Firearms fees and licensing - two ways to help

[Conor O'Gorman]

Last week's announcement by the government of plans to increase firearms licensing fees has the potential to wield a hammer blow to shooting and rural livelihoods.

The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra income raised will go towards supporting improvements in the work of firearms licensing departments. But here's the kicker, the government has no power to ensure that happens. As a result, BASC has this week written to all Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales seeking assurances that all funds generated by any increase in fees will be used to resource firearms licensing teams.

While we await responses from all PCCs, work on this issue continues in the background to ensure a fair deal for current licence holders and grant applicants which is not only about fees but the state of firearms licensing.

Two ways to help:

1. Complete a survey

BASC has put together a short survey to gather your experiences of the renewal and/or grant application process with your local police force.

Firearms licensing feedback

This consultation is now closed Share

basc.org.uk

2. Contact your MP

The proposed increases to firearms licensing fees damage the countryside. You can help by writing to your MP.

Write to your MP on firearms licensing fee increases

The proposed increases to firearms licensing fees damage the countryside. You can help by writing to your MP.

basc.org.uk

 

[bowji john]

I will fill in your survey

I’ll not be contacting any MPs

As they (MPs) are part of the problem rather than a gateway to a solution

 

[Buchan]

I will fill in your survey

I’ll not be contacting any MPs

As they (MPs) are part of the problem rather than a gateway to a solution

So why not contact them a nice non-confrontational letter, focusing on the need for deer control ignorer to meet biodiversity and sustainability goals may well be more benefit than not.

 

[WW.]

Last week's announcement by the government of plans to increase firearms licensing fees has the potential to wield a hammer blow to shooting and rural livelihoods.

The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra income raised will go towards supporting improvements in the work of firearms licensing departments. But here's the kicker, the government has no power to ensure that happens. As a result, BASC has this week written to all Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales seeking assurances that all funds generated by any increase in fees will be used to resource firearms licensing teams.

While we await responses from all PCCs, work on this issue continues in the background to ensure a fair deal for current licence holders and grant applicants which is not only about fees but the state of firearms licensing.

Two ways to help:

1. Complete a survey

BASC has put together a short survey to gather your experiences of the renewal and/or grant application process with your local police force.

Firearms licensing feedback

This consultation is now closed Share

basc.org.uk

2. Contact your MP

The proposed increases to firearms licensing fees damage the countryside. You can help by writing to your MP.

Write to your MP on firearms licensing fee increases

The proposed increases to firearms licensing fees damage the countryside. You can help by writing to your MP.

basc.org.uk

Done the first, hopefully meeting with MP for some other topics in Feb so will ask to add it on to the agenda.

 

[webley701]

Survey done.

 

[splash]

I contacted my MP years ago after Dunblane .
Her suggestion was that fireing pins should be removed and stored with the police until we needed them to go shooting !
With an answer like that I understand why the county is like it is today

 

[finnbear270]

Done both, still not had a reply from Becky Gittins to the previous request.
So nothing new there.

 

[newsatten]

Yep with Splash !
Writing to a MP is about as use as a sponge canoe,
I’ve been listening to this crap for over 40 years,
The only change is the continued tightening of the noose,

As for the fee increase, I personally don’t think it’s a massive deal, name one item or one service that hasn’t increased significantly in the last 10 years ??

 

[cjm1066]

Edward Leigh MP attended our rifle club and voted against the pistol ban. When I met him his opening line was you are here to lobby me? My response was no, I wanted to inform him so he could make an educated decision.

MPs do occasionally listen, it's finding them that is what we are doing.

 

[Liveonce]

feedback done.

 

[angusb1]

Yep with Splash !
Writing to a MP is about as use as a sponge canoe,
I’ve been listening to this crap for over 40 years,
The only change is the continued tightening of the noose,

As for the fee increase, I personally don’t think it’s a massive deal, name one item or one service that hasn’t increased significantly in the last 10 years ??

My wages

 

[Mike L]

Done

 

[DVS1]

I'll be looking to complete this later but as mentioned in another thread if there was ever a time need, and opportunity for ALL shooting bodies to come together and a single and united front against a threat to our sport then it's this!

Have all the orgs like BASC, NGO, SGA, CPA, NRA, BSSC, UKPSA, SACS been in common with one another to have a sit down and go toward the powers that be with a single united wave of power?

Imagine the effect if they did.

