"Shop a gun owner" hotline SCRAPPED!

[ordnance]

there will no longer be a specific firearms licensing Crimestoppers hotline number; that presently there is no evidence of legal firearms users being involved in terrorism and that that all the home visits to check firearms security will be largely intelligence led

If there is no evidence of legally owned firearms being used in terrorists attacks, why any chance in policy. I would have thought the police would already be checking firearms owners if there was intelligence of misuse. I note ( largely intelligence lead not only). The whole think is a load of balls IMO. If a terrorist group wants to steel firearms the firearm owner being responsible and locking away their firearms won't stop them. The just have to look at the experience over here to figure that out.

[dromia]

I'm pretty certain it was unilateral. BASC certainly weren't lifting a finger, I know that much.

Still, it's a victory - albeit a small one - for common sense.

I suspect so too as the others statements were that of appeasers and certainly didn't reflect the views of the shooters I know on the subject.

So well done to the Countryside Alliance for this achievement and shame on the NRA, BASC and the flock of others.

Once again your obsequiousness and inactivity would have let gun owners and shooters down. This was obviously a battle that could be won but only the CA saw that and engaged.

There is still a niggling thought at the back of my mind though that if ACPO have given in on this then it because they have a greater detriment to us in the wings.

[Sandgroper]

Does anyone know if the CA negotiated this unilaterally or were doing so on behalf of the other "national" bodies and if so which ones.

I'm pretty certain it was unilateral. BASC certainly weren't lifting a finger, I know that much.

Still, it's a victory - albeit a small one - for common sense.

Are you sure - what evidence? BASC may have been ambivalent about the checks, but they were against the phone line from the start.

From the BASC website; "A crime-stoppers line which was launched as part of the campaign, has now been abandoned. BASC argued against the use of the line, stating that it was neither necessary nor appropriate."

However, given the fact that BASC will readily blow it's own trumpet if in a position to do so, I do agree that the CA was the lead and driving force behind this backdown.

[Blackstuff]

Wow a letter from a police officer thats involved with firearms licensing that doesn't refer to 'weapons', amazing!

[dromia]

All these bloody organisations are like a crowd of bairns pushing and shoving in the playground.

United we stand, divided we fall and all our "bodies" will ensure we are divided to protect their own petty interests.

[Sandgroper]

All these bloody organisations are like a crowd of bairns pushing and shoving in the playground.

United we stand, divided we fall and all our "bodies" will ensure we are divided to protect their own petty interests.

Agree.

[ovenpaa]

The perceived lack of unity is a real worry as it may well lead to the ultimate demise of shooting as a sport and recreation. No doubt all of our national bodies are working hard to further their own sectors however I very much doubt any of them would show much support for a national initiative for the good of all shooters if it had even the remotest of adverse financial impacts on their own body.

At the end of the day all of our national bodies are run as business albeit some with charitable status and there is always going to be a significant degree of self preservation and personal interest.

I cannot honestly think of a national body that is run by shooters for all shooters and solely with the interest of all shooters at heart and this will almost certainly cost us our sport as we know it.

[dave_303]

I cannot honestly think of a national body that is run by shooters for all shooters and solely with the interest of all shooters at heart and this will almost certainly cost us our sport as we know it.

The closest to that I can think of are the Shooter's Rights Association, Sportsman Association and Firearms UK, all of which are comparatively small.

Firearms Uk is also run entirely by volunteers on a complete shoestring.

[JD4570]

It's the very fact that BASC won't engage properly on gun issues that has made me join CA. At least when something's not right they speak up.

We are too timid.

[Gaz]

I'm getting very close to joining the CA myself. BASC are very good at PR but don't seem willing enough to rock the boat when it needs a good rocking.

If only the NRA invested in more people to get stuck in on the lobbying ("political containment"?) front... A few MPs asking questions of DIO and Landmarc would probably solve the problems with range access within a matter of weeks.