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

My reply to UKIP sent a few moments ago. This is my view only so if you have a different view please express it to Mr Bigwood not myself.

Dear Mr Bigwood.

Thank you for the prompt response. I would like to respond as follows:

Your email seems to relate more to 'hand guns' for which the vast majority of the UK population who have a Firearms Certificate are not now allowed to possess.

The majority now own rifles of various calibres for hunting, pest control and in the main target shooting as members of Home Office approved clubs.
But the issue is still one of lack of trust in ANY politician or parties who seem to seek public approval/ratings/votes by attacking our sport or by pandering to the Gun Control Network.

It is this one issue that will always cause us to distrust politicians, but with a little hope some of those who hold FACs (Firearm Certificates) are being drawn to UKIP for various issues (not just relating to firearms).
But, I can assure you that it is the one issue that will kill off any idea of supporting UKIP if no firm and clear statement of intent by UKIP in actually treating us with some respect and to stop the incessant attack by the ACPO/Politicians/GCN and newspapers et al on our sport.

The statement given below in my view and others goes someway in giving us some hope, but needs to be looked at again in more detail, specifically in the term 'professional'. The vast majority of rifle shooters who take part in competitions/hunting/pest control are not professional as it is purely a hobby and not a way of life, so there is room for improvement in the blanket statement provided.

I have no wish to 'be like the USA' and hold firearms for self defensive purposes, but there are those who excel in our sport and can take part in the Olympics (with certain types of hand guns and shotguns) or others who for non Olympic events represent Great Britain in Benchrest rifle or F Class rifle competitions throughout the world with some degree of success. Others just want to enjoy a day out with friends at their local range as it is also a sport that can create friendships that last for life and also has an excellent social scene.

I do hope that UKIP contacts the main shooting organisations in the UK to gain more knowledge of our sport and to see that we are just normal friendly / family men, women and also youngsters, who just want to enjoy our sport without let or hindrance within reasonable rules to protect the public.

Thank you for your time in reading my reply.

Kind Regards.

If I receive any response I will post it as soon as possible.
Cheers,

Having thorough hand gun licensing for those people who require firearms for professional or professional leisure reasons would not impact on the circulation of firearms among criminals.

I have no wish to 'be like the USA' and hold firearms for self defensive purposes,

:cool2: :cool2: :cool2: Where did THAT come from :roll: .

US citizens are allowed to hold firearms for sport purposes and the laws there does NOT impinge on the criminal element either, they just ignore all laws! It was totally unnecessary to mention defensive purposes, if our laws were like the USA we would not be begging for every slot, we would have guns because we want them - not because we NEED them!

I bet he knows little about the USA and US Gun laws!

"Professional or professional leisure" - yeah we'll all join the Olympic squad, great qualifier that we all picked upon!

Didn't take long did it!!!
LOL http://www.full-bore.co.uk/images/icons ... .smile.gif

Geordie bloke wrote:Here is the reply I received this morning from UKIP.

Dear Mr Prior.
The party thinks there should be proper and sensible gun licensing in place. We certainly do not want to see any move towards the way gun licensing is done in America. However for those who require hand guns for pest control (farmers) and sport there should be stringent licensing that undergoes constant renewal. The fact that the UK Olympic shooting team had to go to France to train is what Nigel was questioning especially.
Most guns used by criminals are unlicensed and traded on the black market. That should be a police priority. Having thorough hand gun licensing for those people who require firearms for professional or professional leisure reasons would not impact on the circulation of firearms among criminals. I do hope that clarifies things. I can assure you that we certainly are not advocating a form of free for all with gun use and ownership.
Kind Regards.
Alan Bigwood


UKIP Head Office.

Apart from the surname that is the same reply I recieved

Handgun repeal? Point them to Northern Ireland.

Semi-auto repeal? Point them to Norway.

No knee-jerk, hysterical reaction in either location.

I have no wish to 'be like the USA' and hold firearms for self defensive purposes

Me neither mate and I don't. However should the need ever arise, well they're there for the use.

Saying that though I have no wish to be like the UK were I am completely at the mercy of someone else with regards to what firearms I can have, how much ammunition I can hold, where I can shoot and when I can shoot and all the other bullshit and hoops you chaps have to jump through. Plus there won't be anyone knocking on my door to inspect the security arrangements for my firearms on some bullshit pretext.

So as long as we are both happy with our systems of ownership Geordie, all is well mate

We certainly do not want to see any move towards the way gun licensing is done in America

Another one that knows absolutely fvck all about it.

Blu wrote:

I have no wish to 'be like the USA' and hold firearms for self defensive purposes

Me neither mate and I don't. However should the need ever arise, well they're there for the use.

Saying that though I have no wish to be like the UK were I am completely at the mercy of someone else with regards to what firearms I can have, how much ammunition I can hold, where I can shoot and when I can shoot and all the other bullshit and hoops you chaps have to jump through. Plus there won't be anyone knocking on my door to inspect the security arrangements for my firearms on some bullshit pretext.

So as long as we are both happy with our systems of ownership Geordie, all is well mate

Hi Blu, thanks for your viewpoint. I actually never said I was 'happy' with our current licensing in certain areas as I just meant to cover certain 'bullet points' and not a detailed one which would have been like War and Peace. As for my comment that "I have no wish to be like the USA"
again just to make things clear so I do not upset anyone in the USA or elsewhere, it was a simple comment as I am sure that in the US each state is vastly different and complicated to our eyes, even with the 'right to bear arms' and UKIP would just not entertain any comment that we should do the same as the USA.
If you want detail then I would be happier with having an FAC which gave me the authority to purchase ANY type of firearm and have an open certificate without having to have variations etc as I have been checked out. That would be great unfortunately it is not like that in the UK and I can never see it changing. If I had said that we in the UK should have the US system and have any firearm for any purpose then no politician in the UK would even give it room and I would be told to politely off. So I was trying to be diplomatic Blu and Chuck.
My post did say that my reply was MY view and if anyone else had a different view then do not bother me with it, but I guess that people do not read posts in entirety and jump in with both feet. So if anyone else has a different view or has a constructive comment to make, then go tell the UKIP/Conservatives/Labour/Lib Dems and not me as there is jack sh*t I can do on my own. Thanks and good shooting to all.

Howdy Geordie,

Hi Blu, thanks for your viewpoint. I actually never said I was 'happy' with our current licensing in certain areas as I just meant to cover certain 'bullet points' and not a detailed one which would have been like War and Peace.

Aye okay mate fair enough. If I still lived there I wouldn't be happy with it either.

As for my comment that "I have no wish to be like the USA"
again just to make things clear so I do not upset anyone in the USA or elsewhere, it was a simple comment as I am sure that in the US each state is vastly different and complicated to our eyes, even with the 'right to bear arms' and UKIP would just not entertain any comment that we should do the same as the USA.

Hey no problem mate, it didn't upset me in the slightest. I just find it mildly amusing when folks over there make comparisons to the USA without actually knowing much about how things work over here is all.

So I was trying to be diplomatic Blu and Chuck.

As you always are Geordie, no complaints on that score here mate.

My post did say that my reply was MY view and if anyone else had a different view then do not bother me with it, but I guess that people do not read posts in entirety and jump in with both feet.

Sorry for that Geordie, I must have missed that sentence. In fact I'm still missing it because for the life of me I can't see where you wrote that but not to worry I get the message. I guess sometimes people just forget what they actually wrote sorry to have bothered you mate

With regards to the handgun thing, could it be they are referring to it because some time back someone in the UKIP (Farage I think it was) said that they would allow handguns again but didn't mention rifles of any kind?