morning Conor, wishing you a happy Christmas,
as a BASC member, can I ask why BASC has backed both the lead ban and the certification increases when neither have any benefit to those impacted please ?
the lead ban decreases firearms effectiveness to the determent of the humane dispatching of target species with no evidence that the exposure risk specified is actually seen in the real world.
the certificate increases are only going to mean people will have to give up shooting yet there are no certificate term changes to off set - no increase in duration, no statutory turn around times, nothing.
Why is BASC accepting these changes to the determent of its paying members ?
cheers
Thanks, in response to your queries/concerns BASC has not backed a lead ban nor certificate increase nor is BASC accepting any changes. I will send you a direct message with my number and happy to talk to you in the New Year to listen to and understand your concerns and hopefully help address them.
Policy developments on lead ammunition and firearms licensing fees are key issues and strategy on these will continue to be determined by BASC Council - whose members are democratically elected by the membership - and decision making must abide by the BASC constitution - and as you point out, should not be to the detriment of members, or indeed sporting shooting.
Here are the first three clauses from the Roles and Objects section of the BASC constitution:
(a) Act as a representative national body for all sporting shooting.
(b) Promote and safeguard sporting shooting
(c) Ensure that sporting shooting complies with the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability
Also this is relevant:
(g) Uphold and maintain the legitimate interest of its members in such a manner as this Association in General Meeting and by means of its Council shall decide, in particular with regard to:-
(i) proposals to restrict by legislation the use of sporting firearms; and
(ii) the lawful right of every member to shoot at sporting quarry with any firearm which this Association in General Meeting may consider appropriate but notwithstanding the provision of this rule or of any statement of policy expressed by members in General Meeting, the Council may if it considers it in the best interest of the Association, depart from such policy but shall report such departure at the next Annual General Meeting and state its reasons therefor.
With all that in mind nominations for the next Council elections close on 31 December:
Do you, or someone you know, have the passion and skills to make a difference to shooting? Stand for election to BASC Council today.
basc.org.uk
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