Gun Owners Voice

Hopefully this is not premature!

2006-09-16T18:07:00.000Z

Congratulations!!! We have done it. Through the combined efforts of the grass roots shooters (I contacted anyone I knew who had the slightest interest in in shooting) we, yes we have made a difference. in contacting the various shooting organisations, politicians and even the ACPO we have highlighted a problem which the H.O. have failed to address and that the NRA/NSRA/NSC have failed to pursue vehemently enough. The NSC response was, initially not to help but to point out short comings in our communication and methodology to try to resolve the situation.
And before the NRA/NSRA/NSC raise their collective hands in exaltation, claiming credit for this new understanding and creation of a new code of practice, bear in mind that they’ve had nearly 3 years to find a solution, which, because of your actions was hammered out last Thursday in a day.
From a reliable source within the meeting, I have been informed that the BSSC where not impressed with the way the NRA etc. had handled the situation.
In a nutshell the MOD have finally agreed that the NRA NSRA may plagiarise their JSP 403 and use three of the eight chapters that are relevant to civilian ranges to create a new code of practice. This has now been created and should be ready next Tuesday to be approved by the Home Office and then be printed and distributed to all police forces. I have been assured that this will take no more than 6 weeks. I understand that Frank Haxton will be one of the consultants that will be approving ranges in the future, so the Chichester rifle club range will probably be the first under the new legislation.
So there you have it, as a small unified voice we have made a difference. Again I make the call for a National Shooters Association to look shooters of all types of firearms that are legally held. To help with legislative affairs. To obtain reciprocity in application of firearms guidelines throughout the country.
All the associations do a good job in administering their own particular sport. The NRA/NSRA shooting matches are excellent. BASC and BDS are great for game shooting and deer stalking. It would be churlish to mention any names, but I did receive replies related to the issue of range certification from some organisations that, in a very polite way said “it’s not our concern, that’s why you have the NRA/NSRA but we would be interested in the outcome”.
With so many shooters out there they need their governing bodies but they also need a voice that will keep them informed so that they can help each other in times of need.

A Summer of success

2006-03-28T14:54:00.000Z

The Sussex County Small-bore Rifle Association summer 2005 outdoor competitions, shot over 50mts and 100yds came to an end recently with a flourish of excitement at the Fittleworth rifle club. A club that until recently looked as though it may well close, bringing to an end over 100 years of small-bore rifle shooting in the village. But in this happy renaissance with 13 shooters taking part in various divisions, separated only by their ability to obtain a high enough average, Fittleworth were provided with winners in five divisions with second place in five divisions and third place in two divisions. In division twelve Fittleworth finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Three of the five winners came from the 50mt competitions. Our first and possibly the youngest ever winner of an individual outdoor competition over the distance was Matthew Wilton, 10, who has been shooting for just over 3 years, he has his sights firmly set on the 2012 Olympics. Next was Oliver Forsyth, a young man with learning difficulties. Things we all take for granted, such as knowing left from right and up and down, have all had to be overcome for him to achieve this high level of marksmanship. Miss Karen Carter won her division; this result is especially impressive, being achieved less than a year after taking up the sport of prone rifle shooting. This meteoric rise has not gone unnoticed by the county selectors who have approached Karen to shoot for the County.
In the 100yd competitions, Fittleworth managed to win two divisions of the four that were entered. Sean Ide won his division by one point. And after target shooting for many years, Sean has also been approached by the county selectors. Colin Cleaver won his division, again by a single point. Both of these shooters were against some very stiff competition over this testing distance for the calibre. At 100yds, groups under the size of a 2p are the order of the day, though this is not always achieved in windy weather.
All of these individuals in this egalitarian sport have competed on an equal footing; youngsters against adults, able bodied against disabled, women against men.
The winners medals and trophy’s for these and all the other County competitions were presented at the annual dinner in Haywards Heath to all those who were able to attend.

Welcome Fittleworth rifle club

2006-03-28T14:48:00.000Z

Today I'd like to thank fittleworth Rifle Club for providing a link to this Blog, I hope that here will be information a plenty to stir up debate. That said, the first article is about their achievments in the county 2005 summer league. I wish them every succes in the 2006 season.

VOTE YOUR SPORT: Steps

2005-03-29T16:26:00.000Z

SHOOTERS, HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN

Four Action Steps

1/ Register to vote. You cannot vote if you are not registered and therefore you cannot influence the outcome of any election

2/ Become an informed voter. Learn where the candidate in your constituency stands on the hunting, fishing and the shooting sports, and your right to pursue a legal pastime responsibly.

3/ Mobilise. Share your knowledge with your fellow sportsmen and women. Challenge articles in the press and media that distort the truth about our sports. Don’t forget “A lie un-challenged becomes the truth”.

4/ VOTE YOUR SPORT. On Election Day cast your vote for the candidate that will best represent your sporting interest.

