UK Shooting News - aka Parliamentary Air Rifle Debate

[Archer50]

Most of you are talking as if airgun licencing is a matter for sensible discussion and weighing the evidence. It isn't. Its about politics, or to be more precise, votes. Sadly, I strongly suspect that overall, airgun licensing in England would be a vote winner, and if a few surveys and focus groups show that to be the case, you will be getting licensing whatever arguments you put forward and whatever party is in power.

The Brexit balls-up may get you off the hook for a bit longer, but I'm more confident that you'll have airgun licencing in five years time, than I am that we will have left the EU by then. You have some chance of shaping the details, but in my opinion, unless something changes in the near future you have no chance of stopping it.

Hope I'm wrong.....

Alan

[Rickenbacker]

I hope you're wrong too.

The implications of what you suspect would have huge negative implications for the future of all shooting sports in the UK.

Still, as I respectfully assume that yours is a totally unqualified opinion - I'll continue to place my hopes in those who professionally represent our 1.6 million active shooters (and total of 4 million airgun owners), in the UK.

http://www.shootingfacts.co.uk/

[Archer50]

I hope you're wrong too.

Still, as I respectfully assume that yours is a totally unqualified opinion - I'll continue to place my hopes in those who professionally represent our 1.6 million active shooters (and total of 4 million airgun owners), in the UK.

http://www.shootingfacts.co.uk/

Unfortunately, the only precedent we have is Scotland, and the only facts we have are that, although the various shooting organisations and well-wishers were certainly able to moderate some of the early proposals, they could do nothing at all to stop licensing once the politicians had the bit between their teeth. Anyway, we'll soon see.

[Rocket launcher]

About time.if you need a licence for fishing. You should need one for shooting....ooh I forgot I already have one for shooting .I will add my air rifles to my shotgun or fac cert...sorted

[Rickenbacker]

About time.if you need a licence for fishing. You should need one for shooting....ooh I forgot I already have one for shooting .I will add my air rifles to my shotgun or fac cert...sorted

You're alright then, Jack.

What should we say to the newcomers, casual shooters, parents and their kids interested in starting out airgun shooting?

They could come along to your club's open day (once a year) and you could show them your FAC?

[Captain Bongo]

About time.if you need a licence for fishing. You should need one for shooting....ooh I forgot I already have one for shooting .I will add my air rifles to my shotgun or fac cert...sorted

My nine year old son just read this and commented that you seem very shortsighted.

[RichardinDorset]

About time.if you need a licence for fishing. You should need one for shooting....ooh I forgot I already have one for shooting .I will add my air rifles to my shotgun or fac cert...sorted

It's what's known as the thin end of the wedge, but in fact we have already had that, this is more like killing off shooting sports period...

Since when does licensing prevent idiots doing stupid things?

[short-carabine]

It's what's known as the thin end of the wedge, but in fact we have already had that, this is more like killing off shooting sports period...

Since when does licensing prevent idiots doing stupid things?

Indeed. You have to have a driving licence to drive a vehicle https://www.gov.uk/government/statis...n-results-2015

road deaths decreased by 2% compared with 2014, falling to 1,732
the number of people seriously injured decreased by 3% to 22,137
there were a total of 186,209 casualties of all severities
140,086 personal-injury road traffic accidents were reported to the police

Now lets compare that with airgun "issues" shall we?

[bighit]

About time.if you need a licence for fishing. You should need one for shooting....ooh I forgot I already have one for shooting .I will add my air rifles to my shotgun or fac cert...sorted

air rifle on a shotgun license

if your thinking you can do that because up here in scotland they let you keep your airgun on your shotgun license ,then i hate to inform you that they only allow that to happen until your shotgun license need s renewed. then you have to apply for airgun license . same if you do it on your FAC.

i have 3 licenses . airgun,FAC and SGC . i could have asked to uprate my airguns to FAC but it was not worth the hassle.

airgun license is an extra fiver for us if we have a FAC or SGC.

all depends on how the english government implement the scheme IF they implement one

[Portzy]

About time.if you need a licence for fishing. You should need one for shooting....ooh I forgot I already have one for shooting .I will add my air rifles to my shotgun or fac cert...sorted

As I have said somewhere else, you dont need a licence to buy/own a fishing rod, which is the angling equivalent of a gun. You only need a licence to use them, which is the shooting equivalent to club membership/pemissions/syndicates etc.

