New laws coming?

[JSC]

The Government won't understand any of this, so it makes little difference which calibres do what. Someone has told them .50 is bad and that's what they are going after this time.

The next time, there will be another 'bad' type of gun and they will go after that one.

Logic and sense doesn't come into it.

[GeeRam]

^This sadly is the nub of it.

You can't argue logic and common sense when the people on the other side have their hands cupped over their ears muttering "La La La La....not listening, not listening"

[BooBoo]

So in that case you need to either:

A. Subject them to political lobbying, or
B. Remove the individual from office / make them squirm, or
C. Jeapordise the party position...

I'm all for contributing to the FCSA Legal fund. If the NRA are unable to become political as a charity then some other body should take up the fight.

As I have said before, if 55,000 each gave £100 back in 1997 rather then rally to no effect then the future of the sport / individual rights would be in a far better position.

[Sim G]

As I have said before, if 55,000 each gave £100 back in 1997 rather then rally to no effect then the future of the sport / individual rights would be in a far better position.

We gave tens of thousands of pounds. The court case failed. We also lobbied and we marched, don’t dismiss the efforts made. Judging from your comment you have no experience of that time....

[snayperskaya]

Given the number of MPs and Government staff you would like to think that there are some FAC holders amongst them that would speak out about these proposals.......

Edit....apparently the Palace of Westminster has a 25yd indoor range in the basement so you never know!.

[Zilberbak]

This is the Home Office response to an email that l sent to Amber Rudd



Thank you for your email of 9 October to the Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department, about the public consultation on new legislation on offensive and dangerous weapons. The Home Secretary receives a large amount of correspondence and unfortunately is unable to respond to each email individually. Your email has been forwarded to the Direct Communications Unit and I have been asked to reply.

I note your concerns about the inclusion of proposals relating to large calibre rifles and certain rapid fire rifles in the consultation. The Government recognises the importance of shooting as a pastime and sporting activity in this country, and that the vast majority of people in lawful possession of firearms use them responsibly.

The Government has a clear duty to protect the public and this duty lies at the heart of the proposals on which we are now consulting. In relation to firearms, our proposals are to prohibit .50 calibre “materiel destruction” rifles and certain rapid centrefire rifles such as those using the Manually Actuated Release System (MARS), which loads the next round through a second pull of the trigger. We consider that these firearm types present an enhanced risk to public safety should they get into the hands of criminals or terrorists because of their range, penetration power, or fire-rate. It is for this reason that we are proposing to take pre-emptive action to prohibit these weapons under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968. We are not proposing to prohibit .22 calibre rimfire semi-automatics rifles.

The consultation commenced on 14 October and will be open until 9 December. We will treat your email as a response to the consultation. It is, of course, open to you to respond directly to the consultation.



I didn’t even mention semi-autos but my main worry is the term “such as” which still leaves open the question of Lever Release, which l have a significant interest in.

[TomH]

Given the number of MPs and Government staff you would like to think that there are some FAC holders amongst them that would speak out about these proposals.......

Edit....apparently the Palace of Westminster has a 25yd indoor range in the basement so you never know!.

The Palace of Westminster Rifle Club was closed in 2015.

[Airbrush]

Given the number of MPs and Government staff you would like to think that there are some FAC holders amongst them that would speak out about these proposals.......

Edit....apparently the Palace of Westminster has a 25yd indoor range in the basement so you never know!.

The Palace of Westminster Rifle Club was closed in 2015.

I believe there is some sort of match for MP's at Bisley.

[Christel]

If the reason for the ban is to protect the public from criminals to get hold of .50cals then that means the Government is thinking that lawfully held firearms are held insecurely which shouldn't be the case, we got the certificate in the first place based on safety in place and personal vetting.

Now...what I would like to know is:

Who is doing what?

If someone out there knows if their local club is doing something can that person please post to that affect.

Is FCSA doing something, if so what, I can't see anything on their website and I am not on a mailing list.

NRA? A charity so they can't really do much from what I have heard?
BASC?

If information is not posted online and shared then we can't respond.

[BooBoo]

SimG - thank you for your thoughts... However I would add that every time I look at my Compensation Pack (which I have kept as a momento) then I am reminded of the injustice of how the shooting community was treated by those elected on our behalf. One of the Law Lords at the time wrote a very good article in a broadsheet entitled "Let them keep their guns" or along those lines - I remember reading it with acute interest whilst sat in the Officers Mess at Kineton on my EOD course, wondering just what I could do further to retain my later "surrendered" items.

Zilberback - the FCSA have this morning released a statement post HO consultation that clearly details that all firearms capable of increased rates of fire are "within scope" (MARS is just one example).

Like you, I have a vested interest in the latter.

The FCSA have asked that their release is for members only.. so I'll respect the very credible efforts being made by Chris and avoid a cut and paste. There is however an indication that the HO may consider some middle ground, enhanced s5 style security etc., with the driver being pre-emptive action to allay concerns from the police about theft by criminal / terrorist, any response being outgunned and so on.

Best wishes,

Simon