VOTE YOUR SPORT: Vote your sport

2005-03-29T16:24:00.000Z

SHOOTERS, HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN

At some point in the next few months there will be an election. If you wish to continue fishing, target shooting, clay shooting, stalking or any of the other country sports that this government has not yet managed to curtail, you need to:

“VOTE YOUR SPORT”.

Party membership does not mean that the candidate is for or against your sport. There are many conservatives against your sport; equally there are labour and liberal candidates that support your sport. It is up to you to find out where your candidates stand on this issue. It may come hard to possibly vote against your normal party candidate but this policy has worked for those who have tried and now succeeded in stopping hunting with hounds and unless YOU use your vote wisely your sport will be next.

Make sure you are registered to vote, make sure that all your friends and family are and then when the day arrives, get out and vote.

VOTE YOUR SPORT: Gun owners

2005-03-29T16:21:00.000Z

SHOOTERS, HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN

Over the past years successive politicians have sought to make their mark on history by removing your freedom to enjoy your chosen sport. The main arguments put forward are public safety and public opinion. Unfortunately, the politicians have told the public almost anything that will support their point of view in order to progress their agenda.

With the exception of the hunting bill which took up over 700 hours of parliament time, the legislation passed has been a knee jerk reaction and badly thought out. The removal of competition pistols by law abiding members of society is a case in point. Hand gun crime is now running at an all time high. With nearly 1 million registered gun owners in the U.K., crimes committed by these individuals are currently running at less than .05 of 1%. This means that 99.95% is committed by criminals. Law abiding people are not criminals.

If you do not want to become a criminal “VOTE YOUR SPORT” or you and your sport will be criminalized. So in this election make your vote count. Be informed on the issues; challenge those who are less informed on the issues. Write letters to the local or national press. To quote A. J. Liebling (1904 - 1963) “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one”.

VOTE YOUR SPORT: Field

2005-03-29T16:09:00.000Z

SHOOTERS, HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN

In recent years politicians have taken it upon themselves to be masters of what we do, say and think with regard to how the countryside and its affairs are run. Hunting shooting and fishing are all vitally important to the rural way of life and employ many thousands of people as well as maintaining the natural beauty of the countryside. In this election vote on an issue

“VOTE YOUR SPORT”

and make sure that future generations will be able to have the same enjoyment, and rights you have now. Before it’s too late.

London Gun Debate

2004-09-04T15:05:00.000Z

Question: Should the U.S. sign a treaty restricting private firearms ownership?

I was fortunate enough to attend Kings College Cambridge on the 1st September 2004, to watch and listen to Mr. Wayne La-Pierre (NRA) and Ms. Rebecca Peters (iansa). This was a fairly heavily staged managed affair with the majority of questions being presented by the arbitrator, with at the end a small question and answer section with questions from the floor. These questions having been selected prior to the event along with those posing the question.
Mr. La-Pierre was, as he always is polite, eloquent and well armed with information to back up any statement he made or to re-butt any statement or errors made against him.
Ms. Peters was forthright in her approach but lacked the courtesy that would be been shown her by Mr. La-Pierre.
Each debater was allowed a 12 minuet section to allow them to put forward their position in the debate. At the eleventh minuet a bell would be sounded to indicate that one minuet remained. This bell was sounded and Ms. Peters carried on, then the bell sounded again, Ms. Peters carried on. Then a thirteenth minuet bell sounded and Ms. Peters still carried on. During this time the arbitrator made several weak and ineffective attempts to belay Ms. Peters, who by now new she was pushing her luck and was speaking faster and faster to try to convey her point.
Conversely Mr. La-Pierre finished his opening statement with the professional aplomb you would expect from a man used to speaking within the constraints of a set schedule.
At the end of the opening statements the audience applauded both speakers. This audience was made up of pro and anti gun advocates. The pro gun, me included, was made up of around a 3:1 male female mix. The anti gun consisted of around a 6:1 female male mix.
Throughout the debate the argument put forward by Mr. La-Pierre was logic, self and social responsibility and the right of a country to govern itself. Ms. Peters on the other hand was employing the tactic of emotion, flawed reasoning, lack of individual trustworthiness and an assertion that the U.N. would protect you all if you give up your rights.
The highlight, if you can call it that, of the evening was when Ms. Peters in answer to a question on recreational shooting replied "well you will just have to find another sport". It sent shivers down my spine to think that this woman and her organisation are funded in part by the government of the U.K. to impose the remit of the U.N.
The show will be put out on a cable network out in the U.S.A. I am sure that all details will be available upon the NRA web site, this woman and her associates are a very real threat to the U.S. second amendment and to all shooters and gun owners not just in the U.S. but around the world.
I was disappointed that none of the major shooters rights organisations, with the exception of the Sportsmans Ass. (SAGBNI), deemed this a worthy enough cause to turn out to defend our sports point of view.

I'm Listening

2004-09-04T13:54:00.000Z

All that is asked is that anything you have to submit be polite and respectful of other peoples point of view. So please tell your friends and help shooters of all types carry on their sport.