Firearms fees hike - why you should contact your MP now

[GlennUK]

FWIW I have just spoken to my MP Alex Burghart. Very supportive will do what he can as an opposition MP, urges me and all my contacts to get involved with a) writing/speaking to their own MPs and b) responding to the next consolation due out later this year.

He also asked to see my responses to any consultation too.

 

[Morkai]

I emailed on 25th Jan, no repsonse yet.

 

[pjohn]

Standard issue

 

[Liveonce]

Where’re you get a reply from an MP comparing it to a fishing license reply back and point out that juniors get a free licence or certainly for coarse fishing.

my MP has not bothered to reply.

 

[Morkai]

I had a reply today.

Many thanks for taking the time to contact me to raise your concerns about the recently announced increases to the fees charged for firearms licensing.

I know that this is a concern for many in the rural community of North Shropshire. For those in the agricultural industry, firearms are an essential tool of their trade, and there are also many who use firearms in their totally legitimate pastimes.

Whilst the Liberal Democrats believe that gun controls should be strengthened, to protect the wider community, we understand that for many in rural communities, guns are an important part of their livelihood and leisure activities.

My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I share your concerns that there seems to have been a lack of consultation on the decision by the Government to increase firearms licensing fees, and we are urging the Government to provide the greater transparency and clarity you mention, which will make a significant difference to many farmers and our rural communities.

Thank you, once again, for contacting me on this issue, and please do not hesitate to get back in touch, if I can be of any further assistance.

With best wishes,

Helen



Helen Morgan MP

 

[User00056]

I had a reply today

More than I've had. I've emailed Doogan on three separate occasions regarding various matters, and not once has he bothered his arse to reply

 

[Morkai]

My MP just turned up at my doorstep dropping off flyers for the local Cllr elections.

I had a chat with her about shooting sports etc.

She completely understood the countryside culture compared to urban culture and told me how other MPs from urban areas get a bit uneasy regarding gun ownership purely because they dont understand it.

 

[Greenmist]

My MP just turned up at my doorstep dropping off flyers for the local Cllr elections.

I had a chat with her about shooting sports etc.

She completely understood the countryside culture compared to urban culture and told me how other MPs from urban areas get a bit uneasy regarding gun ownership purely because they dont understand it.

All the lobbying has worked then

 

[Liveonce]

My MP just turned up at my doorstep dropping off flyers for the local Cllr elections.

I had a chat with her about shooting sports etc.

She completely understood the countryside culture compared to urban culture and told me how other MPs from urban areas get a bit uneasy regarding gun ownership purely because they dont understand it.

very poor excuse, is their a minimum IQ level required to be a MP as surely they can read.

 

[User00056]

very poor excuse, is their a minimum IQ level required to be a MP as surely they can read.

Yes, but we're not worth bothering with as we're not the voting majority. You're still optimistic enough to believe our MPs existing to serve us, rather than themselves

 

[trickie]

Yes, but we're not worth bothering with as we're not the voting majority. You're still optimistic enough to believe our MPs existing to serve us, rather than themselves

Sadly and I wish you weren’t. Your comment is spot on mate

 

[Liveonce]

Yes, but we're not worth bothering with as we're not the voting majority. You're still optimistic enough to believe our MPs existing to serve us, rather than themselves

no gave up believing that years ago when Michael Howard was my MP during the pistol ban.
MPs are as you say only interested in their own agenda once they get elected and think they know better than the people that put them in the job.

Hence why I think writing to your MP, lobbying is a total waste of time what they say to your face is not what they do in private, they do whatever they think will keep them in the job, especially where private ownership of firearms is concerned.

 

[Edd101]

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.

If the money does actually go to forces helping reduce the work load and ultimately make less mistakes then I don't actually see it being a bad thing personally.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Thanks @Morkai for the updates and your efforts.

@Liveonce I appreciate you have your own experiences with one of your MPs several decades ago but there are MPs that are understanding and willing to help. We have a minority of shooters willing to get involved in contacting their MPs and PCCs, and inviting them to their businesses, shoots, and permissions, so I say let's encourage those that do, and not seek to deflate their efforts.

 

[Greenmist]

Thanks @Morkai for the updates and your efforts.

@Liveonce I appreciate you have your own experiences with one of your MPs several decades ago but there are MPs that are understanding and willing to help. We have a minority of shooters willing to get involved in contacting their MPs and PCCs, and inviting them to their businesses, shoots, and permissions, so I say let's encourage those that do, and not seek to deflate their efforts.

While I agree with keeping the pressure on, we have even fewer MP's willing to speak out and possibly none of the labour party, this current crop are so urban biased its unbelievable. Being reactive isn't working well

 

[Liveonce]

Thanks @Morkai for the updates and your efforts.

@Liveonce I appreciate you have your own experiences with one of your MPs several decades ago but there are MPs that are understanding and willing to help. We have a minority of shooters willing to get involved in contacting their MPs and PCCs, and inviting them to their businesses, shoots, and permissions, so I say let's encourage those that do, and not seek to deflate their efforts.

