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Over the coming weeks I will be changing the top section of this page to add links to the most recent shooting-related news - courtesy of BASC press monitoring.
This will mean that news items will be updated far more frequently, and some will only remain on the site for short time only so it will be worth visiting fairly regularly.
So - thanks for visiting us today!
(NB older news items have been ARCHIVED HERE)
9/2/12 - Sadly, another shooting in the Merseyside Area
Man shot in Maghull - Merseyide police appeal for witnesses.
See- BBC News Merseyside
3/2/12 - Certificated firearms seized
Seven legally-held firearms seized during a cannabis raid: not helpful.
See - The Mirror
3/2/12 - Shooting club loses its local authority range
We've been there: remember Guinea Gap Range?
St Ives R&PC to lose its range
See=The Hunts Post
3/2/12 - Most guns used in crime are fake, say the police
Well, in Reading at least.
See- GetReading
3/2/12 - Good news! Lakenheath Shooting Club back in business
After the arson attack, and thanks to PROMATIC, the club is back in business.
See- Shooting UK
3/2/12 - more risk-averse, politically-correct nonsense
Calculators and toy shotguns seized - in Dorset of all places!
See- Shooting UK
3/2/12 - A sad case of death by revocation
A very sad case of a certificate holder who committed suicide, possibly because he believed his certificate was to be revoked.
See - Wisbech Standard
3/2/12 - ‘Shotspotter’ fails in Birmingham
This system for indentifying and locating shots fired in an urban environment has always been doubtful.
See - The Birmingham Mail
3/2/12 - Mixed doubles - in Shooting ?
A new event for the 2014 Youth Olympics
See - DNA Syndication
27/1/12 - Scottish Airgun Licensing Proposals
I have just had sight of the proposals to licence airguns in Scotland, and they are frankly shocking.
I can't publish them yet as I haven't had permission, but the proposals - if carried through, will -
- cost millions
- will damage the sport in Scotland
- Increase police bureaucracy
- Cost the Scottish Airgun Shooter a lot
- Cost visiting airgun shooters
- Will be ignored by those who would abuse airguns
It may be time for Scottish airgun shooters to write to their elected representatives to ask to see these proposals.
More when I have it.
27/1/12
Public safety, or risk-averse paranoia?
Avon & Somerset Police seize toy guns - "Just in case"
See - This is Somerset
(if it really does represent Somerset - you can keep it! - and I was born there)
25/1/12 - Good news for reloaders
From the British Shooting Sports Council
As the result of discussions with British Shooting Sports Council representatives, the Health & Safety Executive has just issued a new exemption
that increases from 5 kilos to 15 kilos the quantity of bulk smokeless powder that a shooter may possess without registering his premises.
The BSSC team of Colin Greenwood (Gun Trade Association), Ken Hocking (Muzzle Loaders Association), Matt Perring (BASC) and Secretary David Penn entered into discussions with HSE in 2011 as part
of the latter’s ongoing review of explosives controls.
Under the Explosives Act 1875, an individual was allowed to possess, for private use, 30 pounds of black powder (now 15 kilos), this being the weight of the contents of a standard powder barrel.
This was later modified to allow possession without having to register the premises of either 15 kilos of black powder or 10 kilos of black and 5 kilos of smokeless powder, proportions that hardly
reflected today’s predominant use of smokeless for reloading.
BSSC was able to negotiate a considerable improvement for the reloader without in any way disadvantaging the muzzle-loader or re-enactor. The 2012 exemption allows possession without
registering the premises of 15 kilos of ‘shooter’s powder’ comprising any proportion of black and smokeless powders from 15 kilos of black to 15 kilos of smokeless.
Existing controls relating to acquisition and transportation of black powder remain unchanged.
25/12/11 - A 'NEW' NRA (Update)
There have been some serious changes at the NRA recently, and these are reflected in the latest NRA Journal - the 2001 Winter edition
at the top of the page at The NRA Journals, 2001 to 2011.
To quote from the cover "A leaner, stronger NRA - How your association is facing up to its challenges."
