Section 11(1), FA1968 - 'sporting purposes'

[Gaz]

While reading the law as I write a new club's constitution, I came across section 11(1) of the Firearms Act 1968. This says, under the heading "Sports, athletics and other approved activities":

A person carrying a firearm or ammunition belonging to another person holding a certificate under this Act may, without himself holding such a certificate, have in his possession that firearm or ammunition under instructions from, and for the use of, that other person for sporting purposes only; but where the person carrying the firearm or ammunition is under the age of eighteen, this subsection applies only if the other person is of or over the age of eighteen.

Does this mean it's legal to take a non-shooter to the range and let them have a go? Or is this legal authority to have a servant carry your guns around for you?

[Gazoo]

I believe it is legal authority for a servant.
The people who write these laws never forget to look after themselves first you know. Remember Douglas Hurd the then home secretary trying to establish his own good guy credentials when stealing our guns, dropped himself in it by saying , "why just the other day I borrowed a friends gun and popped out for a bit of stalking"(or something like that) and when it was pointed out that he was breaking the law, quickly had it changed so that you could "pop out with a chums gun, on his estate...as long as one of his servants was with you!!
Isn't that the type of world you inhabit?? I do, with my public school chums and their servant johnnies of course.

[Countryman]

This is the Estate Rifle provision.

It is interpreted as the owner of the land, or someone responsible to him may accompany someone without a certificate and allow them to use a firearm with their supervision.

A Home Office approved club already has more relaxed rules around sharing firearms within the confines of its regulation.

You know how Guest Days must be handled I assume?

There is no crossover.

[Chapuis]

Gaz the estate rifle exemption is not relevant to a rifle club.

[IainWR]

This is the Estate Rifle provision.

No it isn't. The estate rifle rule is s16 Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. S11(1) Firearms Act 1968 is to allow gun bearers to carry the thing without a ticket. Useful for gainful employment of small children at Bisley.

[Gaz]

Thanks all.

[the running man]

It's worth noting that people have been prosecuted under this act, with regards to the supervision......I know of two instances where chaps took others out on the land to shoot rabbits or crows etc and basically they were at one end of a feild and the fac holder at the other.....the cops grabbed the non fac shooter with much ensuing trouble.........so it's a close supervision estate rifle provision.....

[25Pdr]

Also, isn't there something in the act that says that Showmen can buy and possess 22rf Rifles and ammo without a FAC?

[zanes]

It's worth noting that people have been prosecuted under this act, with regards to the supervision......I know of two instances where chaps took others out on the land to shoot rabbits or crows etc and basically they were at one end of a feild and the fac holder at the other.....the cops grabbed the non fac shooter with much ensuing trouble.........so it's a close supervision estate rifle provision.....

Oddly, I was fairly sure (not that it affects me) that the supervision requirement was something along the lines of "within earshot". I'll have to look it up at some point, out of interest.

[the running man]

It's worth noting that people have been prosecuted under this act, with regards to the supervision......I know of two instances where chaps took others out on the land to shoot rabbits or crows etc and basically they were at one end of a feild and the fac holder at the other.....the cops grabbed the non fac shooter with much ensuing trouble.........so it's a close supervision estate rifle provision.....

Oddly, I was fairly sure (not that it affects me) that the supervision requirement was something along the lines of "within earshot". I'll have to look it up at some point, out of interest.

Yes zones I think I remember something like that.....basically it's where u can reasonably say yes I'm supervising!