The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Robin128 wrote:10 year olds need FAC to be compliant and start to learn that their sport is regulated.

10 year olds need to be coached by learned and certificated people about safety and responsibility.

Robin128 wrote:On airguns, why do you think more regulation will stop abuse? New rules, like the old, would be useless unless they are applied...and to be honest, why do you think the current law is weak?...is it because they are not being applied?

ovenpaa wrote:

Robin128 wrote:10 year olds need FAC to be compliant and start to learn that their sport is regulated.

10 year olds need to be coached by learned and certificated people about safety and responsibility.

I did not know you could hold an FAC at ten years old, I thought it was only an SGC and only in Scotland. A ten year old does not need a certificate to understand his/hers sport is regulated. A ten year old equally does not need an SGC/FAC to coached either, it is the responsibility of the coach to teach and the student to listen. A piece of paper at such a young age makes no difference, more to the point does this mean that the under 16's that shoot at a competitive level without a certificate have less understanding of the regulations and restrictions forced on the sport?

So you are for 10 year olds having a certificate...no more regulation required?

Robin128 wrote:On airguns, why do you think more regulation will stop abuse? New rules, like the old, would be useless unless they are applied...and to be honest, why do you think the current law is weak?...is it because they are not being applied?

The weakness is lack of accountability, we are in a hole with our current airgun laws, all I ask is that they are licensed, not that the owners go through hoops to gain the certificate. I argue this point because I think they are every bit as dangerous as a rim/centre fire rifle in some circumstances and the people that own them on occasion fail to understand this. It is not a weekly event but every year a youngster gets killed with an airgun because he/she hauled out from under the bed or where ever, gave it to his mate or whatever and somewhere along the line there was either an ND or a deliberate act that took a life.

So where is the weakness in the current law on airguns? It just needs applying...there is a stack of law the Police can use to lock up abusers. So the law abiding get stuffed with more regulation...but no effect on their behaviour. And the scroats just carry on using airguns as before and not apply for FAC...tell me ovenpaa...how will that change scroats behaviour? Does all this firearms law stop all the illegal use of handguns etc...sorry...NO.


These days you cannot shoot on MoD land without an SCC, to get this you have to demonstrate good safety and understanding of the rifle you are using. If you are new to the sport you go through a probationary period to enable you to learn how to shoot safely.

You cannot shoot on MOD range without a valid competency cert.


A motorcyclist has to sit a CBT before venturing out on the road so why not a young shooter with an airgun? Pay 25 quid get a half day gun safety course thrown in, issue them a licence. How is that different in principle to a youngster needing an FAC to learn there sport is regulated?

See above.

Finally, please can someone tell me why a 10 years old needs a SGC!!

Adrian Whiting: The evidence in relation to young people shooting does not give any cause for concern—I am talking about section 1 firearms and section 2 shotguns—around the current system which, for example, enables children younger than 14 to possess a shotgun certificate in order to shoot when they are being supervised.