, the film examines battery farming; killing of protected species; and waste and pollution.
Shooting is typically promoted as a free range and organic way to enjoy game meat, the film reveals how far from the truth this is with footage from breeding farms showing the small, cramped battery conditions in which many game birds begin their lives. It also shows the unnatural behaviour displayed by chicks as a result of stress and the mutilations used to prevent them harming themselves and each other through boredom.
Game birds are not the only victims of the shooting industry with foxes, badgers, otters, birds of prey, as well as cats and dogs becoming intended and unintended victims as they are poisoned, shot and trapped in the name of ‘predator control’. With no mandatory firearm training requirement in the UK, many birds die lingering deaths after being shot by inexperienced shooters, including children.
Gunsmoke and Mirrors will prove to be in glaring contrast to the sanitised films produced by the shooting industry which attempt to show shooting as a wholesome sport. They don’t show you the thousands of birds shot and injured but not killed; they don’t show you the inebriated shooters taking pot shots at these beautiful birds; and they don’t show you the horrors of snaring and other predator control used to protect game stocks.
Watch the trailer for the video below and full length film here.
Gunsmoke and Mirrors - trailer from League Against Cruel Sports on Vimeo.
An Early Day Motion (EDM) has been tabled by Michael Connarty MP in support of the film and the League’s campaign.