The proposed overhaul of the firearms laws will soon be taking place.
Wonder what Blunket and the GCN have in store for us this time.
Apparently they aren't very happy with "replicas", whatever that means.
With the new powers he was given by the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, he can probably ban just about anything he wants by decree.
With all the bad publicity the government is getting at the moment, now might be a good time to buy some electoral popularity with another attack on "Britain's gun culture."
I'd better get a few crates of VP 90 and some plastic sacks so I can bury the air rifles in the back garden!!
I guess we're gonna have to get used to oiling our lawn on sundays, but seriously if there is some kind of pointless ban like the one on pistols,we (the shooting community as a whole)need to put up a bit more of a fight this time, otherwise the government will just use law after law as a precendent for banning everything, it seems so much effort to just write to your local MP but it CAN make a difference.
Rant over.................yes i did have a bad day for your information.
There are none so blind as those that will not see.
Richard
NiceOriginally posted by RichardH
There are none so blind as those that will not see.
Richard
And none so deaf as those that don't want to listen.
Rod
I have been accused by some of being a doom-monger, but I think it's time to get ready for another shafting. They have got rid of the Firearms Select Comittee, which at least had some representatives from shooting sports associations on it, and there has been hint after hint that something is on the cards for us in the near future...
I have written to my MP a load of times about this, her mind is made up though, I just get some standard form letter from her now. I am going to write to her, David Blunkett, Tony Blair, maybe even the opposition as well, that way at least when we are shafted, I will know that I did all I could. It's a shame that most people on here seem to be more intent on debating the minutiae of various aspects of our sport than doing something to preserve it...
Enjoy your airguns while you can guys...
Rob M
No matter what they do, at the end of the day you have two choices you can obey or you can stick two fingers at them
I don't suppose it's particularly good news, it never is, but I wouldn't get too doom stricken regarding airguns.
As far as I can piece together from people I know in the trade and a conversation with my FLO the main issue behind the review is rumoured to be simplifying current legislation. De-acts and blank firers may well be affected though - by affected read 'banned' actually - there is already some sort of unofficial agreement between the Home Office and most importers of blank firers not to sell semi-auto pistols anymore.
Not that I'm in a position to be privy to what's going on, I just scrounged some info where I could in case I needed to bale out of a sinking ship
Hopefully TD or BASC have a better idea of what might be happening.
Well a simplification would be a good thing, but it seems a bit weird to go about simplifying a large body of legislation without consulting the people who are actually effected by it, especially as shooters are a small group, and thus fairly easy to consult through our representative bodies.
ALex
I wrote to my MP when the FCC was disbanded. He passed my letter on to Caroline Flint. Her reply was vague to say the least. But then this is new Labour.
I copied Caroline Flints letter to Bill Harriman the Director of Firearms at BASC. He explained in reply that
The only communication that Caroline Flint has send in reply to BASC requests for more information on the propsed consultative framework for the review of the firearms act was a simple acknowledgement. This party of Tony certainly listens to the people.
Bill Harriman also spoke of a number of Parliamentary questions that had been put reagrding firearms licensing. I quote 'It is clear from the Ministers replies to these parliamentary questions that neither she nor her officials have any great depth of knowledge of the subject' Which is most heartening.
He also stated that the volume of questions has delayed the consultation document for this propsed fire arms review and it was as of 3rd April 3 months over due.
So far no reply to any question as to who or what will replace the FCC has been clear. My reply from Caroline Flint was that a two tier structure would be put in place. For that we can most certainly read a lower body that will talk about the issue and pass up proposals and an upper body who will tell us what to do regardless. Sound familiar?
Bill Harriman believes it is in the interest of every one in the shooting community that further delays to this review process happen as this pushes it closer to a general election. Which may well be in May of next year, about the time he expects this review process to take place. Alienation of sections of the electorate would not be good at that time for Tone and his chums. Also our dear leader may well be losing some of his massive majority about that time so bully boy tactics may well be less of an option for him after that time.
What ever happens BASC pledge to continue pressing in Westminister for their/our voice to be heard.
We have a war in Iraq that is becomming mired down and Tony gets fox hunting banned.
We have a spiraling immigration issue and we get bus lane cameras.
We have spiraling gun crime problem so Tony bans Brococks.
He's on the ball I'll give him that.
Last edited by tsuobi; 12-05-2004 at 09:58 AM.
The instincts of many of these New Labour apparatchiks are anti-democratic.
Many of them would love to turn Britain into a one-party state.
I really hope that people aren't stupid enough to think things will be better under Brown.
When that arrogant, conceited, petulant, brooding plonker is in charge things will be considerably worse.
Blair, after all, is just an opportunist who loves to be in the spotlight.
Brown is something far more dangerous.
cant really say that im supprised that thousands of people leave this country every week and dont come back, maybe thats why tony need his immigrants.
everyone has their reasons for emigrating and i have many.
until we get open minded people in government well never get a break. thats never then i think.
let them ban every type of shooting available to us, and see how long it takes for a wide spread epidemic of pests (cute furry bunnies etc) which will cost the government (read us, the tax payer) millions to sort it out.
could go on like this for hours, there is so much to gripe about in this country, better leave it at that.
And you wonder why I'm of to join Bob in France. I didn't like the French at one time but now I realise they at least stand up for themselves if their government tries to get through something they don't like.
I feel that these cretins in our government have lost the plot and control not to mention it's the voters who put them there in the first place. They are all as bad as one another whoever is in charge, they are only after what they can get out of being a minister personally.
Voters put governments in place and if the prats are mis managing as they are now they should be voted out and not have terms as they have now. If a bloke /lady is incompetent at work then he/she is either fired or moved on.......so why is Blair still in power?
Not bothered now I'm moving out to a better life in FRANCE
Nev
Well said mate.Originally posted by Andyman
No matter what they do, at the end of the day you have two choices you can obey or you can stick two fingers at them
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