Shooting in Cumbria

[David BASC]

Dear all,

 

You will no doubt hear of this over the coming hours.

 

The events unfolding in Cumbria are tragic and shocking and as representatives of Britain’s lawful gun owners BASC would like to make clear its deeply felt sorrow at these events which will have long-lasting repercussions within the affected families and communities.

 

This is still a live police operation. The police must be given time to fully investigate the circumstances which have led up to today and we will be in touch with them and other relevant agencies to offer any help and assistance we can.

 

Britain’s firearms licensing system is amongst the toughest in the world and includes numerous safety and medical checks and balances. The UK has a well-worked approach to draw all possible lessons from any such event and we will co-operate fully where our expertise is appropriate.

 

Importantly, we must all work to ensure that this one event does not reflect on shooters.

 

The Head of Firearms at BASC is already in London as I type, other members of staff are being called back from holiday (its half term up here) to take other media interviews, political teams are on the case, and so on - a full and co-ordinated response as you would, i hope, expect.

 

We are also doing all we can to alert and keep in touch with the other organisations.

 

David

[al4x]

Any news whether he was a member David or the gun was legal?

[Christopher Graffius]

Any news whether he was a member David or the gun was legal?

 

He has never been a member of BASC.

[Wesman]

Keep up the good work David. I think legal gun owners need a strong presence to back us up at this moment in time. I was too young during the aftermath of dunblane to remember what went on but we can't let even more restrictions be imposed on us through no fault of our own.

[KFC]

Police have just announced that they've found his body in woods and removed a shotgun from the scene

[wymberley]

Out of respect for other members' feelings which I share, I am posting here instead of the thread at Off Topic.

Compared to the expense lavished on any county constabulary, by comparison one could expect BASC to be a bunch of amateurs. However, within precisely 36 minutes of being asked, BASC was able to confirm that Bird had never been a member of BASC. Before making the delayed statement at about 5.30pm, you can bet your bottom dollar that the spokeman had been briefed by the Force's PR and legal teams. He was unable to answer the straight-forward question whether or not the guns were licensed (what difference would it have made one way or the other?). Now, this is either because the firearms licensing department is a complete and utter shambles or ........... and it is the 'or' that is already starting to concern me.

Cheers

PS (edit), Sorry, for 'was unable to', read, 'would not' which more accurately defines what I wanted to say.

Edited June 2, 2010 by wymberley

[Zapp]

I suspect that an absolute news blackout has been imposed on the Police on any details about the killer which were not already out there.

 

ZB

[Christopher Graffius]

This is to let you know that the team in the new BASC communications centre went into action as soon as we heard the news. A press release expressing sympathy and warning against kneejerk reactions was issued to all the press within half an hour. We've also circulated the press with a journalist's guide to shooting and firearms law. BASC spokesmen have done interviews across the press, particularly BBC TV, ITN and Channel 4. We will be doing the BBC breakfast programme tomorrow which is coming from Whitehaven and the Today programme on Radio 4. We have briefed a series of journalists for the newspapers. We are booking interviews as far ahead as Sunday and more requests are coming in as I write. We have also touched base with key police and political contacts.

 

We all know that tragedies such as this are a major motor for restrictive gun law. The story will develop very fast. At present, until we know about his motivation - and Cumbria police are implying a long investigation - we will be stressing the need to avoid a kneejerk response. The next major point will be the Home Secretary's statement tomorrow.

 

We'll try and keep members of pigeon watch updated as we go.

 

Christopher

[Blunderbuss]

This is to let you know that the team in the new BASC communications centre went into action as soon as we heard the news. A press release expressing sympathy and warning against kneejerk reactions was issued to all the press within half an hour. We've also circulated the press with a journalist's guide to shooting and firearms law. BASC spokesmen have done interviews across the press, particularly BBC TV, ITN and Channel 4. We will be doing the BBC breakfast programme tomorrow which is coming from Whitehaven and the Today programme on Radio 4. We have briefed a series of journalists for the newspapers. We are booking interviews as far ahead as Sunday and more requests are coming in as I write. We have also touched base with key police and political contacts.

 

We all know that tragedies such as this are a major motor for restrictive gun law. The story will develop very fast. At present, until we know about his motivation - and Cumbria police are implying a long investigation - we will be stressing the need to avoid a kneejerk response. The next major point will be the Home Secretary's statement tomorrow.

 

We'll try and keep members of pigeon watch updated as we go.

 

Christopher

 

Christopher, this is going to be a testing time for you and your staff. I for one am glad to have BASC fighting our corner. Thanks for taking the time to keep us informed.

[Mungler]

What he said.

 

Glad I pay my BASC subs.

[Guest topshot_2k]

What he said.

 

Glad I pay my BASC subs.

 

[Whitebridges]

This is to let you know that the team in the new BASC communications centre went into action as soon as we heard the news. A press release expressing sympathy and warning against kneejerk reactions was issued to all the press within half an hour. We've also circulated the press with a journalist's guide to shooting and firearms law. BASC spokesmen have done interviews across the press, particularly BBC TV, ITN and Channel 4. We will be doing the BBC breakfast programme tomorrow which is coming from Whitehaven and the Today programme on Radio 4. We have briefed a series of journalists for the newspapers. We are booking interviews as far ahead as Sunday and more requests are coming in as I write. We have also touched base with key police and political contacts.

