50 cal update

[David63]

Government pulls .50 calibre ban for further consultation

BASC and other shooting organisations have welcomed amendments tabled by the government to the Offensive Weapons Bill which remove the proposed ban on 50 calibre rifles.

The government has said that it will consult further on the issues around the use of high muzzle energy rifles.

The Home Office decision follows discussions with Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown MP, the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation and Jonathan Djanogly MP, the chairman of the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC).

Seventy-four Conservative and DUP MPs had signed an amendment to remove the prohibition on .50 cals and instead place clauses into the Bill which would ensure those who own the guns implement tighter security.

Shooting organisations including BASC, NRA UK and the .50 Calibre Association worked together to brief MPs on the issues. The organisations clarified confusion among government advisors between .50 calibre single-shot target rifles and belt-fed heavy machine guns.

BASC has advised the Home Office and lobbied ministers on the issue, given evidence to the Bill committee and rallied members in support of Sir Geoffrey’s amendment.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP said: “I welcome the government’s decision. It is essential that legislation should be proportionate, based on the facts and consulted on with stakeholders. The Home Secretary is right to announce further consultations and has my full support for securing an evidence-based result on this and other firearms issues.”

Christopher Graffius, BASC’s executive director of communications and public affairs, said: “I would like to thank the MPs as well as members of shooting associations who took the time to contact their MPs and supported our work in parliament on this issue. We look forward to a constructive consultation and a sensible result.”

Chris Stevenson, chairman of the .50 Calibre Association said: “This is a fantastic decision by the Home Office for all who shoot in the UK irrespective of calibre. We have further work to do and are more than happy to work with the Home Office in developing good law for our sport.”

 

[VIGILAIRE]

Good news indeed.

 

[L1A1]

Sanity prevails

 

[gonzo]

Thanks for the update David.

 

[enfieldspares]

What, please, will this "tighter security" be? I hear talk of Home Office memorandum of Guidance Level 3 but would welcome clarification of if that is so and what provisions of Level 3 will apply if it is correct. As Level 3 in the Home Office 2005 Security Handbook refers, in places, to a monitored alarm and personal attack buttons as part of that system does it not?

My concern is that by creep this will now have set a legitimacy for this provision to apply to other s1 weapons. At the whim of future Governments. Firearms control not by law but by effectively pricing people out of being able to afford a monitored alarm. I think that we have created a trap for ourselves. We may be celebrating Christmas early. Not realising we've allowed ourselves to become turkeys.

 

[Scotty99]

A good result......but let's continue to engage with the Home Office through the follow on consultation period.

 

[enfieldspares]

Here is a link to the current proposed amendments. The ones that will (usually) get approved are the Government ones. So that is the one that has as the proposer a Government Minister. In this case those in the name "Secretary Sajid Javid.

House of Commons Public Bill Committee Amendments: Offensive Weapons Bill, As Amended pages 1-7

So my interpretation is that the lever release or trigger release class of (centrefire) weapons will still be scheduled to become s5 and thus "prohibited weapons"? Can maybe David at BASC let us know if this is a correct reading of the current situation as of 22 November?

 

[Greenmist]

Thanks for the above link, nice to see my MP has supported it, although I did have to contact him a few times. I might even vote for him now

 

[oowee]

Thanks for the above link, nice to see my MP has supported it, although I did have to contact him a few times. I might even vote for him now

Mine too (My neighbour Moggy) and I also wrote to him asking him to have a word with Sajid.

 

[Greenmist]

Mine too (My neighbour Moggy) and I also wrote to him asking him to have a word with Sajid.

After receiving the generic email, this was my reply,

Dear John, unfortunately I feel your researcher has done nothing more than listen to hearsay and gossip, the ammunition you refer to is already prohibited for civilian use, as to the use of these firearms by criminals might I suggest you look at the size and weight and consider, would you really be able to conceal it for criminal use. You mention a licensed owner of firearms being involved in a supply chain, may I ask how many MP’s have been convicted of serious criminal activity?

I also believe the government has a duty to protect the public, however as the attacks in London showed, they carried kitchen knives and wore fake suicide vests, our firearms laws are working.

Finally may I ask you to register your support with Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown's office regarding this flawed bill.

 

[sikastag270]

very good reply.