Reply With QuotePresumably,anyone advocating the licensing of sub 12ftlb air guns would like to see the far more dangerous carving knife licensed also?
Registered User
If a licence is introduced it will make it much harder to take up airgun shooting and for many people it won't be worth the hassle. It would be interesting to see the ownership/take up figures for this from Scotland since the introduction of licensing. Furthermore airguns are often the introduction to other shooting sports which may also suffer in the long term. Perhaps that's the hidden intention?
There is then the knock on effect on the shooting industry and jobs. It would be interesting to find out how much the industry has been affected as a result of legislation going back to the handgun ban, as well any early indications of an effect in Scotland after airgun licensing has been brought in. Some pertinent facts on impact on jobs might focus the minds of the politicians.
All of the shooting organisations need to fight this. There is more than enough legislation in place at the moment. Even Nick Hurd MP admits as much. What is needed is proper enforcement of the existing legislation including stiff sentences handed out for those that do misuse airguns. This applies across the board to all crime including knife crime but for politicians of all parties it is easier to be seen to do something immediate and easy such as licensing, than actually do something that might be effective but which takes more long term effort and political will.
Registered User
Presumably,anyone advocating the licensing of sub 12ftlb air guns would like to see the far more dangerous carving knife licensed also?
Counting my blessings
I think that's already the case with FAC.Originally Posted by bighit
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Guest
last i read im sure the number was 15.000 applied for a license in scotland but there was not a definite figure stated for ones issued and they wont know until 2021 until all the people that have been allowed to keep them on their FAC and SGC are due for their FAC and SGC renewals . if they are covered by their FAC and SGC they can only possess and shoot their airguns but not buy and new ones from a shop. they cant buy component parts either and that includes moderators. so if they need a new barrel via a RFD they will need to apply for a license now to buy it .
Last edited by bighit; 12-10-2017 at 10:40 AM.
Guest
yes it is . and SGC .i was surprised that they did not go down the GP report with the airgun license up here .I think that's already the case with FAC.
Systems Administrator
I was having the same discussion with one of our up and coming pistol shooters yesterday. He put the view licensing wasn't such a bad idea till I asked him if he'd have started shooting if he needed a license. He realised he wouldn't.
I know I definitely wouldn't have started shooting if I needed a license.
Admin Team
Me too.
Guest
i know its different but as i said in a post on here ,up here we have to get a GP report to the police to get a shotgun or FAC (think its the same for you guys down south too ).if the report is not back in 21 days the application is stopped until the report is handed in .
now as this is a non NHS request the surgeries are charging for the report . i paid £35 for mine but one student had to pay £400 or £450 for his report to get a shotgun license . he was wanting to be a gamekeeper and would need the shotgun license for this job.
had he not wanted to be a gamekeeper ,he could not afford to pay the fee .
he had to got to a private doctor as his registered doctor s surgery are objecting to doing the reports.
basc is saying not to pay the fee which is ok in england as the police say if there is no report in 21 day then the doctor has no issues with the applicant applying for a gun license . up here NO report= NO license .
so if you have to get the doctors report for an airgun license application and your being asked to pay £400 ,would you apply for one ?
i dare say some would but most could not afford it . and it could be £400 plus the license fee every 5 years
yes that is for a FAC or SGC. but if they decide its for airguns too ,then there will be less people applying .
at present the scottish airgun application ask for health issues but there is no follow up unless you tick the boxes for any they list on the form. they don't even do a home visit as there is no request to lock the guns up in a cabinet YET.
Registered User
We are our own worst enemy. I just read on another forum someone post a sarcastic reply to the news : " I couldn't care less, I am already on FAC " no wonder they run us around like a bunch of sheep with the likes of that idiot around. I let him know what I thought of him.
A.G
Guest
it happens a lot . not all shooters will stick in together and fight . airguns to some a toys but i would bet most of them started shooting with an airgun
Systems Administrator
Just in case you missed it, its also been discussed here. Which is now closed so they will be joining us here
Lord GoodWill of Hunting
Alright then, here I am.......Just in case you missed it, its also been discussed here. Which is now closed so they will be joining us here
It's a tough one guys. Industry wise we in Scotland are just a blip as a percentage of the UK market, a significant percentage but not an UK industry show stopping one, a licensing scheme in England & Wales, on the other hand, would have seismic implications.
Lobby your shooting bodies, and if you're not a member of one, join one. These are the people to make representation on our (or in my case, "your") behalf, not angry badgering of ones MP or ill worded petition.
In the old days they'd have run public information shorts on the TV. Anyone remember the shotgun safety shorts of the 70's & 80's? Breaking guns whilst crossing fences and obstacles. Something like that highlighting airgun safety do's n' don'ts and legal responsibilities would be much more worth while than more legislation and red tape.
Registered User
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
Admin Team
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/
Registered User
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.
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