Projmanraz

Steve

I've always been against more legislation and having the current laws applied but we have to face facts - the SNP have a majority and control of airguns by whatever means is going to be popular with the electorate and will happen. It will be imposed and we, the responsible owners, will pay for it however it is administered. Remember what happened when CB radio became legit? The £27 CB licence came in overnight and legit users just bought legal kit and paid the fee. A lot more gave up their much better illegal sets and stopped transmitting.

I'm for lobbying by individuals, any and all shooting organisations so let them have their memos of understanding - with luck and hard work they may be able to influence the legislation in our favour. Keep up the good work!

Last weekend we were hosts to the Scotland / England HFT competition. I wonder if we'll be able to invite them up again once licensing comes in without our English friends being in danger of flouting the Scottish air gun laws?

Cheers!

Ralph

IMHO and if / when licensing comes in then it seems to me that folk who own air rifles should have a reasonable reason for doing so. Being a member of a shooting club or shooting organisation may be reasonable. Folk who aren't members of shooting clubs or organisations may need to join one or justify ownership by vermin control or hunting. So good old BASC, SARPA, RAC, AA, WI, Scouts, BB, Masons, Co-op whatever - get in there so we aren't too restricted on which organisations count to give a reasonable reason for having an airgun!

I don't think that getting a license initially will be difficult. It will give our lords and masters information on how many air weapons there are and in whose hands. Their agents (plod) will be able to stop anyone with a gun and ask for their license, FFD's presumably won't be able to sell you a gun without a license (unless they are South of Gretna) and woe betide anyone that doesn't have one after the amnesty period.

Whilst I am dead set against restriction of sub 12ftlb air weapons if / when licensing comes in then I don't think legitimate users have too much to fear other than the cost of a license. I know in my heart of hearts that this won't stop the neds from shooting cats, swans and each other but perhaps (and hopefully) not having a license may mean that they are dealt with harshly and properly by the law and the news media can state 'did it using an unlicensed air weapon' so we don't all keep getting tarred with the same brush.

Ralph