From: Edward Beck, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
First of all, it is the duty of every FAC holder to do
what they can to own the guns they wish to own for lawful
purposes. If that means you have to become a race starter,
vet, hunter, collector or whatever to own a pistol on
exemption, that is what you must do rather than complain
about the situation.
Very well written, they're "generally prohibited" (very
hard to get, but not impossible to get) rather than banned
(totally prohibited). How can normal civilians become
crown servants? The crown servant clause is a potentially
interesting loophole in the Acts. Can parish police carry
guns? MPs can, I think? Who else is a crown servant? Forestry
Commission are Crown Servants? And the Queen's gamekeepers and her
farm staff etc.? Who else?
The British shooting team have demonstrated a good reason
for obtaining an authority from the Secretary of State to
possess prohibited weapons - for competition.
That is a vital start in the pistol shooting argument. It'll
set a very important legal precedent in justifying pistols
in the future. Who cares what licence you get, it's only
a different title (e.g. Section 1 or Section 5). It's
getting the licence that's the important part!
The current position for having a Section 5 has always
been restricted to some business, military, police or
heritage purpose since the Home Office took it over in
the sixties. The granting of an authority for competition
is breaking new ground. Not only should the lucky
recipients use it and compete, they would be lawfully
entitled to have their expiration and subsequent refusal
to renew Judicially Reviewed. This would result in a
precedent being set for the grant of Section 5 authorities
for training and competition purposes which would deservedly
weaken the underlying excuse for the ban in the first place.
It would be better still if they actually won.
Very well said, and very important too! It would set
a legal precedent for granting Section 5 licences! You
can get Section 5 ammo (expanding ammo) on normal FACs,
so why not get the gun too without too much hassle?
Do not forget Justice For Shooters have cases running in
both the ECHR and the ECJ with a 70% chance of having both
the 1997 and 1988 bans struck down. Sulking about the
situation will acheive nothing, supporting our competitors
and helping them to help us all, is infinitely more beneficial.
And everyone should at least try to help too!
--
Edward Beck
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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