Interesting that the charity commissioners do not see supporting civilian target shooting, as furthering the NRA's charitable aims. It is also unclear to me from the documentation as to whether this was the commissioners view in a letter to the NRA in 1998 which evidently the Trustees had not seen or were aware of!
So if supporting civilian shooting is not seen as a function of the NRA what will be the organisations relevance to legal gunowners and shooters?
The NRA's trading arm, the NSC runs its commercial side, i.e Bisley shooting ground, as its purpose to to help support the charitable aims of the NRA then Bisley and any profits it makes will not be allowed to be used in supporting civilian target shooting as this would be contrary to the NRA's charitable aims. "The promotion and efficiency of the armed forces and defence of the realm".
So really the NRA has no purpose relevant to civilian legal gun owners and shooters, its trading arm does contribute on a local level, Surrey, by providing a range complex for civilian shooters. However the NRA cannot operate beyond there unless they can clearly demonstrate that it is contributing to its charitable aims which supporting civilian shooting has been deemed by the charity commissioners not to do. So much for the "National" rifle association then, no wonder they have been unwilling to go beyond Bisley as they knew that activity would be in breach of the their charitable status. Disingenuous at best.
Come on Bambi get some
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Whatever your thoughts on Callum (and yes I find him annoying too...) at least he is putting this information out there. Ignore his personal inputs and opinions and just watch it for the facts that he presents.
As for the NRA it seems they have been allowed to write their own rules for too long under the guise of being a charity. And this includes using the charities funds to fight legal battles on behalf of the NSC which is not a charity! By all rights this should be beyond illegal but I'm sure they have a finance guy somewhere with a legal loophole to make it all ok....
Either way I guess we just have to be hopeful that BSG are successful in their case against the NSC and get to hold onto Bisley and continue to run it as they are!
Pippin89 wrote:
Either way I guess we just have to be hopeful that BSG are successful in their case against the NSC and get to hold onto Bisley and continue to run it as they are!
Utilise the Charity Commission to undermine then remove charity status, MoD o the basis of that take back the land, no more NRA or NSC...
Be careful what we wish for, gentlemen.
In 1978 I was told by my grand dad that the secret to rifle accuracy is, a quality bullet, fired down a quality barrel..... How has that changed?
Guns dont kill people. Dads with pretty Daughters do...!
While I do not wish to see the "N"RA and Bisley/NSC disappear, what ever the consequences of this sorry mess will be, 'twill be solely the responsibility of the NRA and its manifest and profound failings not that of legal gun owners and shooters.
The "N"RA and Anfield gun club seem to have a lot in common when it comes to being cavalier with the law and consequently its members.
Come on Bambi get some
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Some years ago---I forget how many--- there was an attempt to remove the Charitable Status of the NRA because civilian target shooting did nothing for the defence of the realm. The successful defence tendered was based on the then current military sniper rifle from Accuracy International which had been developed by Malcolm Cooper----an Olympic gold winner in target shooting. The Charities Comkission will be remembering their defeat.
Fred
I suspect the the MoD's current at best indifference if not down right antagonism to civilian legal gun owners and shooters via landmarc wouldn't help any future case. Seems to me the charity commissioners are just doing their job especially as it seems the NRA's toploftical attitude to their charitable conditions, members, tennants and staff has made all this to come to pass. Most gun clubs lost their charitable status years ago.
Come on Bambi get some
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