Airgun licensing

ips · Feb 20, 2013

Robert

Yes criminal elements will indeed find something. The point really is too keep the hooligans away from spoiling the reputation of responsible users. At the moment I suspect that the public do not even realise that there are clubs for airguns and that youngsters are being taught valuable lessons with regards to safe use etc. they only see and hear about the hooligans out there shooting anything that moves and having a pop at bus stop windows. If there was some kind of legislation then airguns would be brought into the same category as other guns ie only responsible people would be "legaly" allowed to own.

The fact that we all know that criminals can and do get hold of things in non legal ways is I believe irrelevent. My point is that showing the public (who are concerned about gun ownership regardless of type of gun) that we embrace legislation and have no problem in compliance then this can only be a good thing. As it is the most law abiding citizens in the UK are gun owners by the very fact that we have to prove that we are responsible and have no criminal record and are of a fit state of mind. Airgun owners would then be in the same bracket.

ips · Feb 20, 2013

OK lets put it another way.

If some form of licensing was brought in for airguns what harm exactly would it do.

Scenario 1

A responsible young man brought up in a shooting family applies for and gets an "airgun" licence and shoots pigeon on a saturday afternoon with his grandad and shoots at the local FT club on a sunday. He is probably proud to have a licence and knows that if he got into a fight on saturday night outside the local shop (like some of his mates do after a gallon of cider) that he would lose his licence and no longer be able to participate in his beloved sport.

Scenario 2

A less than ideal young man applies for a licence but does not get one as he has a string of offences for fighting, petty theft, car theft etc etc.

Mr and Mrs Public are aware that there are airguns around but also aware that only responsible people can "legaly" own them and therefore dont have much of a problem even though they may fundamentally be against gun ownership.

What harm did the licencing act have exactly. The fact that scenario 2 could probably get hold of an airgun through illegal means is niether here nor there. Criminals can get hold of shotguns if they really want too but that is no reason for there not to be a licensing requirement to own one. On the same basis criminals can get hold of pistols and automatic weapons if they want too but why should law abiding citizens not be allowed to own them ? Maybe if the shooting fraternity and the licensing bodies had got together properly all those years ago then maybe we would still have pistol ownership but probably licenced in a very very strict way.

So again I ask what harm will licensing do ??

Rob C · Feb 20, 2013

Ips do you mind if i ask why what do you think licensing will mean to you . As I posted I am against the principal but do believe that at some point it will happen.

As for the point about hand gun ownership dont really see what the ban achieved as read somewhere that more crimes are committed with hand guns since the ban.

Attitude from the general public has changed towards guns over the years the licensing of guns seems to make them think worse of them imho.

ips · Feb 20, 2013

Rob

not sure if i understand your question exactly but i do not believe that licensing airguns or any other type will effect me adversely. I have tried to make my point on this and another post. To be as succinct as possible i believe that the public will be more acceptable of shooters if they know that we are checked and licensed rather than think that anyone can own guns. The more we cry out about it the more it may sound as an American style right to bear arms type argument.

As stated on other thread i am all for ownership of anything up to and including semi auto but consider airguns should be included within the licensing criteria.

Regards Ian

Rob C · Feb 20, 2013

Ian thanks for the reply respect your veiws, dont think talking about for or against licensing will be deemed as contstituting of a right just feel like a lot of people now that anything to do with country sports is bombarded with obstacles to put of off participating in these pastimes.

Regards Rob