A system to license the estimated half-a-million airguns in Scotland will be a costly and bureaucratic mistake, brought in as airgun crime has fallen by 75%, according to Scotland’s largest shooting organisation, BASC Scotland. BASC Scotland says airgun licensing is unnecessary, costly and impractical, despite the Scottish Government’s publication of Read more…
Please sign and share a petition calling on the government to amend the Firearms Acts to allow the ownership and use of .22 calibre rimfire pistols for competitive sporting purposes in England, Wales and Scotland. Even if you have no personal interest in “.22 pistol shooting”, by signing the petition you can show your support for shooting in general and contribute to an act of solidarity which will set the scene for future challenges.
BASC is building cross-party support and working in partnership with Countryside Alliance Ireland and Gun Trade Guild NI to improve firearms law for the province’s shooters.
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford is considering lowering the age at which young people can have supervised access to shotguns and airguns to 12 years. The change has NOT happened yet, as it will have to be agreed by the Justice Committee prior to implementation however BASC and others organisations believe that 10 years of age would be more appropriate as this is the age of criminal responsibility in NI.
The Home Affairs Directorate General of the European Commission has put forward proposals to completely rewrite the EU Firearms Directive by 2015. FACE, the European Hunters’ representative organisation is opposing the proposals with the assistance of BASC and other FACE UK members.
New forms simplifying the first steps of the shotgun and firearms application process will be introduced in England, Wales and Scotland from December 1st 2013.
The NI Committee for Justice has once again rejected proposals to significantly increase firearms licensing fees in Northern Ireland.
New guidance on firearms licensing – which has been produced by the Home Office in consultation with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and others – will be published today. The guidance sets the standards to drive efficiency, consistency and reduce bureaucracy for the police and those who shoot.
In August BASC wrote to police forces seeking formal assurances that they did not allow the RSPCA to have access to firearms licensing information. Assurances have been given by Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Lincolnshire Police, South Wales Police, Police Scotland and Police Service of Northern Ireland.
