A campaign to ensure that MPs and general election candidates recognise the Value of Shooting, which generates £2 billion for the economy every year, has been launched by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the UK’s largest shooting organisation.
The Value of Shooting report is based on the latest independent research. It shows that shooting supports the equivalent of 74,000 full-time jobs and people who shoot spend £2.5 billion each year on goods and services. Shooting is involved in the management of two-thirds of the UK’s rural land area and shoot providers spend £250 million on conservation work every year.
Key facts from the research have been published in an easy-to-understand infographic, which has been sent to MPs. BASC’s dedicated general election campaign website allows people to contact their local candidates and to send the Value of Shooting infographic to them. BASC, which has a membership of more than 140,000, is calling on everyone who shoots to use the election website and to spread the Value of Shooting facts via social media, the web and by correspondence.
BASC’s general election site allows people to see their candidates’ views on shooting and to email candidates to establish their position if they have not recorded one. It also allows people to promote shooting to candidates and to invite them to find out more. As new candidates are selected their names are being added to the website. The site can be found at http://politics.basc.org.uk
BASC Chairman Alan Jarrett said: “Shooting’s message to politicians is clear: Shooting is a force for good for the economy, for conservation and for social wellbeing. We have the facts to back that up that message and the tools to make sure the message is heard. Everyone who shoots can play a part by contacting their candidates online, by sharing and posting the Value of Shooting facts and by emailing or writing to their local newspapers.”
BASC Chief Executive Richard Ali said: “Shooting has a voice and a great story to tell. BASC is making the resources available to make sure that voice is heard. Please use the election website and help to publish the Value of Shooting facts far and wide. With everyone who shoots working together, and with the facts at our fingertips, we can help to ensure that every MP elected to the next Parliament is aware of the true Value of Shooting.”
The infographic can be downloaded here: and found on BASC’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Search for BASC on Facebook and follow @BASCnews on Twitter.
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For more information please call the BASC press office on 01244 573052 or email press@basc.org.uk
