Repealing the Firearms (Amendment) No.2 Act

[Dougan]

The questions I pose are very mild and obvious ones the likes of which my MP, neighbor or work colleague, all of which are very sensible people (and non-shooters), would simply pose to me if I suggested to them the law should be changed to allow me to own pistols again.

If sensible shooters don't know how to handle these questions from within their own communities above and beyond labeling such people 'antis' then we are probably not going to get much past first base in this arena. If you seriously think I'm 'anti' because I ask or post a few (seemingly) politically incorrect opinions I can't help that.

To progress in any of this the shooting community has to be able to address these issues. That have to present themselves sensibly, consistently and rationally. And they have to respect the fact that the vast majority of people in this country don't particularly like or understand guns and why people want to own them.

I do see where you're coming from; and don't think you deserved the level of criticism you've had for making these points.

My best and oldest friends know that I not only love competitive shooting but also love guns generally as well - Where as at work there is only a few people know I own guns (my ex manager was a referee on my last renewal), and I only ever refer to shooting from a sports perspective...If I were to tell some colleagues that just smelling the inside of my cabinet puts a smile on my face, they may not understand, and think me a bit odd...

Personally, I think that we should use the sports based (Olympics etc.) arguments to get .22 pistols back, which are almost impossible to argue against - Then use the 'trickle' effect to our own gain for once.....i.e. once .22s have been back for a few years without issue, then push for 'police pistol' etc...

[Dougan]

How do you convince people that .22 rifles and shotguns should be allowed in civilian hands.

For a start; NOT talking on a shooting forum about shooting criminals (no matter how vile they may be) in the stomach with a .22 to give them a slow death would be wise...

[Christel]

How do you convince people that .22 rifles and shotguns should be allowed in civilian hands.

For a start; NOT talking on a shooting forum about shooting criminals (no matter how vile they may be) in the stomach with a .22 to give them a slow death would be wise...

Don't agree, taken out of context as well.

[Dougan]

Why out of context, if we're talking about how shooters are perceived by the public?

You were referring to the scum that murdered Rigby, and while I fully understood your anger at them (and didn't think you meant it either), my first thought was that it was a silly thing to say, especially on a shooting forum.

[Christel]

Why out of context, if we're talking about how shooters are perceived by the public?

You were referring to the scum that murdered Rigby, and while I fully understood your anger at them (and didn't think you meant it either), my first thought was that it was a silly thing to say, especially on a shooting forum.

Why is it silly, out of context because we were talking about a made up scenario, how many people out there in the pubs/workspace/twitter/busstop are saying similar things without being shooters because they believe passionately about something? Why silly, I tell you what I think is silly, the way the public perceives us, shooters. No matter what we do, say, we are doomed. We are the scum. That is unfortunately where we, the shooters, have ended up because nobody stands up for us. The public has a certain perception of us and we can't change that, that train has long since left the station.

[IainWR]

Gaz

If you are going to do this, and having just skim-read the relevant laws (though I was extremely familiar at the time with the 97 No1 Act) I think that you want a Legislative Reform Order that:

Revokes S5(1)aba Firearms Act 1968
Amends the word "rifle" in S15(1) Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 to "firearm"
Deletes the final sub-section of S15 F(A)A 1988

The above would allow possession of revolvers in all calibres and .22 self-loading pistols, and their use within the Home Office Approval scheme (and as a useful bonus would include S1 shotguns in HOA)

and ideally an Order which also revokes S5(1)ab Firearms Act 1968

which would allow self-loaders in other calibres (including btw, rifles).

That would have to be sold as a concept to the Home Secretary (who would be making the Order), and I think it would run head-on into the view expressed by Neil, which is a highly relevant point and not an easy argument to counter.