 

We all know that tragedies such as this are a major motor for restrictive gun law. The story will develop very fast. At present, until we know about his motivation - and Cumbria police are implying a long investigation - we will be stressing the need to avoid a kneejerk response. The next major point will be the Home Secretary's statement tomorrow.

 

We'll try and keep members of pigeon watch updated as we go.

 

Christopher

 

Good work Christopher, keep it up.

[the running man]

I just seen the cops want to know where he got the guns? This I can only assume means he's un-licensed? Surely they can tell us by now,they must know wheather he's a cert holder.

[Boromir]

This has firmly put my backing to BASC membership. I want somebody to back me and my fellow shooters out there.

[gsm1968]

What he said.

 

Glad I pay my BASC subs.

 

 

Me too, as per another thread.."£20 insurance and £44 ASSURANCE!!

[Alanl50]

What he said.

 

Glad I pay my BASC subs.

Here Here

Money well spent

Alan

[reddan]

What he said.

 

Glad I pay my BASC subs.

 

 

Me to. Thanks for the update guys.

[Vince Green]

The reporting so far has all been shotgun based but there was a credible witness interviewed on the TV tonight who described a man "standing by a Citroen Picasso taxi with a massive sniper rifle with a massive scope on it"

 

He seemed fairly knowledgable, I picked up that he said "scope" which means he must be fairly clued up.

 

After the Dunblane shooting the sky nearly fell on our heads banning handguns obviously but also expanding ammunition and all mail order sales of guns and ammunition. Shops went bust, clubs went bust. Shooting was subjected to endless vilification on the TV and in the press. You couldn't turn the TV on or open a paper without getting bombarded with the most ridiculous stuff but a lot of it stuck.

 

Many of the antis at the time were clammering for a lot more than that. Many were calling for a total ban on all guns. Those same people will now be saying if they had been given what they wanted then this would never have happened.

 

For the antis, the animal rights activists and general "concerned politicians" who just want to get their face on the TV or their names in the paper this is an opportunity too good to miss. They will show no respect for the dead or their families.

 

If he was legally in posession of the gun(s) and lets face facts, he probably was, then we will all be punished for what happened today.

 

In the mean time lets spare a thought for those who lost loved ones and those still in hospital. Its a terrible thing to happen espescially to such a tight knit community. I can't imagine what they must be going through.

[JonD]

The reporting so far has all been shotgun based but there was a credible witness interviewed on the TV tonight who described a man "standing by a Citroen Picasso taxi with a massive sniper rifle with a massive scope on it"

 

He seemed fairly knowledgable, I picked up that he said "scope" which means he must be fairly clued up.

 

After the Dunblane shooting the sky nearly fell on our heads banning handguns obviously but also expanding ammunition and all mail order sales of guns and ammunition. Shops went bust, clubs went bust. Shooting was subjected to endless vilification on the TV and in the press. You couldn't turn the TV on or open a paper without getting bombarded with the most ridiculous stuff but a lot of it stuck.

 

Many of the antis at the time were clammering for a lot more than that. Many were calling for a total ban on all guns. Those same people will now be saying if they had been given what they wanted then this would never have happened.

 

For the antis, the animal rights activists and general "concerned politicians" who just want to get their face on the TV or their names in the paper this is an opportunity too good to miss. They will show no respect for the dead or their families.

 

If he was legally in posession of the gun(s) and lets face facts, he probably was, then we will all be punished for what happened today.

 

In the mean time lets spare a thought for those who lost loved ones and those still in hospital. Its a terrible thing to happen espescially to such a tight knit community. I can't imagine what they must be going through.

 

Certainly the most important thing to remember today is that many people have lost family members and friends and my thoughts are with them and anyone else affected by this tragedy.

 

It's really not the time or the place to discuss until the facts are known, however i would guess if the true figures were available more people would be killed by illegally held guns in a month than in several decades by licenesed holders.

 

I'm proud to be a member of BASC and appreciate the representation they provide, the anti's will be out to ban everthing gun related. I'm glad we have BASC to put across a reasoned logical arguement.

 

At the end of the day the numbers need to be out there, the number of SGC\FAC's issued and the percentage 1 person represents.

 

I just hope the CPSA develop a pair of balls and also provide representation.

 

Thanks to David and Christopher for communicating what they are doing.

 

Jon.

[reddan]

I just hope the CPSA develop a pair of balls and also provide representation.

Jon.

 

Good post JonD sadly I wouldn't hold your breath. I don't think I have ever heard a statement from CPSA.

 

Dan

[RC45]

Thanks to the people at BASC. Where are the NSRA, NRA and the rest of the groups that take our subs???

[Wesman]

More than 1% of this country are SGC and FAC holders. We pump so much money into the economy and manage lots of land, but sod all that; the vast majority of us are decent people. I've met some top blokes whilst shooting. They can't shut us down just like that. Stay confident lads.

[b682]

A very upsetting day, the pain in cumbria must be beyound understanding.

 

Shooting will again be under the media spot light. But in other countries such tragic events are far more frequent then the UK so me must be doing something wright one would hope, but it has happened again. So how can one ever hope to stop such an event? banning all guns would not solve the problem.

 

The people of Cumbria must be asking why? and how?

 

A very sad day.

[Wesman]

And come on CA, get out there and give us some positive PR. BASC are doing a brilliant job

[lasbrisas]

A criminal psychologist was interviewed and made a good point that there has been a decade between these incidents and that these kind of incidents happen far more frequently in countries like Finland and the USA. I have only recently become interested in this sport, I hope it's not too short lived for me.