[Black Beard]

If airguns get licensed, the sport will shrink and costs will go up.
How do you fancy paying an extra 20% for an air rifle and 15 pounds a tin for pellets (no mail order).

[lensman57]

If airguns get licensed, the sport will shrink and costs will go up.
How do you fancy paying an extra 20% for an air rifle and 15 pounds a tin for pellets (no mail order).

I did not renew my membership to my local rifle and pistol club this year. In an effort to maximise revenue the club had taken in so many new members that the last time that I visited the club I felt that I was being pushed, despite having been a member for 3 years and relatively well known around the club, to shoot off my 50 rounds of .22 LR and give the spot to a lot of the new guys, in fact I had asked for my usual 100 rounds but was told to just use my 50 first . I undersatood that people who had paid memberships had a right to use the facilities but the facilities must also be made to accomodate demand . Six lanes for shooting between 20 people over a 2 hour period is asking too much. I feel that if memebrship of approved clubs becomes a condition of licence then more and more people will just give up and not bother. Access to out door ranges with affordable memberships is partiularly at short supply. Private shooting clubs with their hefty annual memberships reserved for the well to do seem to be flourishing though.

A.G

[GoodWILLHunting]

Unfortunately, the only precedent we have is Scotland, and the only facts we have are that, although the various shooting organisations and well-wishers were certainly able to moderate some of the early proposals, they could do nothing at all to stop licensing once the politicians had the bit between their teeth. Anyway, we'll soon see.

Well, I don't watch English regional TV or read English regional papers so I may be missing something, but to date I haven't seen any evidence to suggest a similarly sustained press led campaign, to that which occurred in Scotland (trumpeting a ban), taking place south of the border at the moment.

That being the case any shooting organisation counter initiative would be starting from a far better position.

[angrybear]

Well, I don't watch English regional TV or read English regional papers so I may be missing something, but to date I haven't seen any evidence to suggest a similarly sustained press led campaign, to that which occurred in Scotland (trumpeting a ban), taking place south of the border at the moment.

That being the case any shooting organisation counter initiative would be starting from a far better position.

There's nothing in the press because there's nothing to report .

All that's happened is a minister has given a "fob off" answer to another MP who was trying to raise her publicity by talking about an incident in her constituency, which would never have happened in the first place if EXISTING laws had been complied with . Now she goes back home with the smarty points & TV time from standing up in the House to ask her question.

There has been nothing said anywhere about so much as considering tighter laws or licences, only that "there will be a review" which is probably 1 or 2 junior clerks reading what already exists and probably writing a memo that says "there's already a law on securing airguns & preventing kids access to them which was not complied with in this sad case".

IF firm proposals to change anything are made, that is when sensible argument can be made, until then pages & pages of "what if" handwringing is both utterly pointless & futile.

[Geezer]

There's nothing in the press because there's nothing to report .

All that's happened is a minister has given a "fob off" answer to another MP who was trying to raise her publicity by talking about an incident in her constituency, which would never have happened in the first place if EXISTING laws had been complied with . Now she goes back home with the smarty points & TV time from standing up in the House to ask her question.

That is exactly my reading of this debate and the Minister's comments.

I'd also take issue with those complaining about the shooting organisations and Scotland. In Scotland, the SNP ran an election campaign with a clear manifesto commitment to licence airguns, won a landslide majority, and then implemented their manifesto. A situation in which BASC etc can not stop the inevitable. They can only at best influence how the manifesto commitment is implemented, and assist their members in complying with it.