Firearms fees hike - why you should contact your MP now

[Conor O'Gorman]

In the wake of the government’s announcement on increases to firearms licensing fees, BASC has been asking members of the shooting community to urgently voice their concerns to their local MPs.

Contacting your MP can make a difference; the more emails MPs receive the more likely they are to go to the Home Office and say this is a mistake and that they must do better for shooting. This will strengthen BASC’s efforts to push the Home Office to take action and improve firearms licensing.

There are two key points you should make when contacting your MP:

• You are concerned whether the additional funds raised would be used to improve the work of firearms licensing departments. Regardless of the assurances, you remain sceptical as the government has no power to make this happen. It is up to the PCCs and the Chief Constable for each force to allocate funds.
• The fee increase was announced without consultation and there was no transparency or justification regarding the proposed figures. There is no way of knowing whether they are fair and proportionate.

If you prefer, you can use a template to contact your MP as follows:

Dear [insert MP name here]

I wish to raise with you the government’s proposals for increases to firearms licensing fees. As a firearms licence/shotgun certificate holder, I have significant concerns about the manner in which the changes, which amount to an average of a 133 per cent increase on current fees, have been tabled.

The fees increase was announced without proper consultation and a complete lack of transparency. As such, the policy is damaging to the countryside, the shooting community and rural voters.

The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra funds raised will go to support improvements in the work of firearms licensing departments. This is misleading, as it has no powers to ensure this happens. It is the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the Chief Constable for each force who are responsible for ensuring funds are allocated to firearms licensing departments. I seek assurances that income from any fees increase will be used to resource these teams.

[Insert any additional points you wish to make about the service you have received for firearms licensing here]

As a constituent, I urge you to raise this matter and the significant issues with the way in which it has been brought forward with the relevant Ministers on my behalf.

Please be aware that I will sending a copy of your response to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) [, of which I am a member (include if you’re a member)].

I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

[Your name]

However, I recommend personalising it as much as you can to avoid MPs receiving too many similar responses.

If your MP responds please forward that to politics@basc.org.uk

 

[Morkai]

Done.

I shall post/forward the response when received.

 

[eggy74]

5 years for less than £200. still better value than bascs membership fees!

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

5 years for less than £200. still better value than bascs membership fees!

Are you a member of any shooting organisation?

 

[Liveonce]

@Conor O'Gorman did you once post a link to find ones MP details, if so please post again, thanks.

 

[Royal]

@Conor O'Gorman did you once post a link to find ones MP details, if so please post again, thanks.

Here you go

Find MPs - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament

Find your MP and learn more about them, including details of their parliamentary career and contact information. Find them by name/location, party, gender and current/former status.

members.parliament.uk

 

[tarponhead]

It would be helpful if BASC lobbied for the process to be decentralised away from cash-strapped local Police forces and digitised for consistency, efficiency and ease of access by RFD’s, Police and certificate holders, as part of the new digital project in Government - like DVLA and the passport office. Ring fencing the new fee to pay for that would be a big step forward.

 

[eggy74]

Are you a member of any shooting organisation?

Yes

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Yes

Perhaps you could let us know what they are doing, or at least what you are doing, on this issue, rather than taking the time and effort to post unhelpful cynical remarks aimed at BASC.

 

[Mike L]

You would have thought the other organisations might have wanted to post here with news, there are 35,000 pairs of ears here.

 

[eggy74]

Perhaps you could let us know what they are doing, or at least what you are doing, on this issue, rather than taking the time and effort to post unhelpful cynical remarks aimed at BASC.

They are insuring me, offering me a great range of discounts in things I am actually likely to buy/use and helping to bring kids into the sport instead of ****ing into the wind lobbying M.P's or sending out pointless magazines full of adverts that no one reads

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

It would be helpful if BASC lobbied for the process to be decentralised away from cash-strapped local Police forces and digitised for consistency, efficiency and ease of access by RFD’s, Police and certificate holders, as part of the new digital project in Government - like DVLA and the passport office. Ring fencing the new fee to pay for that would be a big step forward.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will pass it onto colleagues in our political and firearms team.

There was a recent NHS England strategy that BASC responded to which included proposals to create a single patient record, summarising patient health information, test results, and letters in one place, through the NHS App. Also, proposals for new laws to make NHS patient health records available across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services in England.

Separate to that a government digital wallet is being launched that will allow people to upload digital versions of government issued documents. It will start with HM Armed Forces Veteran Card and driving licences next.

 

[Liveonce]

I have emailed my MP, would liked to have attended one of their surgeries but somewhat busy so hence the email.
Let’s see if they reply.

 

[75]

Personally I won’t be emailing my MP.

I don’t think the fees are unreasonable.

BUT my local force offers a very good service. Had they not then perhaps I’d have had a different view.

 

[Morkai]

Personally I won’t be emailing my MP.

I don’t think the fees are unreasonable.

BUT my local force offers a very good service. Had they not then perhaps I’d have had a different view.

Obviously that is your choice but what Connor isn't only about the cost, its this -

• You are concerned whether the additional funds raised would be used to improve the work of firearms licensing departments. Regardless of the assurances, you remain sceptical as the government has no power to make this happen. It is up to the PCCs and the Chief Constable for each force to allocate funds.
• The fee increase was announced without consultation and there was no transparency or justification regarding the proposed figures. There is no way of knowing whether they are fair and proportionate.

 

[Liveonce]

Personally I won’t be emailing my MP.

I don’t think the fees are unreasonable.

BUT my local force offers a very good service. Had they not then perhaps I’d have had a different view.

And what about the increase they are suggesting in three years time? if we just accept this increase without any fuss what next?

 

[Morkai]

And what about the increase they are suggesting in three years time? if we just accept this increase without any fuss what next?

Without me looking, what are the proposals in 3yrs time?

 

[Dunwaters]

Perhaps you could let us know what they are doing, or at least what you are doing, on this issue, rather than taking the time and effort to post unhelpful cynical remarks aimed at BASC.

Perhaps you could tell us why you believe that this campaign of letter writing is more likely to be successful than the previous half dozen similar campaigns?

 

[Elshad]

I’ve emailed my MP numerous times on firearms issues but will not be doing so on this matter.

The fees themselves are not wholly unreasonable.

Whilst the licensing system is obviously a shambles, this should be addressed separately rather than rolling them into a rant email about fees.

 

[Liveonce]

Without me looking, what are the proposals in 3yrs time?

we do not know, just apparently that is likely to be the next time they are reviewing them, if they continue on full cost recovery then they could increase significantly yet again then.