Home Office Firearms Consultation

[Christel]

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

Always worth filling these surveys in

[markS]

BASC have provided some suggestions on responding: https://basc.org.uk/firearms-safety-consultation/

[Blackstuff]

Looks like BASC have completely missed the potential for mission creep on 14 and 15 (the proposed handloading restriction), not even a mention of handloaders in the example list of people that should be exempt?!

I'm not a member any more so it would be helpful if anyone who is can pull them up on it. I'm still going to email them though.

[The Gun Pimp]

It says - To what extent do you consider that the possession of component parts of ammunition with intent to manufacture unauthorised quantities of complete rounds of ammunition should be made an offence?

That's - with intent to manufacture UNAUTHORISED

Surely we - as FAC holders are AUTHORISED to manufacture ammunition? I read it as referring to a non-FAC holder.

[Ovenpaa]

I agree Vince.

[Blackstuff]

It says - To what extent do you consider that the possession of component parts of ammunition with intent to manufacture unauthorised quantities of complete rounds of ammunition should be made an offence?

That's - with intent to manufacture UNAUTHORISED

Surely we - as FAC holders are AUTHORISED to manufacture ammunition? I read it as referring to a non-FAC holder.

Just playing Devils advocate but why mention 'unauthorised quantities' when criminals/non-cert holders can't manufacture ANY authorised amount?

Surely the offence should be something like 'Possession of component parts of ammunition with intent to manufacture complete rounds of ammunition by an unauthorised person' leaves no doubt/wiggle room for 'mission creep'?

[dromia]

Is not manufacturing unauthorised quantities of ammunition already an offence therefore intent is part of that?

Fortunately I am no lawyer and as the law is already an ass I could well be wrong.

[dromia]

I don't know how difficult it is to prove "intent" but it would be daft to make possession of parts an offence when the crux is that it is an offence to actually assemble those parts into live ammunition if not already authorised.

So if it was a illegal to possess cases say, then an FAC holder who once had a certain calibre on his FAC and made ammunition for it and misplaced a case for that calibre when he got rid of the firearm for that calibre and no longer had authorisation then having that case would make him a criminal.

It would also effect inert ammunition collections as most of them are assembled from parts sans live primer and powder.

[The Gun Pimp]

I suppose if the police suspect someone (without an FAC) is making ammo for criminals and they search his premises and find the components - but no assembled ammo - they can prosecute - if this becomes law.

[dromia]

No doubt but that is without the wider context of legal gun and ammunition ownership and collateral effect 'twould have on the law abiding firearms owner and collector.