For the first time ever I felt compelled to read the journal from cover to cover, and I'd recommend it to you. You might wish to compare it with the previous journals on that webpage; that alone will give you some idea of the
changes.
I know many of you will recall the promises made by the NRA in the past to reduce bureacracy, increase access to ranges and reduce the costs of hiring ranges - well, we all know that completely the opposite happened.
Some of it the NRA's fault, (mostly bureaucracy & increased costs) and some caused by making impossible promises - such as the NRA administering and licensing all MoD shooting ranges in the UK.
With Robin Pizer and Derrick Mabbott now in charge there have already been some changes - and there will be more. To quote Robin Pizer - "we have initiated a comprehensive restructuring at the NRA aimed at making the
organisation 'fit for purpose.'"
This started with two redundancies (Jeremy Staples the National Shooting Centre Managing Director, and Glynn Alger the NRA Secretary General), three resignations and the amalgamation of the National Shooting Centre with
the NRA.
Now there have been more cost-saving redundancies - eight staff will be going over the next few weeks. Very sadly, some of those made redundant are people we have valued for their help over the years.
For all of this, we must support the NRA throught this difficult time - we NEED a strong, efficient shooting organisation to help target shooting to grow further and to defend it
against the constant attacks from bureaucracy, uneccessarily complex rules and regulations, and overly restrictive legislation.
I really hope this is the start!
24/1/12 - Predictable calls to "tighten up" firearms controls
Jamie Reed MP wants your doctor to be a part of the licensing system
See- People.co.uk
24/1/12 - Teenager spared custody for possession of rifle bullets
A 17 yr old youth with previous convictions for firearms offences is lucky to avoid prison
See- The Coventry Telegraph
20/1/12 - Hundred of primary school children licensed to use shotguns
Even by the Mails' normal standards of hysteria, this is an over-blown non-story.
See- The Fail on Sunday
20/1/12 - Olympic Firearms
The arrangements being made for firearms during the olympics
See- The Independent
16/1/12 - West Mercia Police Firearms Licensing Department problems
It seems West Mercia Police have not learned the lessons from the major problems they had five years ago - and failed again to resource the department properly.
See- An article by David Frost
13/1/12 - Kalashnikovs found in firewood
79 Kalshnikovs and spares found in crates sold for firewood.
BBC News
10/1/12 - Very strong comment on the "Bullets V Calpol" statement
Jamie Read MP's statement that it is easier to buy buullets than children's medicine has attracted strong comment from shooters.
see- The Cumberland News
9/1/12 - Wigan Gunshop burgled
Fifteen Shotguns and eight air rifles were stolen from a gun shop in Standish on Thurday night - 5th January. The police are appealling for witnesses.
See - BBC News
9/1/12 - Atherton was a member of a shooting club?
According to this article Michael Atherton was a member of a local shooting club.
See - The Northern Echo
9/1/12 - The shooting prospects for the Olympics
Well down the page in this article is the hope that we might win one medal.
See- The Daily Telegraph
9/1/12 - Predictable call for ban of all firearms
Local campaigner wants guns banned in the home - or everywhere, if possible.
We can agree however that, "Many questions need to be answered."
see- The Sunderland Echo
6/1/12 - Arson Attack on Shooting Club
Lakenheath Target Centre has been severely damaged in an arson attack after a delivery of ammunition.
See - Shooting UK
5/1/12 - Bullets are easier to buy than children's medicine
Well, that's what one MP says....
See- The North-West Mail
6/1/12- Liverpool shooting feud
Shotgun used in Huyton arse shooting.
See- BBC Merseyside
..... and some arrests - see Three Arrests in Huyton House Shooting
3/1/12 - Guns and Knives save lives
A former police officer used a gun and a knifle to save the lives of children trapped in a car
See - Sky News
16/12/11- 300 guns lost, 39 recovered
Significant numbers of firearms have been lost by, or stolen from, the MoD. IF the street value quoted is correct, it indicates an increasing supply of illegal firearms
and dropping prices.
