UK Shooting News - aka Parliamentary Air Rifle Debate

[Kennyb]

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.

[mrto]

Presumably,anyone advocating the licensing of sub 12ftlb air guns would like to see the far more dangerous carving knife licensed also?

[Lawrie Amatruda]

Presumably,anyone advocating the licensing of sub 12ftlb air guns would like to see the far more dangerous carving knife licensed also?

I'm not against cyclists, but perhaps this should apply to bicycles as well, I'm sure there are more fatal accidents involving bikes than than there has ever been with airguns.

[lensman57]

" A Scottish Government consultation on proposals for licensing air weapons returned 1,101 responses, with 87 per cent opposed to licensing. "

I like the twisting of truth in that article, " AIR guns should not be subject to strict licensing restrictions according to the vast majority of respondents to a government consultation. "

" These responses "cannot be taken to represent the views of the wider population", according to analysts.

" While the vast majority opposed licencing in principle, only a minority of these actually engaged with the consultation and provided reasons for their opposition, declining to answer consultation questions at all or responding with short statements such as "I disagree".

" The analysis states: "The term 'air weapon' was perceived by some to be emotive and misleading. The point was made that a 'weapon' is designed to injure or harm someone, and thus an air gun is not a 'weapon' unless it is used as such."

" The analysis states: "Views gathered through an open consultation exercise can not be regarded as representative of the views of the population as a whole."

What a load of tosh? They went to the people and when the result went against their agenda then they started to make excuses and discredit the participants.

If the powers to be want to change the law shouldn't the onus of proof to justify such upheaval fall the those who propose the change and not vice versa?

A.G

[bighit]

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.

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 .

[bullbarrel]

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. .

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.

[Rickenbacker]

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.

Me too.

[bighit]

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.

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.

[lensman57]

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

[bighit]

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

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

[bullbarrel]

Just in case you missed it, its also been discussed here. Which is now closed so they will be joining us here

[GoodWILLHunting]

Just in case you missed it, its also been discussed here. Which is now closed so they will be joining us here

Alright then, here I am.......

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.