From: "Matthew Wright", [EMAIL PROTECTED] >previous post: >I notice that we fall within the auspices of the specialist crime unit. What relevence that has I know not. I think it reinforces yet again the underlying problem in how shooters are seen and the way in which they are served (they are meant to be working for us) and their licences administered. It only highlights a mindset that will roll on bit by bit as we have seen year on year to date. I notice that on a recent Question Time show a senior police officer was redirecting the debate about illegal use of guns and crime onto the question of how sporting shooters are licensed. The point really is that illegal misuse is going up while license holders go down and license rules go up. Meanwhile we are forced onto the defensive about the rules, hoping to compromise on how many more rules finally get pushed on us. Whether its fieldsports/shooting we need to be proactive, set the agenda and ask what we want as decent members of the community and as a large grouping in society. This is the way that other groups have pressed forward, otherwise we risk a trap that can be paraphrased as follows - if the antis are asking for a ban and we are reacting with please don't ban us, we end up with a half ban. A few half-bans and your banned by default. Given that we have about the lowest accident rate for sports and make a very significant contribution to social, economic and conservation interests and that the public are beginning to realise the Govt attacking shooters was a prejudiced con trick that has had no effect on guns in crime, then any suggestions for what we can campaign FOR and can contribute? Matthew Wright -- Lest it need be said, the armed crime problems in this country are NOTHING to do with sporting shooters, licensed or not, even in illegal possession for that matter. Giving some poor bloke more than a year in prison for simple unlicensed possession of a couple of handguns just underscores what a completely failed approach this all is. The types of firearm we can legally own are not favoured by criminals anyway, with the limited exception of double-barrelled shotguns which the statistics show are less and less popular in armed crime, so how could there be a connection? Steve. -------[Cybershooters contacts]-------- Editor: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website & subscription info: www.cybershooters.org
