HASC Report

[MartynGT4]

Hi,

 

The HASC report has just been published and at first glance it looks ok. Great to see the silly recommendations from the anti's about firearms and ammunition being stored in central locations was treated with common sense. Also good to see they've listened to suggestions that the legislation needs simplification. One thing that did stand out to me was a suggestion that the onus should be on the applicant to prove a need for section 1 shotguns. Doesn't say each shotgun or shotguns in general though.. hopefully common sense will prevail!

 

HASC Report

 

Cheers

[poontang]

Looks like they're going for a rise in cost for certificates/licenses, and also looking at asking your partner or recent ex partner about suitability to own.

 

That could be a tricky one if you've had a messy break up :o

[Scully]

There's a lot of 'opinions' and 'estimates' involved,but I can't say I'm surprised.

What I find the most disappointing is that out of a total of 164,800 firearms owners in England,Scotland and Wales,less than a 1000 bothered to submit letters!Shame on you,whoever you are.Pathetic.

[David BASC]

British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has welcomed many of the recommendations on the UK’s firearms laws made today by the Home Affairs Select Committee.

 

Bill Harriman, BASC director of firearms has said: “The committee’s report contains several recommendations which we think will help to secure the dual purposes of the UK’s firearms laws: to protect public safety and to allow the continued lawful use of firearms. BASC thanks the more than 900 people and organisations from the shooting world who submitted evidence to the enquiry. The volume of responses indicates the seriousness with which the shooting community views these deliberations.”

 

In particular BASC welcomes the rejection of tagging every firearms certificate holder’s medical records, the dismissal of proposals to require guns and ammunition to be kept outside the home and the rejection of a reduction in the license term from five years to two. BASC welcomes the proposal to update police guidance on the licensing system and to smooth out the peaks and troughs in the flow of grant and renewal applications. BASC also welcomes the rejection of licensing for low-powered airguns and the emphasis on enforcement of existing law to deal with any problems.

 

However, this is not the end of the road in terms of the political battle to secure effective law which serves both public safety and firearms users. The report highlights several areas for future debate. BASC does not agree with recommendations to impose minimum age limits on certificate applicants, in the knowledge that the current laws and police powers are robust and allow people to be introduced to the sport with increasing degrees of responsibility until they can shoot unsupervised.

 

BASC firmly rejects the recommendation to apply the current complicated section one firearms licensing system onto shotguns and to increase licence fees to cover costs without firm and reliable evidence of what those costs actually are. BASC will continue to work with the Government and the police on the issues raised by the report.

 

David