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

To be fair I'm only a target shooter so I don't know what applies to other disciplines.

christel wrote:

Rockhopper wrote:This document

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firearms

which i found as i was typing my response above was what made me change my mind!

When I first got my licence I read it as meaning the shooter needed insurance so I joined the NRA. (I'm now going to join the NSRA instead as thats more relevant to how I shoot). I'll continue with membership of one or the other as i think having my own insurance is a good idea.

It only mentions clubs/ranges. So...does that mean by law a shooter does not need insurance.

I find that insane. We need by law insurance to drive a car.

but you are only using the rifle at the range, where there is insurance. your car only needs insurance to be on the road, if it was being towed or on a recovery vehicle it wouldnt need to be insured.

Let's see what it says:

1) "The firearms and ammunition shall be used for target shooting
2), and only whilst a member of (club),
3) on ranges suitable for the safe use of that class of firearm
4) and with adequate financial arrangements in place to meet any injury or damage claim"

If you break it down it does not specify the club (or range) must have insurance it simply says "with adequate financial arrangements in place to meet any injury or damage claim" so you pays your money etc etc.. better safe than sorry, get your own cover - it makes sense in todays world of compo and litgation.

Clearly if the club doesn't have cover in case you shoot someone then the onus is on YOU.... by extension then if you ARE unfortunate to have an accident (and shoot someone) then you could find yourself out on a limb if the club doesn't cover you and you have no cover of your own because according to the above you would have breached the terms of your ticket.

Agreed it IS ambiguous but thats the law for you as it could imply the RANGE must have "insurance" - "self insurance" could also cover it as it doesn't say insurance, it says "financial arrangement".

The document I linked to says:

"Target-shooters
The revised standard conditions are set out in Annex B. They place the onus on individual shooters to satisfy themselves that the range they intend to use is safe for the use of their particular class of firearm, and that adequate insurance or other financial cover is in place for the use of that range. The easiest way of determining this will be to see the same documents mentioned in paragraph 13, which might well be displayed at the range."

Thats clearly expecting the range to have cover in place.

But as you rightly say, that cover wouldn't extend to indemnifying you if you shot someone else.