Firearms saftey consultation - inculdes airguns & minature rifle ranges

[SuffolkRifle]

Having read through the entire document, by & large I think it's extremely fair, with most of the extra measures suggested being common sense.

About the only item I don't like is raising the age for airguns on private land,
anyone who grows up on a farm knows that youngsters with airguns do a lot of vermin control, because of farm animals they are invariably well trained about safety especially proper back stops backstops.

The only serious problem I see with UK firearms rules is the difficulty in youngsters getting proper training, largely due to the paranoia of non shooters,
that situation has yet to be addressed, & should be asap.

I will be responding & highlighting the final point, to prevent accidents you need to train in the safe handling of firearms.

Must admit to not liking the idea of keeping the highest power guns at a range, to me, that's just asking for break-ins

[angrybear]

Must admit to not liking the idea of keeping the highest power guns at a range, to me, that's just asking for break-ins

Very good point, as I doubt many ranges are manned 24/7.
Plus I expect anyone wanting such a gun could/would obtain it from Eastern Europe anyway.

[Jesim1]

To me the loophole on mini ranges should be closed - it's bizarre that you can buy 20 full bore guns and thousands of rounds of ammo by saying your running a range, yet you can't buy a .22LR for pest control without getting an FAC and being security checked by the police

I also think young people should be supervised on private land - because the vast majority of "private land" used for this is a garden, and not a farm or estate. Making farms/estates exempt for the purpose of pest control would be an option, but as it is, half of all injuries are by unsupervised kids, typically in back yards. You need to remember most of us reading this are on a forum because we are interested and enthusiastic about air guns, we care and are on the whole very responsible - this is not the typical case of Joe public handing an air gun to his kids and going to watch the match while they shoot the neighbours cat unsupervised

Some of the extra security measures for the high powered rifles are just stupid - there have been none used in any crime ever in the UK - this is just a political soap box shout out and a waste of time. To suggest we should be taking actions like "putting shutters on all doors and windows" where guns are kept is ridiculous - you cant do this to your house!!!! This is paramount to a ban

So do read the details and make your own minds up, and fill in the form to have your say.

As @angrybear mentions - training is a great things, especially with the young, but other than us do this responsibly with our own kids or in our own clubs I don't know how that could be put into legislation?

James

[rockdrill]

it's bizarre that you can buy 20 full bore guns and thousands of rounds of ammo by saying your running a range

Leaving aside views on the 'appropriateness' of the law relating to miniature rifle ranges, the term miniature rifle range relates to rimfire rifles not fullbores.

As I understand it there are a number of miniature rifle ranges that have operated for many years without incident, unfortunately though there have been instances where this concession not loophole has been abused.

[SuffolkRifle]

In my view, the more 'security' that is put visibly on a house, the more 'attractive' it becomes to burglars - due to the 'if they've spent that much on the anti-theft precautions, there must be something worth stealing inside' mentality

[JerryD]

Putting aside the proposals for air weapons for a moment, the idea that "high muzzle energy rifles" could only be stored a club seems not well-thought out: surely better to store arelatively low number of such items at the owners house under the current requirements (rifle cabinet, alarm system...) where the property is frequently occupied than store many such rifles at a gun club which is frequently unoccupied?

No sensible gun club would want to take on that responsibility: their security bill would be horrendous and the accountability to both the owners and the police would be considerable. it would be a magnet for the nefarious nasties.


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[Powderfinger]

The storage of "high=powered" guns at clubs has no security or safety benefits.
Miniature range rules predate the FAC system and have been of benefit to clubs and ranges. Where is the evidence that the miniature range rules have caused a crime problem? The case involving a miniature range recently did not involve anyone being injured, although I agree that their behaviour was not endearing.

[Steyr]

Must admit to not liking the idea of keeping the highest power guns at a range, to me, that's just asking for break-ins

Then your mistaken. The security at a club is typically higher than at a home Inc. alarms and secured testing.

Many clubs do hold weapons on site....either the clubs rifles and members equipment too. Monitored systems allow for visual and audio confirmation as well so police can respond with ARU's if required and avoids members having to go on site.