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

Today the Government announced the latest in it's Firearms Safety Consultations.

Relating to

• High muzzle energy rifles
  Air weapons
  Miniature rifle ranges
  Components of ammunition

Read about it and respond accordingly.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... rms-safety

Am I the only one who can't narrow down what ammo components they're actually talking about? Or are they just wanting to create an offence of the INTENTION to manufacture complete ammo without a certificate?? If so, whats the point, as they say themselves the purchase/sale of primers is already an offence without a certificate.

Considering the extensive 'mission creep' in former bans and consultations on said bans I'm very wary that they may be trying/would inadvertently make it an offence for a non-certificate holder to possess component parts, or in the case of shotgun cartridges, (those which aren't already classed as S1 ammo), complete rounds, as this would cripple new entrants into the clay pigeon and practical shotgun sports.

Further, 'intent' offences are often difficult to prove in court so would it even be used by the police?

I wonder how much they've spent on "consultants"?
It's bad enough, but maybe understandable, having to wave your cert to buy primers and powder, but cases and bullets?? And then presumably having to lock them away???

Pete

Blackstuff wrote:Am I the only one who can't narrow down what ammo components they're actually talking about? Or are they just wanting to create an offence of the INTENTION to manufacture complete ammo without a certificate?? If so, whats the point, as they say themselves the purchase/sale of primers is already an offence without a certificate.

Considering the extensive 'mission creep' in former bans and consultations on said bans I'm very wary that they may be trying/would inadvertently make it an offence for a non-certificate holder to possess component parts, or in the case of shotgun cartridges, (those which aren't already classed as S1 ammo), complete rounds, as this would cripple new entrants into the clay pigeon and practical shotgun sports.

Further, 'intent' offences are often difficult to prove in court so would it even be used by the police?

No, you pretty much nailed my response to the consultation.

If key component parts are already illegal to own without good reason, then what possible effect could making the rest illegal to own without good reason. Surely if there's a case of intent, it doesn't matter if all of the parts are restricted or just some. intent is intent.

Further, if it's projectiles, it does nothing to stop criminals when you can melt lead over a saucepan and make moulds fairly easily from most materials.

All this does is put further red tape in the way of law abiding shooters.

What proof do they have that legal components of firearms are sourced for illegal firearms, over say importing the ammunition in with the illegal firearms that criminals tend to be using in the first place?

On further reading of the 'options' for action:

Option 1 - Do nothing
Option 2 – To make it an offence to possess component parts of ammunition with intent to manufacture unauthorised quantities of complete rounds of ammunition.

Reading between the lines of Option 2, considering they're supposedly targeting unlawful persons/non-certificate holders, why is there a reference to "unauthorised quantities", as surely a single complete round of ammunition is an unauthorised amount to a criminal??

This is starting to smell like a classic back-door-ban and them actual be trying to limit the amount of component parts certificate holders can possess. i.e. If you're currently authorised to hold 500 rounds of .308 say, you'd only be permitted to have 500 primers, cases etc in your possession at any one time?

Don't know if i'm off into conspiracy/strawman territory here but this doesn't read well to me!

Done!

Blackstuff wrote:

This is starting to smell like a classic back-door-ban and them actual be trying to limit the amount of component parts certificate holders can possess. i.e. If you're currently authorised to hold 500 rounds of .308 say, you'd only be permitted to have 500 primers, cases etc in your possession at any one time?

Don't know if i'm off into conspiracy/strawman territory here but this doesn't read well to me!

That's where I ended up too, to be honest.

So, it's an open consultation.............cue our national shooting organisations.............

Pete

Blackstuff wrote: This is starting to smell like a classic back-door-ban and them actual be trying to limit the amount of component parts certificate holders can possess. i.e. If you're currently authorised to hold 500 rounds of .308 say, you'd only be permitted to have 500 primers, cases etc in your possession at any one time?

I have to agree, that is my gut feeling on this as well.

Pete wrote:So, it's an open consultation.............cue our national shooting organisations.............

Pete

working on it.