Going hunting with lethal shotguns in Ho Chi Minh City Vu aims at an unsuspecting stork during his hunt in Ho Chi Minh City in November 2015. Tuoi Tre Recently a large number of people in Ho Chi Minh City have purchased lethal shotguns at several thousand dollars apiece to hunt wild fowls and small mammals. A Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporter joined such a hunt undercover in mid-November. He and around 10 gunmen sped on several dirt roads in District 12 before reaching densely vegetated areas along a canal. Vu, a seasoned hunter and shotgun dealer, stopped suddenly when he spotted a flock of around 100 storks feeding in a paddy field. He aimed and pulled the trigger. A stork was killed clean with one shot; its neck broken. Around 15 minutes later, Vu mercilessly shot down another stork from a distance of more than 100 meters. A chicken from a resident’s flock, a squirrel, and “cu dat” (a kind of ornamental bird) soon also fell victim to his shooting spree. They all sustained nasty wounds and were killed in the blink of an eye. Phat, another hunter in the group, quickly plucked the poor animals and burnt them with a mini-gas cooker. Vu’s shotgun is worth VND37 million ($1,618). Photo: Tuoi Tre Vu revealed that the shotgun, which is an imitation of Benjamin Marauder, a well-known brand in air rifles, costs VND37 million (US$1,619). Its parts were all imported from the U.S., he added. The gun is easily maneuvered and can hit targets from more than 100 meters away. A 10-minute gas pumping is enough to supply gas for 100 shots from each gun. The hunter bragged he had gunned down a heron with a wing span of over one meter on a recent previous hunt. Wild fowls, nearby residents’ poultry and small mammals stand no chance of escaping Vu’s shots. Rampant trading To pamper their hunting hobby, many will not hesitate to spend up to VND100 million ($4,375) to own a shotgun. P. aka “The Fool,” a hunter in District 12, revealed that 9-12kg air-powered shotguns with 30-40 meter firing ranges have become a thing of the past today. Rifles with considerably more power and longer firing ranges are all the rage now. Ho Chi Minh City is home to a number of dealers in high-end shotguns which come in a wide variety of shapes and prices. A stork mercilessly slain by Vu. Photo: Tuoi Tre These breeds of weaponry mostly adopt highly compressed air and allow precise shots at targets which are between 60 and more than 100 meters away. Nghia, who resides in Tan Binh District, is a notorious shotgun dealer in Ho Chi Minh City. He introduced the disguised Tuoi Tre reporter to a Condor gun, which fetches approximately VND20 million ($875) and is assembled from parts imported from Taiwan. The piece can easily go for VND40 million ($1,750) if armed with “toys.” Nghia confirmed that the gun can also satisfy an average hunter’s thirst for animal blood. Well-off hunting lovers can also find luxury weaponry at a shop owned by Hai, another known dealer in the city. One hunter showed off his two guns worth more than VND80 million ($3,500) and VND100 million ($4,375) apiece. Vu, the aforementioned hunter, boasted that he provides a wide range of air guns and accessories, including electronic and smart viewfinders which can adjust distances themselves. A man is seen hunting for his prey. Photo: Tuoi Tre Many hunters prefer custom-made   assembled pieces of firearms to whole-imported guns. Tony is well known for his shotgun assembly services which can turn out quality guns worth half the price of the wholly-imported weapons. He explained that his clients typically place orders one or two months in advance to own such guns, which are assembled from components imported from the U.S. Hazards Nguyen Xuan Luu, head of the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Ranging Department, asserted that the city has strictly banned the use of shotguns to hunt down wild animals. Perpetrators will be seized by rangers if caught in the act. Luu pointed out that the indiscriminate use of shotguns, particularly high-capacity firearm pieces, also poses serious hazards to the densely populated metropolis. In recent times, the unit has been trying to talk residents into handing in their shotguns. A man is pictured stealing a chicken from a local household. Photo: Tuoi Tre However, the suggestion has gone largely ignored as most hunters and traders are reluctant to part with their much loved, expensive weapons. Meanwhile, lawyer Ha Thi Thao, from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, stressed that such firearms are highly injurious and can disrupt social order. Making and using shotguns can be penalized as stipulated by Governmental Decree 167, with fines ranging from VND2 million ($88) to VND4 million ($175). Repeat offenders who have been fined or convicted of this crime can face imprisonment from three months to two years pursuant to Article 233 of the Penal Code, lawyer Thao added. Tuoi Tre News