In the fight against wild boars in Belgium, Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) and right-wing (N-VA) have proposed a bill in the Federal Parliament to allow hunters and special field guards to own night-vision scopes and silencers.
It is currently illegal to buy or possess night-vision scopes (that can be mounted on weapons) and silencers in Belgium, but CD&V submitted a bill – currently up for discussion in the Parliamentary Justice Committee – to lift that ban for hunters in the fight against wild boars. MP Theo Francken (N-VA) also signed the proposal.
However, the bill is the cause of discussions in parliament: according to Groen group leader Stefaan Van Hecke, both the federal police and the Federal Weapons Agency advised against the bill in the meantime.
"In summary, they argue that the risk to public order has not been weighed against the benefits of lifting the ban. They point to the risk that a parallel criminal circuit will be created, since night-vision scopes and silencers could be purchased legally and CD&V has not established clear rules for the acquisition and especially the transfer of the weapons in its proposal," Van Hecke said.
'More animal-friendly'
For the same reasons, the Flemish Peace Institute also advised against the bill. For Van Hecke, the amendments tabled by CD&V to improve traceability are "no more than some make-up for their proposal." He called it "absurd" that CD&V and N-VA want to go ahead with it.
Hunting should reduce nuisance and wildlife damage caused by the animals. The animals also pose a risk to road safety. The use of night vision scopes and silencers should make hunting more efficient, but scopes are also "more animal-friendly," according to the bill.
For instance, hunters now have to hunt at night with a lamp mounted on their weapons. If they see a wild boar, they turn on their lamps and only have a few seconds to aim at the animal.
The sudden light startles the animal and it often runs away even before the hunters can hit it. "Or worse, that the hunter has only seriously injured the animal without fatally striking it," the bill said. Silencers, meanwhile, could help reduce noise pollution for local residents.
Hunters shot a wild boar during the hunt at the Bois de la Vecquee in collaboration with the forest police, 2005 in Seraing. Credit: Belga/Michel Krakowski
"We expect our security services to still be very alert – we are still in [terror alert] level 3. Our country has experienced several terror attacks, as well as attacks by organised crime. It is incomprehensible that we would make it possible to legally market silencers and night vision devices, isn't it? Crime gangs and terrorists have been waiting for years for these weapons to enter circulation," said Van Hecke.
The bill's ideator, MP Steven Matheï (CD&V), points out that not all opinions were negative. The College of Public Prosecutors, for instance, reportedly gave positive advice, seeing "no increase in security risk," he said. Additionally, to meet the objections of the federal police and the Federal Arms Service, CD&V tabled several amendments, such as serial numbers to promote traceability, for instance.
Matheï says it is "simply a fact" that there is "nuisance in certain areas" and that it is therefore necessary to hunt "in a structured and legal way". "We should not make a caricature of it. Criminal organisations are really not waiting for silencers that can be mounted on a hunting rifle. They will get them through other means if they want them."
