Just Came In From Basc

[ratbuster 807]

Airgun licensing plans in Scotland fail to secure all-party support

 

A Bill containing plans to license airguns in Scotland has failed to secure support from all parties in the Scottish Parliament because of a lack of evidence. After a key debate the Scottish Conservatives refused to endorse the Air Weapons and Licensing Bill (Scotland) and said they would oppose the Bill unless the Scottish Government changes its stance on airgun licensing.

BASC believes the proposals for airgun licensing in Scotland will do nothing to cut crime or improve public safety and will be a costly and unnecessary burden on police firearms licensing teams. Official government statistics show that airgun crime in Scotland has fallen by 75% between 2006 and 2013. At the same time delays are mounting in licensing shotguns and rifles while Police Scotland intends to slash the number of firearms licensing officers from 34 to 14. BASC is aware of delays of up to nine months in processing applications. BASC has also submitted a Freedom of Information request after airgun crime statistics for 2014 were not published on time.

Nicolle Hamilton of BASC Scotland said: “This is an important marker against the Bill laid down by the Conservative group in the Scottish Parliament. The proposals are, quite simply, not supported by evidence. BASC and other shooting organisations have pointed out the immense difficulties in trying to license the owners of an estimated half a million airguns in Scotland for little or no public benefit. Those intent on criminal misuse of airguns will not apply for a licence so the Bill will do nothing to cut crime. The Police need to focus their resources on the administration of the 75,000 shotgun and firearms certificates on issue in Scotland.

“We are now asking all MSPs to take note of the objections to the Bill and to carefully consider the evidence. Shooting is an important part of life in Scotland. It helps in the management of our countryside and generates £200 million for the economy every year. Country sports tourism is worth an annual £155 million to Scotland. For many people airguns are simply a tool of their trade and are used safely day-in, day-out.

“BASC will now focus its efforts on the next stage of the Bill as it is considered in detail in Committee and is open to amendment. We would like to see sensible legislation based on evidence, not on prejudice and ignorance of the facts.”

 

Great action for our Scottish friends !

 

[pianoman 3,584]

Common sense prevails at last! Good news to read here for our Scottish friends.

 

Well done and thanks for posting this Ratbuster!

[Big Uli 3]

Good

 

I always said the torys will not put up with this rubbish

After all they are supposed to represent a large faction of the population that do love their Country sports and pursuit, but lets not think this is over yet

Something may still come of it but in a more reasonable way

 

Personally, if it stops the wrong sort from buying airguns I would welcome a licence scheme purely to help protect my interests

There is nothing we can do about idiots that have already got guns but at least we can try to stop others getting them.

It's not about cost and backdoor taxes for me, it is about protecting myself from the antis by showing my licence and telling them I'm not doing anything wrong

 

When the SGC was introduced there was uproar from shooters but they are still shooting

[random 659]

Good

 

I always said the torys will not put up with this rubbish

After all they are supposed to represent a large faction of the population that do love their Country sports and pursuit, but lets not think this is over yet

Something may still come of it but in a more reasonable way

 

Personally, if it stops the wrong sort from buying airguns I would welcome a licence scheme purely to help protect my interests

There is nothing we can do about idiots that have already got guns but at least we can try to stop others getting them.

It's not about cost and backdoor taxes for me, it is about protecting myself from the antis by showing my licence and telling them I'm not doing anything wrong

 

When the SGC was introduced there was uproar from shooters but they are still shooting

 

Pretty much my thoughts,I would like to think if they make you have an air rifle on ticket then the ft lb could be upped a bit? As a compromise or enticer or whatever but if its going through practically the same procedure as fac maybe it may as well be one?

[Big Uli 3]

I would love to run my lot at around 17ft.lbs

I got all .177's, though upping the power would probably result in a calibre conversion or two

 

 

The really sad thing I have noticed on other forums and groups I'm part of is the lack of comments on this issue

When it was all doom and gloom ppl where happy to give their thoughts no matter how ridicules some of them may have been.

Now there is something positive most have nothing to say

Edited April 25, 2015 by Big Uli