Labour: gun applicants must "prove suitability"

[FredB]

Do you think that we would be better off with only one political party? After all, Hitler was pretty successful. Of course, if you are politically incorrect---to use a modern expression--- you get sent to a concentration camp.
The logic applies all the way down the line--- we want several really strong groups, not just representing, but bringing our sport to the attention of the general public and learning how to use the mass media to give rise to a true, balanced opinion.
The politicians would love to have one organisation representing shooting. Still using the Hitler analogy, he came up against too many enemy groups.
Fred

[dromia]

Godwin's law invoked.

[huntervixen]

Huntervixen,

As Adam says, a solid new Shooting organization, that is Social media savvy and can go on the PR offensive, looking after our interests

Erm isn't that what I've been saying all along? Also let me tell you mate from experience, although it's a part of it, it'll take more than "Social media savvy to accomplish anything with the government and the antis. I also disagree with giving up anything to them, give them an inch and they'll want the whole mile and more. You have to understand friend that there are people out there who don't want you to have any firearms at all and that includes elements of the media who will do anything, and say anything to make that happen.

I also asked you a couple of questions a while back, still looking forward to reading your answers. You're on here giving your opinion which is a good thing, but what are you and your club members going to do about it.

Blu

Afternoon all,

Hmmmm, this has been a very interesting thread and it certainly stirs up strong feelings in us all, Blu though I do agree with your general thrust to the issue, you come at this from an American angle, where firearms are woven into the very fabric of the country's history and perhaps to a lesser extent today, into mainstream society, the US gun lobby is powerful and reaches into the heart of and exerts influence on US government firearms policy ...

In the UK, as you well know Blu, this simply isn't the case and as Adam said, even if we all stood together under one powerful organization, (bloody good start that it would be though) we would still be shouted down....probably be denounced by the Government of the day as a potentially dangerous threat to society and National Security!!

We need to link up, from teenage airsofters (As Ray rightly points out) to high end, tweed wearing deer stalkers and get rid of the self defeating suicidal toffee nosed attitude that still exists in UK shooting sports.

So......what would I personally do you ask Blu........Well, I am a member of one of the more pro "legally" active shooting organisations "The Sportsman's Society" (who encompass all sportsmen by the way) and should and indeed when the next big anti gun push comes I will help mobilize support where I can, do my bit, attend rallies etc, as most of us on here will do when the time comes.

But people, don't be under any illusion, the current Regime in No10 is no different to any previous Government of any colour, they need every vote they can get and can't afford at present to alienate us.......for now!!!

Lovely lovely shooters and all their lovely lovely votes!

[Ares590]

We need to link up, from teenage airsofters (As Ray rightly points out) to high end, tweed wearing deer stalkers and get rid of the self defeating suicidal toffee nosed attitude that still exists in UK shooting sports.

Most Airsofters from my 5 year experience of airsoft are Anti "Real" Guns. Paintballers are even worse, even though anti gun groups (infer trust for sure) have called for paintball to be banned.
and tweed wearing dear stalkers often want a ban on everything other than dearstalking rifles and o/u shotguns

[huntervixen]

We need to link up, from teenage airsofters (As Ray rightly points out) to high end, tweed wearing deer stalkers and get rid of the self defeating suicidal toffee nosed attitude that still exists in UK shooting sports.

Most Airsofters from my 5 year experience of airsoft are Anti "Real" Guns. Paintballers are even worse, even though anti gun groups (infer trust for sure) have called for paintball to be banned.
and tweed wearing dear stalkers often want a ban on everything other than dearstalking rifles and o/u shotguns

Infighting.......I remember many years ago when semi autos were banned, my Father-in-law thought it was a good thing and no real target shooter should be bothered by "the loss of the Cowboy element " his words, certainly not mine!!!!

Lets hope we have at least moved further on than that chaps, we can but hope!!!!!

[450 Martini]

Speaking of getting other shooting diciplines involved in any potential campaign, I put the word about on a few reenactment forums about these worrying statements from the labour party, that whole area got to be several thousand licence holders+ families strong. And while the battle for handguns was lost in 97, in 1991 when the goverment was making moves to ban possesion of black powder in the wake of several high profile IRA attacks Nares lobbyed the goverment sucsessfully to drop the ban, so Victories over hasty legislation are possible.

[Blu]

hubtervixen,

you come at this from an American angle, where firearms are woven into the very fabric of the country's history and perhaps to a lesser extent today, into mainstream society, the US gun lobby is powerful and reaches into the heart of and exerts influence on US government firearms policy ...

Fair enough but you forget that over here the anti gun lobby is just as powerful, it includes mostly all Democrat politicians, the vast majority of the media which is anti gun and the various organizations such as the Brady Bunch that rake in tens of millions of dollars a year to try and get rid of guns. I'm not really coming at this from the American angle and if that's how it comes across then my apologies. I'm coming at this as a long time member of the NRA, and as an NRA area rep and as a pro shooting activist.

What is happening there is exactly what happened here back in the late 90's early 21st, fortunately we already had the NRA in place to fight it. I'll tell you here and now guys, the way things are set up in the UK, you guys are going to get slaughtered and you will eventually lose your sport because basically you have no one to stand up for you. Let me ask you this, when you guys were about to lose your semi auto rifles and then your pistols, what was the "The Sportsman's Society" doing about it. A strongly worded letter? 20 minutes on the telly? Or was it another one of those online petition that really gets them shaking in their boots?

huntervixen if any of the organisations you have over there had been worth a spit you'd still have your SLR's and your pistols, the problem there though is that a lot of you folks think that if you just ignore it it'll go away and all blow over, well here's a news flash for you friend, it's not going to go away and as things stand now, over there your sport is doomed. It's not a matter of if, it's just a matter of when. Mark my words.

Blu

[Sim G]

over there your sport is doomed. It's not a matter of if, it's just a matter of when. Mark my words.

Without doubt. I retire in 14 years and I do not see me spending a hopefully long retirement, shooting. As I said above, any action now is not to regain certain aspects of the sport, but just retain the one's we're left with!!

[SevenSixTwo]

Yep. The next 'incident' (or Labour getting into power) and we're done.

[Blu]

Yep. The next 'incident' (or Labour getting into power) and we're done.

I read that like you have already given up before you have even started

Blu