A DOUBLE murder in the province of Lleida after two forestry brigadiers asked a hunter to show his gun licence has sparked debate about whether firearms possession should be restricted.
The 28-year-old man, who shot dead the two rural agents with his rifle apparently in cold blood upon being ordered to show his papers has since said he 'does not remember anything' about the incident.
Ismael Rodríguez has been remanded in custody and charged with murder.
Meanwhile, villagers in Alcoletge, near the hamlet of Aspa where Rodríguez was stopped, held a minute's silence for 39-year-old David Iglesias, who lived there, and his colleauge Xavier Ribes, from Lleida city where protests were held on the council steps.
Further demonstrations are due to take place today (Monday) in Vacarisses (Barcelona province) where Rodríguez is from.
The Catalunya Hunting Federation has urged members to hang up their guns for a day as a sign of respect to the two forestry agents killed doing their job.
Ismael Rodríguez said 'all he could remember' was the two agents wishing him 'good morning' and ordering him to empty his gun, which he said he did 'instinctively' but does not recall pointing it at the men.
His actions have provoked discussion over whether those who hold licences to carry guns – normally those who live off shooting wild animals for the meat industry – should be subject to tighter controls, and whether police should have greater jurisdiction in removing permits and firearms.
Regional interior minister for Catalunya, Jordi Jané, called for the Mossos d'Esquadra – the area's answer to the Guardia Civil – to be given absolute authority over arms and explosives; something that only the Guardia Civil itself currently has.
Jané says it is 'very difficult' to prevent violent incidences such as the one leading to the deaths of two agents, but says people likely to cause them should be prevented from holding gun licences.
He stressed, however, that this should not involve 'criminalising the hunting community'.
Environmental campaigners Ecologists in Action have called for a 'thorough review' of hunting legislation, not just in light of the recent murder, but for the sake of animal protection.
Although the hunting community as a whole cannot be blamed for one man's violence, says Ecologists in Action, it considers hunting to be 'a violent activity in itself' which 'causes suffering to thousands of animals every year', as well as 'dozens of human injuries'.
Furthermore, the association wants to see hunting limited strictly to 'places and times where it is absolutely necessary' such as culling to prevent crops being destroyed or humans and other animals being harmed by certain species.
The photograph shows the scene of the crime, and the accused's clothing covered up on the side of the road.
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