BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendations

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25Pdr
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BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendations

#1 Post by 25Pdr »

BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendations on firearms control.


http://www.basc.org.uk/en/media/pressre ... E9207A4BC8

20 December 2010

The UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has welcomed many of the recommendations on the UK’s firearms laws made today by the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Bill Harriman, BASC director of firearms said: “The committee’s report contains several recommendations which we think will help to secure the dual purposes of the UK’s firearms laws: to protect public safety and to allow the continued lawful use of firearms. BASC thanks the more than 900 people and organisations from the shooting world who submitted evidence to the enquiry. The volume of responses indicates the seriousness with which the shooting community views these deliberations.”

“In particular BASC welcomes the rejection of tagging every firearms certificate holder’s medical records, the dismissal of proposals to require guns and ammunition to be kept outside the home and the rejection of a reduction in the license term from five years to two. BASC welcomes the proposal to update police guidance on the licensing system and to smooth out the peaks and troughs in the flow of grant and renewal applications. BASC also welcomes the rejection of licensing for low-powered airguns and the emphasis on enforcement of existing law to deal with any problems.”

“However, this is not the end of the road in terms of the political battle to secure effective law which serves both public safety and firearms users. The report highlights several areas for future debate. BASC does not agree with recommendations to impose minimum age limits on certificate applicants, in the knowledge that the current laws and police powers are robust and allow people to be introduced to the sport with increasing degrees of responsibility until they can shoot unsupervised.”

“BASC firmly rejects the recommendation to apply the current complicated section one firearms licensing system onto shotguns and to increase licence fees to cover costs without firm and reliable evidence of what those costs actually are. BASC will continue to work with the Government and the police on the issues raised by the report. “
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Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#2 Post by 25Pdr »

Home AffairsCommittee
Firearms Control
Third Report
14Dec. 2010.

PDF......
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 7/447i.pdf
Mike2

Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#3 Post by Mike2 »

So, what ARE the recommendations?

There are six pages of conclusions and recommendations all mixed in together, so it is a little difficult to seperate them out, but as far as I can see - these are the recommendations in summary:


1. A ban on lawful possession of firearms not recommended.

2. There should be a Government consultation on simplifying firearms law.

3. The Government's Crime prevention strategy should include the use of firearms in domestic violence.

4. There should be a Media code of practice re sensational media coverage of shootings.

5. The “Public Health” approach to prevention of gun crime should be a science and engineering based.

6. GPS must not be asked to judge fitness or future behaviour of applicants.

7. Suspended sentences should trigger prohibition, and there should be a reduction of current sentence levels which apply to prohibition.

8. All behaviour of applicants to be taken into consideration.

9. There should be a Government consultation on consulting applicant’s current and past domestic partners and report back to HAC.

10. Certificate life to remain at five years, but some extension to reduce annual variation in renewals.

11. Section 1 licensing (firearm) to be applied to licensing shotguns - one certificate.

12. Home Office Guidance updated and made an approved code of practice.

13. Fees to increase.

14. Storage to remain as is.

15. Ages of possession of firearms to be clarified and simplified.

16. Gun crime data made available to academics and policy makers.

17. Regulations to make it more difficult to convert imitation firearms, and type approval put in place.

18. Definition of “readily convertible” to reflect modern practices.

19. Government to monitor airgun legislation to see if offences reduce/increase. No change otherwise.

PLEASE REMEMBER - these are just RECOMMENDATIONS - they are NOT law, neither are they "written in stone."
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Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#4 Post by Blackstuff »

On the whole it doesn't look that bad (but i'll use the caveat that there were sensible recommendations made after Dunblane which were completely ignored to win votes :evil: )

However 8 and 9 could be dangerous. 8 seems so ambiguous it could include if Mrs Muggins from no 8 thinks you're a shady character she can report you on the basis of her suspicions and they'd be taken into account!? Does no. 9 only refer to marriages/civil partnerships? Obvious dangers there if its a messy split, however if it also refers to co-habiting couples or even just girlfriend/boyfriend, how exactly would the Police be able to find these people unless you (were daft enough to) tell them??

11. exteremely dangerous, and imho a poorly masked attempt at yet another gun-grab. Expect the market to be awash with shotgun sales and 'missing' guns 2011/2012

13. Don't have a major issue with, as long as its not a ridiculous increase i.e. Double or greater

Just my two-penneth worth, i know any changes made will likely be none of those listed
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Mike2

Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#5 Post by Mike2 »

In fact, 8 has been in place for many years. The police have - since at least the 1980's - taken ALL forms of behaviour into account - all this recommendation does is demonstrate that the HAC didn't know this already. Remember that thomas hamilton (no capital letters for that $%&*?~) had done nothing wrong prior to starting to murder children.

I agree that the "previous partners" issue is a charter for disgruntled ex-partners to put the knife in, but the worst proposal is 11.

The current shotgun certificate system works well, and does not require great swathes of extra paperwork the way the firearms (section1) does. It has not resulted in any risk to the public safety, accounts for the whereabouts of the guns, and is simple and efficient to administer.

You can see the scenario, can't you? "You've already got one 12 bore - you can use that for clays, game and pest control - you don't need any more guns......."

It would be far better if Section 1 firearms came under the same controls as shotguns, if we MUST have one certificate and one system.
Robin128

Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#6 Post by Robin128 »

As this review is on the back of bird and Cumbria...don't expect any loosening or streamlining of the law.

Has anyone defined 'sporting rifle' yet?

:roll:
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Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#7 Post by Blackstuff »

Robin128 wrote:Has anyone defined 'sporting rifle' yet?

:roll:
Why would you want them to :?: It would have the potential to bring in the daft American gun restrictions like no muzzle brakes/moderators, pistol grips, magazine capacity etc :(
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Robin128

Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#8 Post by Robin128 »

Keep up man...that's one of the proposals...to class 'sporting rifles' with shotguns.

;)
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Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#9 Post by Blackstuff »

I must be being dense, i still can't see it :oops: :lol:

11. Section 1 licensing (firearm) to be applied to licensing shotguns - one certificate. :?:
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Robin128

Re: BASC welcomes many of Home Affairs Committee recommendat

#10 Post by Robin128 »

Blackstuff wrote:I must be being dense, i still can't see it :oops: :lol:

11. Section 1 licensing (firearm) to be applied to licensing shotguns - one certificate. :?:
See BASC press release thread in this section.
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