The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I disagree Del. The reason you have to shoot abroad is because the hobby was a small niche thing hidden away from the general public so nobody cared when the government took your pistols from you. I'm not arguing rights and wrongs I'm talking strategy. If you want to halt the restriction ratchet or even reverse it you need to make shooting less weird. Do you believe angry letters to your MP will achieve that? Have they worked before?

Get a hundred thousand more people to regularly shoot .22s on a weekend and suddenly lots of people know a shooter or have tried it themselves. That way they know we're not dangerous psychos and are not scared of the mere idea of guns. Then when a big petition gets raised to make .22 target pistols legal again it's seen as far less crazy suggestion.

If you want to shoot pistols in the UK you need to move the Overton Window of public discourse to make these ideas acceptable again. Do you disagree that at the moment they aren't? Personally I don't have a problem with either MARS guns or 50 cals I just think that with limited resources you need to pick your battles. Shooting in the UK needs a national body with some vision and a strategy more than it needs a 'never one inch backwards' attitude.

All in my opinion of course but I'm new so what do I know. :)



Sent from my boing using "An application"

Alberto wrote:Personally I don't have a problem with either MARS guns or 50 cals I just think that with limited resources you need to pick your battles. Shooting in the UK needs a national body with some vision and a strategy more than it needs a 'never one inch backwards' attitude.

All in my opinion of course but I'm new so what do I know. :)

I read that as, as I'm sure others will, as 'I don't have an interest in MARS or .50 calibre - so it's OK if they go.'

We've been compliant in the last two bans - if we don't want to see another section of our sport chipped away we REALLY DO need to adopt a not one more inch attitude. I've no interest in MARS or .50 calibre rifles but I'll step up and do my bit because eventually they'll want to mop up the last little vestiges that I have a stake in.

Dark Skies wrote:

Alberto wrote:Personally I don't have a problem with either MARS guns or 50 cals I just think that with limited resources you need to pick your battles. Shooting in the UK needs a national body with some vision and a strategy more than it needs a 'never one inch backwards' attitude.

All in my opinion of course but I'm new so what do I know. :)

I read that as, as I'm sure others will, as 'I don't have an interest in MARS or .50 calibre - so it's OK if they go.'

We've been compliant in the last two bans - if we don't want to see another section of our sport chipped away we REALLY DO need to adopt a not one more inch attitude. I've no interest in MARS or .50 calibre rifles but I'll step up and do my bit because eventually they'll want to mop up the last little vestiges that I have a stake in.

Damn right.

how can the consersative government justfiy any more bans and confication at the moment when there hasnt been a mass shooting ? or terrorist attack with guns which is how normally a ban happen in the uk
nor do i buy "the police want it," -the police do not make the law (yet) and if it is passed because "the police want it " then may should just let the police chiefs etc have seats in parliment and decide policy on crime etc since they are the experts

Alberto wrote:I disagree Del. The reason you have to shoot abroad is because the hobby was a small niche thing hidden away from the general public so nobody cared when the government took your pistols from you. I'm not arguing rights and wrongs I'm talking strategy. If you want to halt the restriction ratchet or even reverse it you need to make shooting less weird. Do you believe angry letters to your MP will achieve that? Have they worked before?

Get a hundred thousand more people to regularly shoot .22s on a weekend and suddenly lots of people know a shooter or have tried it themselves. That way they know we're not dangerous psychos and are not scared of the mere idea of guns. Then when a big petition gets raised to make .22 target pistols legal again it's seen as far less crazy suggestion.

If you want to shoot pistols in the UK you need to move the Overton Window of public discourse to make these ideas acceptable again. Do you disagree that at the moment they aren't? Personally I don't have a problem with either MARS guns or 50 cals I just think that with limited resources you need to pick your battles. Shooting in the UK needs a national body with some vision and a strategy more than it needs a 'never one inch backwards' attitude.

All in my opinion of course but I'm new so what do I know. :)



Sent from my boing using "An application"

As you say you are new
You fail to see that after Mars and 50 cal what next ?

joe wrote:how can the consersative government justfiy any more bans and confication at the moment when there hasnt been a mass shooting ? or terrorist attack with guns which is how normally a ban happen in the uk
nor do i buy "the police want it," -the police do not make the law (yet) and if it is passed because "the police want it " then may should just let the police chiefs etc have seats in parliment and decide policy on crime etc since they are the experts

You'd think the Conservatives would have so much more to contend with during these 'interesting' times.
Also ... disregard the constabulary!

If you want to shoot pistols in the UK you need to move the Overton Window of public discourse to make these ideas acceptable again. Do you disagree that at the moment they aren't? Personally I don't have a problem with either MARS guns or 50 cals I just think that with limited resources you need to pick your battles. Shooting in the UK needs a national body with some vision and a strategy more than it needs a 'never one inch backwards' attitude.

No you need to fight every attempt to tighten gun laws, or they will just continue to do what they are doing chip away at gun ownership to get to their ultimate aim no guns for civilians.

Dellboy wrote: As you say you are new
You fail to see that after Mars and 50 cal what next ?

I fully agree.

"First they came for the communists..."

Biggest problem I see right now is that the consultation is so vaguely worded that how are we supposed to fight back?

Airbrush wrote:

Dark Skies wrote:

Alberto wrote:Personally I don't have a problem with either MARS guns or 50 cals I just think that with limited resources you need to pick your battles. Shooting in the UK needs a national body with some vision and a strategy more than it needs a 'never one inch backwards' attitude.

All in my opinion of course but I'm new so what do I know. :)

I read that as, as I'm sure others will, as 'I don't have an interest in MARS or .50 calibre - so it's OK if they go.'

We've been compliant in the last two bans - if we don't want to see another section of our sport chipped away we REALLY DO need to adopt a not one more inch attitude. I've no interest in MARS or .50 calibre rifles but I'll step up and do my bit because eventually they'll want to mop up the last little vestiges that I have a stake in.

Damn right.

Rather than a "not one more inch" attitude, I'd stick to evidence based argument.

If there is evidence of a problem - we need to be prepared to react proportionately. If we found that target rifles were being acquired / converted / used for criminal acts etc. then new laws may be appropriate.

However, in this case, there appears to be absolutely no reason to ban .50 cal rifles over here. No one is at more risk from that specific calibre, so whether the ban would affect 1 lawful shooter or 1 million, we should fight it.

What we don't want, is to come across like the polarised "from my cold dead hands" type of gun owner. We're reasonable people, so we need to show we listen to reason (and only oppose the unreasonable).