BASC and the airgun consultation

[David BASC]

Dear All,
Info here, but keep and eye on the BASC web site as the situation develops
https://basc.org.uk/blog/press-relea...ded-says-basc/
David

[Jonjon79]

Sounds fair enough

I'm pleased to see that they're not using that bloody awful phrase 'air weapon'.

[lensman57]

BASC also opposed the air gun licensing in Scotland and we saw what happened there. Everyone should take action over this by writting to their MP and Mr Hurd.

A.G

[bighit]

Whether further measures are needed on manufacturing standards to prevent accidental discharge of airguns or to prevent modification of airguns post-sale in order to increase their power.

how does that work when the rifle that killed Benjamin Wragge was supposedly a home made rifle ?


they are going after factory made airguns in my eyes with that statement .


"A 13-year-old boy was killed when a homemade air rifle held by a lifelong friend accidentally discharged and hit him in the neck, an inquest heard."

"Hayward said the weapon was not made by a commercial manufacturer. It was a .22 air rifle which had a telescopic sight and silencer, could be loaded with up to nine pellets without them being visible, had no safety catch, and could discharge without the trigger being pulled."

it was also over the 12ftlbs limit which the other had assumed was correct because the maker of the rifle said it was .


plus (1) a LOADED rifle was found in an (2) AIRING cupboard .

1 it should not have been left loaded an 2 there is strict guidelines on safe storage .

so airgun users are being penalised for people having no common sense or any idea on how to store a * firearm .

yes i know there will be other cases other than the Ben Wragge death but it still comes down to common sense.

*BASC chairman Peter Glenser, a barrister who specialises in firearms law, said: “In law, airguns are classified as firearms and are subject to all the criminal provisions of the Firearms Act.

“This is already a powerful penal statute and there is no need for further law. The solution has already been identified by government as education and enforcement.”

[lensman57]

Found an internet campaign from last summer by ' Cat Protetion ' people inviting all people to join their campaign to extend ' air gun laws ' to England. This thing is more than just a coincidence brought about by the unfortunate and gut wrenching accidental death of two young people. There is more to it than meets the eye.
Not so long ago they wanted to ban the PCPs as one was found to have been well over the limit, we all know the story of that one. It was the swift action of the likes of the AA who introduced AT to prevent the ban. They are after any excuse to ban airguns period, and logic does not come into the argument.

Today in Southport they shot a man at point blank range at midday with a shot gun spraying bystanders with pellets. The third shooting in as many days in the Liverpool area. I wonder where in the grand scheme of things the menace of air rifle comes into the ladder of priorities of this government. Stopping criminals roaming our streets shooting people in broad daylight with weapons that are truly lethal or tying up even more of the none existant police resources with none sense about air rifles?

A.G

[Jerry Cornelius]

Is there an actual consultation paper ?

If we don’t all reply to this we will only have ourselves to blame when more restrictions come in.

Cats Protection are up to 78,800 signatures on their petition for air rifle licenses this morning

We snooze, we loose. Simple as that

[MikeHW45]

I have written my piece to the home office regardless of whether or not it will help influence things. As stated below if no-one does anything we cant complain. If people don't voice their opinion they may as well not have one. This is my letter to them.

Dear Sir/madam,

I am writing to you to express my un-biased view with regards to the law and regulation of air rifles and pistols. I am myself a keen airgun shooter be it from garden plinking to club shooting. I personally feel that the requirements for keeping said items from the reach of children is currently adequate and it is all down to a matter of common sense. The problem is although the majority of responsible airgun shooters will use this common sense and good practise there are a minority as with everything who will not. These people will generally not be genuine collectors, shooters or enthusiasts but a handful that have the airguns for the sake of having them or people that own them for the wrong reasons ie: vandalism, illegal use etc.
With regards to licensing such as the scheme in place in Scotland, while this will inevitably reduce the number of people in possession of airguns those people will majoritably be honest shooters that can no longer be bothered with their hobby due to the extra hassle involved. Also persons in possession of airguns for the wrong reasons will no doubt carry out a crime whether an airgun is available to them or whether they have to use another item to commit the crime.
Also if you look into the statistics on personal harm and injury with regards to other sports, hobbies and daily activities it will be obvious that air weapon injuries are a drop in the ocean in comparison. My point is that I feel it unnecessary to once again penalise the innocent person for another persons wrong doing as it will achieve nothing other than unwanted expense, hassle and yet more drain on government resources.

[redrobbie]

Here is a recent case from my neck of the woods where this guy was swat teamed by armed officers http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2017/...aid-foula-home