From: "Tom Charnock", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Alex / Steve
As I started this it seems a shame not to throw a bit more in!!
Running throughout the ACPOs submissions (Scots + England/Wales and the
individual County forces) is a thread about Practical / Combat / approved
disciplines / shooters "inventing" forms of shooting / "new" guns to
circumvent legislation / gun culture.
ACPO (EnglandWales) Appendix 2 Sect 23 .."the police accept the reason of
competitive marksmanship in relation to target shooting but do not accept
the need for practical shooting disciplines of simulated military or law
enforcement techniques which involve unorthodox positions or firing from
vehicles".
ACPO Scots Apdx 4.. "It is also recommended that consideration be given to
target shooting disciplines. At the present time regardless of whatever
controls are placed on firearms, the intent of the legislation is
circumvented by the introduction of new shooting disciplines using existing
firearms". "It is also ACPOs intention that any discipline which simulates
the shooting of persons should merit close attention".
So what are the HASC Recommendations ?
Item (p) "We recommend that when new types of firearm are developed which
APPEAR designed to circumvent the provisions of the existing law, Secretary
of State ought to consider using the powers at his disposal to reclassify
them. If in his view, long barrelled revolvers or other form of firearm are
being developed in a way which he considers a particular threat to public
safety, he should promptly lay an appropriate order before both Houses for
consideration"
Item (q) "We recommend that the Home Office, in consultation with all
recognised shooting organisations, draw up a list of ACCEPTED DISCIPLINES
for target shooting: and that, subject to present conditions, pursuit of
these disciplines ALONE will be considered good reason for the grant of a
firearm certificate for target shooting with a particular firearm".
So there it is, the future innovation of firearms stops as they may be
designed to cheat the law!! Considering that the NRA and others can't cover
the bases on gallery rifles (to keep all options open) what chance do we
have in getting a unified (shooters) definition of "accepted disciplines" -
and what does "subject to present conditions" mean?
But (q) is the real nasty and is why when the NRA, Alex, the UKPSA or any
other "recognised shooting organisation" narrowly defines guns or it's
course of fire, or shooting activity, it will then be cast in stone. What
may suit that blinkered mind may be the death knell for someone else's
sport. How will it then be changed in the future? there does not appear to
be a process under the recommendations to achieve that.
Consider also if you are not "recognised", I think this definition means you
are in the British Shooting Sports Council, then how do you get your sport
considered for inclusion to the "approved" list. You can see there are
enough prejudices from the police and our FELLOW SHOOTERS that would stop
most of the shooting events.
I would suggest that every club, every shooting interest, get themselves
"recognised" right away. Then you won't have the blinkered ones screwing
your shooting interest because they don't listen to other shooting views, no
matter how relevant. What the NRA and police worried about 3 years ago has
now come to fruition, look at what the ACPOs are now saying (above) and
think forward 3 more years -grim.
Tom
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
My suggestion is that you write it all up and make submissions to Mr Clarke MP
and the FCC - I'm sure UKPSA and the PRL would be more than happy to give
you information on the standards of safety in the sport. Also Peter Bloom
is worth talking to.
Steve.
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