Name me one MP who has recently, say within the last ten years publicly spoken out in the public domain, like on TV positively about shooting or private ownership of firearms, against the fee increases, or against the idea of further restrictions on ownership, as suggested very recently.

I still write to my current MP about shooting, like you request, but in reality know i probably will not get a reply or if I do it will be party policy reply and my letter filed in the round container on the floor in the corner of the office.

Firearms and shooting do not win elections, just like the farmers are finding out with regards to inheritance tax.

 

[308FNSPR]

Personally speaking there are too many shooting Organisations in this Country what we really need is one that supports all kinds of shooting be it target game collectors and everyone else. That way we would speak with one voice. I’m a member of BASC and £95 is a lot for insurance and not much else although I once renewed my membership at the game fair and got a plastic mug and a car window sticker although I did have to ask for them. I had a firearms incident a few years ago and the Police were going to seize all my firearms I asked BASC for help and I won’t make that mistake again. Luckily my letter writing skills are not too bad and it was resolved in my favour. Maybe I should become an MP they seem to get the real perks.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Name me one MP who has recently, say within the last ten years publicly spoken out in the public domain, like on TV positively about shooting or private ownership of firearms, against the fee increases, or against the idea of further restrictions on ownership, as suggested very recently.

I still write to my current MP about shooting, like you request, but in reality know i probably will not get a reply or if I do it will be party policy reply and my letter filed in the round container on the floor in the corner of the office.

Firearms and shooting do not win elections, just like the farmers are finding out with regards to inheritance tax.

MPs across the country and from every party including some in Labour have been sending letters of support to constituents about firearms licensing fee hikes and ringfencing of those funds for FLDs. Some of those letters have been posted in this very thread.

See also:

Tory MPs criticise planned hikes in shotgun fees - Farmers Weekly

A group of 50 MPs and peers has written to the home secretary Yvette Cooper over the government’s plans to significantly increase fees for gun licences.

www.fwi.co.uk

Richard signs letter calling for halt to ‘exorbitant increases’ in firearms licensing fees

Richard has joined Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp MP, and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation (APPG), Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown MP, in writing to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to oppose the proposed 245 per cent increase to shotgun certificat

www.richardfuller.co.uk

MPs oppose exorbitant firearms licence fee increases

I've joined colleagues in signing a letter to the Home Secretary urging the government to rethink its proposed 245% increase in shotgun certificate fees.

www.kevinhollinrake.org.uk

Stuart Anderson MP Slams Shotgun License Hike, 257% of old fee

Stuart Anderson MP Slams Shotgun License Hike

www.stuartanderson.org.uk

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Personally speaking there are too many shooting Organisations in this Country what we really need is one that supports all kinds of shooting be it target game collectors and everyone else. That way we would speak with one voice. I’m a member of BASC and £95 is a lot for insurance and not much else although I once renewed my membership at the game fair and got a plastic mug and a car window sticker although I did have to ask for them. I had a firearms incident a few years ago and the Police were going to seize all my firearms I asked BASC for help and I won’t make that mistake again. Luckily my letter writing skills are not too bad and it was resolved in my favour. Maybe I should become an MP they seem to get the real perks.

Various shooting organisations representing target and live quarry shooting speak as one voice to government on firearms law and licensing through the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC). There will be an update/insight on BSSC in the next BASC magazine.

The council’s members

The Association of Professional Shooting Instructors The British Association for Shooting & Conservation Ltd The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association The Gun Trade Association The Nationa…

www.bssc.org.uk

As regards members offers these are outlined in the link below and that includes complimentary to the Game Fair and National Shooting Show worth £105.

Members Offers

BASC membership is about so much more than the advice and support you have access to; there are also a wide range of offers and discounts.

basc.org.uk

As regards assistance with firearms issues BASC has a firearms team available to help and they give objective advice on the merits of each case.

Firearms

Whether you are new to owning a firearm and are looking for general information, or would like more detailed advice, we’ve got you covered.

basc.org.uk

But if you feel you did not get good advice or help in your case feel free to email me with details at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk

 

[308FNSPR]

Various shooting organisations representing target and live quarry shooting speak as one voice to government on firearms law and licensing through the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC). There will be an update/insight on BSSC in the next BASC magazine.

The council’s members

The Association of Professional Shooting Instructors The British Association for Shooting & Conservation Ltd The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association The Gun Trade Association The Nationa…

www.bssc.org.uk

As regards members offers these are outlined in the link below and that includes complimentary to the Game Fair and National Shooting Show worth £105.

Members Offers

BASC membership is about so much more than the advice and support you have access to; there are also a wide range of offers and discounts.

basc.org.uk

As regards assistance with firearms issues BASC has a firearms team available to help and they give objective advice on the merits of each case.

Firearms

Whether you are new to owning a firearm and are looking for general information, or would like more detailed advice, we’ve got you covered.

basc.org.uk

But if you feel you did not get good advice or help in your case feel free to email me with details at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk

To be fair I do use my BASC membership to get free entry to the Game Fair and BASC may have a good Firearms Team in England but they don’t in Northern Ireland.