 

[Jelen]

Done

 

[jonylandrover]

feedback from done

 

[timbrayford]

More than happy to do both Conor, however complaining about the cost is a fool's errand because it was a manifesto commitment. I shall ask my MP to ensure that the increase is mandated to only be used in respect of fac and sgc administration, and ask why we need an antiquated paper based system dating from the 1920s, multiple FLDs all duplicating the same work and why if driving licenses and passports last for 10 years can't fac and sgc do likewise.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

More than happy to do both Conor, however complaining about the cost is a fool's errand because it was a manifesto commitment. I shall ask my MP to ensure that the increase is mandated to only be used in respect of fac and sgc administration, and ask why we need an antiquated paper based system dating from the 1920s, multiple FLDs all duplicating the same work and why if driving licenses and passports last for 10 years can't fac and sgc do likewise.

Thanks. In the govt impact assessment they are considering putting the fees up again in 3 years time. Here is the text from the BASC briefing page for contacting MPs:

In the wake of the government’s announcement on increases to firearms licensing fees, we are asking members of the shooting community to contact their MPs regarding the proposals.

There are two key points to make when corresponding with your MP:

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

The more emails MPs receive from their constituents, the more likely they are to contact Ministers and inform them that they must do better for shooting.

Please do add any additional aspects of your own personal experience of firearms licensing to your email. You can find details of your local MP and how to contact them here.

When you receive a response, we’d be grateful if you would copy this to politics@basc.org.uk to inform our political lobbying on the issue.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I'll be looking to complete this later but as mentioned in another thread if there was ever a time need, and opportunity for ALL shooting bodies to come together and a single and united front against a threat to our sport then it's this!

Have all the orgs like BASC, NGO, SGA, CPA, NRA, BSSC, UKPSA, SACS been in common with one another to have a sit down and go toward the powers that be with a single united wave of power?

Imagine the effect if they did.

The organisations work together as one voice in representations to the Home Office via British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC). There was a meeting with the policing minister last week a few days before the fees announcement. Our collective concerns fell on deaf ears unfortunately on this occasion. However, communications continue with senior Labour Party representatives and rural MPs and the more emails MPs receive from their constituents, the more likely they are to contact Ministers and inform them that they must do better for shooting.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Edward Leigh MP attended our rifle club and voted against the pistol ban. When I met him his opening line was you are here to lobby me? My response was no, I wanted to inform him so he could make an educated decision.

MPs do occasionally listen, it's finding them that is what we are doing.

A good point well made. Simply not contacting MPs is sure to have no impact but contacting them may start to have an impact. For those being rather defeatist earlier in this thread, and those on the fence, perhaps consider the following update from a MP that was recently introduced to clay shooting and a briefing from BASC on shooting and conservation.



For those not wishing to click into a Facebook link here is the text the MP shared on their FB page.

I was grateful to Lewis Thornley and Matt Dutton from BASC - The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, for telling me about the work they do in education and conservation and for the bird box they gave me to help give birds a safe place to nest. I have never fired a gun before. They make me nervous which is why it’s so important that people have licenses, know how to do it properly, and use them in accordance with the law. I was grateful to have been shown by someone properly trained how to shoot a clay disc flying through the air at Lowes Lane Shooting Ground. But as well as being used for sport (I do not see hunting animals for fun a ‘sport’) as demonstrated here by me in my first clay pigeon shooting lesson, they play an important role in conservation. As was explained to me the grey squirrel eats song birds and can destroy trees when their sap is at its sweetest. And as we’re in the The National Forest and have majority of trees at 10-15 years old, controlling the number of grey squirrels is really important. They already wiped out red squirrels across most of the country. The muntjac breeds all year round and can impact the regeneration of woodland impacting the survival of other breeds of animals and the delicate eco-system. They have no natural predators in this country and so their numbers have to be controlled. I appreciate this may feel upsetting a thought to many but if you enjoy a walk in our gorgeous forests there are people trained to help maintain the balance. BASC also plays a key part in educating police to help them with to combat rural crime. You can find out more here: Our work

 

[timbrayford]

Thanks. In the govt impact assessment they are considering putting the fees up again in 3 years time. Here is the text from the BASC briefing page for contacting MPs:

In the wake of the government’s announcement on increases to firearms licensing fees, we are asking members of the shooting community to contact their MPs regarding the proposals.

There are two key points to make when corresponding with your MP:

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

The more emails MPs receive from their constituents, the more likely they are to contact Ministers and inform them that they must do better for shooting.

Please do add any additional aspects of your own personal experience of firearms licensing to your email. You can find details of your local MP and how to contact them here.

When you receive a response, we’d be grateful if you would copy this to politics@basc.org.uk to inform our political lobbying on the issue.

Thanks for the further details Conor, I shall be asking that any future increases only occur after firearms licensing administration has been subject to an in depth review, efficiencies made and overall brought into the modern era.