Sporran wearers will need a licence.
Kilt wearers could face prosecution if they do not have a licence for their sporran under new legislation which has been introduced in Scotland that has come from the EU
The laws are designed to protect endangered species like badgers and otters, whose fur used to be favoured by sporran makers.
The legislation applies to animals killed after 1994. Applicants must prove that the animal was killed lawfully before they will be able to get a licence.
The conservation regulations were designed to close a number of loopholes and bring Scotland into line with other EU members.
They also apply to other vulnerable animals like deer, wildcats, hedgehogs, bats, lynx, moles, seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises.
The regulations require anyone who owns any part of a protected animal to obtain a licence. The maximum penalties for breaking the law are a fine of £5,000 and six months in prison.
It's part of our national dress - but now we could be forced to have a licence to wear it.
A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said the law was introduced to ensure the protection of vulnerable European species and covered products made from skin, fur and teeth of a number of protected animals. --- I agree with this bit.
The legislation is aimed at those sporrans made from protected wild animals within the last 13 years. ---- But not with this bit. How do I know this for my 12 yr old sporran? Come on, who is going to put me in prison? I have just read that a person who killed someone with his car was let off with a suspended sentence and here we are going to jail a man for wearing a 12 yrs old sporran made of badger's fir. I think its time to emigrate!
I liked this letter published in the Press & Journal newspaper today. It sums it up for me really. Thanks, A H Muir for your comments.
"Sir, Like many Scots, I have endured the progressive criminalisation of the common man be they local, national or European. I drive down the road, I am judged to be a speedster and large bumps are put in my way on the tarmac to inconvenience me. If I go to a bank, I am judged to be a member of the Mafia and must prove my identity, especially do if I wish to remove my own money. If I dare to fly, I am regarded as a terrorist and must be subjected to body searches and other humiliations. If I volunteer to assist a children’s sports society, I am regarded as a pervert until I prove otherwise. In every aspect of life, I am considered guilty by our Government until I prove otherwise, but my patience has finally snapped. Now, I must prove that my sporran is not made from an endangered species, even if I bought it 13 years ago. It is the final straw. To be demeaned daily is one thing, but when you try to deny a Scotsman his sporran you are in dangerous territory, indeed.
I could not agree more.
1 comment:
As the Scotts, including my Bruce ancestors emigrated to the "New World" after the Jacobite War in groves, it may be time to immigrate to the US where, even though we do have some silly laws, a man can still wear a sporran without a license! What if your sporran is made of deer, moles, most bats and bob (wild)cat fur from the US? They are not protected here. As a matter of fact deer are over taking the US.
I am a pest controller by trade and kill moles on a regular basis. So if I come to visit my ancestorial home of Scotland will I be arrested for proudly wearing my Kilt with my American made deer skin sporran?
Maybe it is time for another Robert the Bruce!
Michael Bruce Hull,
Irene's lesser half
Post a Comment