[Alpha1]

[quoteWhy is it silly, out of context because we were talking about a made up scenario, how many people out there in the pubs/workspace/twitter/busstop are saying similar things without being shooters because they believe passionately about something? Why silly, I tell you what I think is silly, the way the public perceives us, shooters. No matter what we do, say, we are doomed. We are the scum. That is unfortunately where we, the shooters, have ended up because nobody stands up for us. The public has a certain perception of us and we can't change that, that train has long since left the station.
][/quote]

Unfortunately so has the hand gun train there is no way on Gods earth we are ever going to get hand guns legalised in any way shape or form in this Country. This old chestnut has been discussed over and over again for more years than I care to remember. If they reintroduced hand guns tomorrow I would not rush out and buy one have you ever tried shooting a hand gun off hand accurately at a .22 pistol card at my age its not worth the bother. I will just enjoy playing with what I have got thank you.

[nickb834]

Unfortunately so has the hand gun train there is no way on Gods earth we are ever going to get hand guns legalised in any way shape or form in this Country. This old chestnut has been discussed over and over again for more years than I care to remember. If they reintroduced hand guns tomorrow I would not rush out and buy one have you ever tried shooting a hand gun off hand accurately at a .22 pistol card at my age its not worth the bother. I will just enjoy playing with what I have got thank you.

That's no reason not to try - I'm only 35 so I'd like to think I've got at least another 30 years left, and I'd like to shoot pistols again - though my pistol experience is limited to Browning HiPower Mk3's (Ex-Army) so I've a lot to learn. You may not fancy it, but it doesn't hurt to support those that do does it?

[Dougan]

Why out of context, if we're talking about how shooters are perceived by the public?

You were referring to the scum that murdered Rigby, and while I fully understood your anger at them (and didn't think you meant it either), my first thought was that it was a silly thing to say, especially on a shooting forum.

Why is it silly, out of context because we were talking about a made up scenario, how many people out there in the pubs/workspace/twitter/busstop are saying similar things without being shooters because they believe passionately about something? Why silly, I tell you what I think is silly, the way the public perceives us, shooters. No matter what we do, say, we are doomed. We are the scum. That is unfortunately where we, the shooters, have ended up because nobody stands up for us. The public has a certain perception of us and we can't change that, that train has long since left the station.

I don't think all of the public are against us; and it's the ones who aren't sure who need to be shown the positives and not the negatives...

...last year, a friend of a friend did question why I liked shooting at a party - she didn't see how shooting could be a sport or hobby...so the next time I knew she'd be at my friends I took a book I have about Bisley with lots of pictures of the place and people competing since Victorian times...she was actually quite impressed and admitted that she had had the wrong impression...

[dave_303]

Why out of context, if we're talking about how shooters are perceived by the public?

You were referring to the scum that murdered Rigby, and while I fully understood your anger at them (and didn't think you meant it either), my first thought was that it was a silly thing to say, especially on a shooting forum.

Why is it silly, out of context because we were talking about a made up scenario, how many people out there in the pubs/workspace/twitter/busstop are saying similar things without being shooters because they believe passionately about something? Why silly, I tell you what I think is silly, the way the public perceives us, shooters. No matter what we do, say, we are doomed. We are the scum. That is unfortunately where we, the shooters, have ended up because nobody stands up for us. The public has a certain perception of us and we can't change that, that train has long since left the station.

Bang on Christel! I've spent many hours at a freshers and refreshers fayres in university recruiting members to the uni club, those who are interested tend to be very keen, some need a little persuading, but many of them have become our strongest members! Then there is a number who simply either look at me in disgust, be rude or in one case say that I was an idiot and a sick f*** for wanting to shoot. The Student Union media (student tv and radio) both took the attitude of us having to prove we were safe and not nutters.

Despite this, we are one of the, if not the largest 'special interest' societies on campus, and certainly the fastest growing. Shooting is not dead yet! All of those who we recruit express and interesting in nearly all forms of shooting (only real exception is TR). The only thing that lets us down is the committee can be apathetic at times to pro-gun campaigning, something I working to rectify in the next couple of weeks.