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

Article from my local rag:
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/1 ... ous_risk_/

Nice points from Countryside Alliance, usual un-informed comments from local politician (Remember Hungerford!!! - yes, we do, it's where the police issued an FAC against all the rules resulting in a lunatic having his own guns).

And, as to be expected, a member of a local rifle club calling for stricter gun control

"....some argue the current licensing conditions are not as strict as they could be.

Terry Lowman of Monmouth Rifle Club - which counts among its membership two members of the Great Britain gallery rifle shooting team - said he would like to see a driving test-style testing system before licenses were granted.

“The UK has probably the strictest gun controls in the world,” he said. “Its very, very well run.

“But with the licensing system itself I would prefer to see something like a driving licence with a course of lessons followed by an exam.

“That would make it a little more safe.” "

Sorry Terry but f*&k off.

.... and just how many people who have taken driving lessons, pass their test and are granted a licence then go on to drive like idiots

Completely agree. I think said person should learn the difference between "licence" and "certificate". Using the idea of courses and exams a la driving is not a very good point for arguments. How many people break the laws (e.g. speeding, dangerous driving) then compare that back to shooters. Although shooters don't have courses or exams it seems as though the shooting population are much safer than drivers so it seems.

Since all rifle clubs have some form of probationary period that teach firearm safety and discipline I cannot understand why more red tape should be put in place.

Without hearing the whole interview verbatim I wouldn't be so quick to throw Mr Lowman to the wolves, we all know how good journalism of this type is. He could've just suggested a nationally accepted standard for basic firearms handling in clubs and that got spun into a 'driving license application' system.

Seems standard fare from the politician, but considering he used to cover Hungerford, its hardly surprising he's not a fan.

Regarding training for shooters relating to safety that should be happening already as in is incumbent upon clubs to insure that new members are safe with firearms and know how to handle and use them along with their wider responsibilities towards shooting safety so a system is in place. Full membership of a HO club is dependant about that, if there is a n issue about shooters safety then that should be taken up with the club.

Secondly why is this an issue, I see no evidence of the ranges a shoot at dangerous unsafe practices and on the odd occasion I have witnessed it it has been dealt with promptly and well, except for one notable NRA Instructors course I attended. So I see no need for what is being proposed.

Thirdly a national scheme would never work because we have no national bodies fit for the task, the NRA has one for Bisley which in many parts is irrelevant for the rest of the country and cumbersome to apply and alter. The last thing we want is something like those bloody BDS courses which are outrageous and a bane on decent stalkers. All that sitting that exam means is that at best you sat the exam, not that you are fit for the hill and the responsibility of taking live quarry but a certain vested interest group no doubt do very well out of it.

As soon as you say to the media that something needs to be done the scumbag journalists will take that as the whole edifice of shooting being a threat to all humanity. If the club official did say that about "national" training to the media then he has done us all a disservice.

Plenty of countries around the world impose similar restrictions. All of them a bit bloody draconian.

As soon as you say to the media that something needs to be done the scumbag journalists will take that as the whole edifice of shooting being a threat to all humanity. If the club official did say that about "national" training to the media then he has done us all a disservice.

Rule #1 when speaking to journalists - shut up and don't venture any opinion.

Good analogy with driving licences, what we have is ENOUGH if not too much.

Using his logic - all road fatalities can now be avoided if drivers are also now made to take a series of lessons followed by an exam.

Er, hang on....

BS artists will BS = either a minor club official out of touch with reality & hankering back to the happy days of CCF shoots at school with .22 Martini's, 20 minutes for 10 rounds, or a journo type filling in the missing blanks to pad out the story.

UNLESS his comments (in red):

“The UK has probably the strictest gun controls in the world,” he said. “Its very, very well run.

“But with the licensing system itself I would prefer to see something like a driving licence with a course of lessons followed by an exam.

...relate to the FEO system?

The Home Office Inspectorate of Constabulary reported decades back that the whole thing should be taken out of the hands of the Police.
Never happened...

“The very fact that a person seeks to obtain a whole range of firearms should be a cause for concern,” he said. “What sort of person needs an arsenal?"

What sort of idiotic statement is this? Just makes depressing reading.

Pinguino wrote:“The very fact that a person seeks to obtain a whole range of firearms should be a cause for concern,” he said. “What sort of person needs an arsenal?"

Some who enjoys owning, collecting, appreciating and using fine firearms.

Does he mean that vexillophiles, philatelists, tegestologists and the like are cause for concern too?