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

Members may be aware of the article “Massacre guns on sale in the UK” that appeared in the Sun newspaper on 2nd January. Our response to the journalist is below; we have yet to receive a response despite reminders.

.........

Dear Mr Millard

I read your article published in the Sun today with some concern.

At best the article is misleading – I assume this is due to a lack of accuracy of the facts you have researched.

Please note the following:-

(1) The weapons you refer to in the article as “lethal assault rifles” are small calibre (.22) rifles – these are typically used for target shooting and the control of small vermin (rabbits and rats) and accurate at distances to a maximum of 100 metres or so.
(2) The rifle allegedly used in the awful shooting at Newtown was a substantially more powerful weapon (.223); can be used to control large animals such as deer; and is effective over long distances up to 600m.
(3) Imitation of form does not confer function – the Ruger SR-22 may look like an assault rifle but is definitely not an assault rifle. Military assault rifles are typically fully automatic i.e. they fire continuously when the trigger is pulled.
(4) Small calibre rifles such as .22 can indeed be used to lethal effect, as can kitchen knives found in every home and the average family car. The incidence of crimes involving legally held rifles is a tiny fraction of those involving the use of knives and motor vehicles.
(5) Firearms licensing in the UK is completely different to that in the USA – owning firearms in the USA is a right but wholly a privilege in the UK. We have some of the most demanding and restrictive legislation relating to firearm ownership anywhere in the world.
(6) Criminals will not apply for a Firearm certificate to gain ownership of a rifle for illegal use – they will not want their ownership recorded by the police and will use smuggled and other illicit firearms.

The National Rifle Association in the UK is a registered charity charged with promoting the sport of target shooting. New entrants to the sport undergo a strict and comprehensive probationer training course, and their conduct is carefully controlled. Each month Sport England estimate approx. 120,000 people participate in the sport of shooting.

Our reactions to the events at Newtown are those of any sane and decent person – shock, horror, and profound sadness.

I know News International, as a responsible publisher, is determined to present articles honestly, accurately and fairly; and I look forward to seeing your reporting of the facts supplied above to correct the impressions resulting from your original article.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Yours

Andrew Mercer
Chief Executive, National Rifle Association.

I like
Balanced and a sane position statement clapclap

Not a rabid up and down frothing - well like the article was - total tosh!

Excellent response - keep it up.

good letter, its a shame there is no mechanism to get it wider publication ?

Well done the NRA and very well done Mr Mercer.

You can guess what I am thinking.....

Well done NRA . Perhaps you could take out national adverts in the newspapers concerned to rectify the balance of poor journalism by the Sun .

Dave

Pleased to see this step in the right direction

Well done,

DM

:goodjob:

Looking forward to seeing the Sun's reply.

I'd be somewhat surprised if the Sun responds to that, they're too busy buying advertising space in Argentinian newspapers at present.

But a good, brief and factual letter. Personally I'd have left out the kitchen knife bit, on the basis that giving a journalist more information than the absolute minimum necessary is risky.

Dave 101 wrote:Well done NRA . Perhaps you could take out national adverts in the newspapers concerned to rectify the balance of poor journalism by the Sun .

Dave

I was thinking exactly the same thing-and include a few facts about the GCN as well. How much would a half/ full page ad. in the nationals cost? Its a shame that we dont have one national umbrella organisation with deep pockets to fight fire with truth (I wanted to put fire with fire but didnt think it was apt in the present climate!)
This comment is not meant to be taken as a dig at our NRA btw.