See-The Mail on Sunday
16/12/11 - This can't be right, they took them all off the streets in 1998!
An "accident" that involved pointing a loaded gun at someone then pulling the trigger.......
See - Scotland TV
12/12/11 - The Olympic shooting shortlist
The Olympic shooting teams list up to the end of November, but the list will not be finalised until February 2012.
see- Shooting UK
12/12/11 - Barrel honing?
An interesting article on improving rifle barrel performance by honing.
Modern Machine Shop On-line
31/8/11 - What's going on at the NRA?
The NRA chairman Robin Pizer seems to have uncovered a bucket of worms - and is set on sorting the mess out. We wish him well.
See- The NRA 2011 AGM Minutes
2/12/11 - Another proposed rise in certificate fees!
A paper hase been put to the Home Office by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Asking for a phased increase in fees for firearm & shotgun certificates.
The FULL cost recovery they want is :
FAC Grant - £189
SGC Grant - £189
FAC renewal - £106
SGC renewal - £106
Variation to FAc - £96
BUT they want the rise phased over five years -in the first year, they want the fees to rise as follows:
FAC Grant - £93.80
SGC grant - 93.80
FAC renewal - £66
SGC renewal - £66
We assume there will be a similar rise every year for five years until the £189 grant figure is attained - BUT then they want the costs to be tied to rises in police pay.
They are also asking for fees for things that currently we don't pay for, like changing your address on your certificate, European Firearms Passes, etc.
Probably the worst charge they want to impose is £19 for a temporary certificate. Now that may not sound at all important, but then you have to look at when these permits (called "section 7 permits") are issued:
They are issued to the widow or widower of a certificate holder who has died so that he or she can possess, then sell or transfer the deceased's guns; very nice of the police to demand a fee in these circumstances.
That may be bad enough, but the other time a section 7 permit is issued is when someone has applied for the renewal of their certificate and the police haven't been able to renew it in time. They surely
cannot be asking us to pay for their inefficiency? Are they so insensitive that they haven't thought of this?
The paper does admit that the current system has "existing inefficiencies" (don't you love the great British talent for understatement?) and therefore goes on to offer suggestions to improve it.
So what are these improvements?
- Online grant or renewal forms
- Automatic calculation of fees online
- Automatic checking of intelligence data
- A form of tracking so that we can "see" how our applications are progressing
- The ability to transfer an application from a firearms enquiry office on leave or off sick to another
- Certificates sent electronically
- electronic communications from firearm enquiry officer to their office
Soon, it may be time to write to your MP.....
E-Petitions to Parliament relating to firearms
There are at least twelve amongst the 38 petitions to government relating to firearms which may be of interest to you -
See- Government e-petitins relating to Firearms
Please visit the site and if you feel it appropriate, why not sign those that make sense?
25/11/11 - Toy gun in briefcase results in multiple tasering
Travelling on tube trains in London can be hazardous to your health.
See - Police Oracle
23/11/11 - london Mayoral grant for three new rifle ranges
Amongst the 1 Million Pounds in grants for sporting facilities in London, there is also a grant for the Stock Exchange Rifle club - near the bottom of the article.
See- London.Gov.Uk
23/11/11 - Ex-firearms dealer sentenced to 30 months in prison
A "sensational" story about an ex-police officer and ex-firearms dealer
see - This is Staffordshire
22/11/11 - The joy of pulling a trigger and being sandwiched between Katie Price and Zara Phillips
Charlotte Kerwood article about the shooting sports - with a typical "Daily Male" slant.
See - Tne Daily Mail
22/11/11 - Hero dad guns down burglar
and gets arrested
See- The Scottish Daily Express
15/11/11 - Roadside gun testing is common in the UK
A very transparent "advertorial" for a book. You have to read this article - it is almost pure fantasy - and read the rude comments after it!
See- Bucks Free Press (well, you certainly wouldn't want to pay for it!)
11/11/11 - Serious gun smuggling case in Liverpool
"Undercover police officers in Liverpool bought three Glock handguns for £3,600 apiece."
"Cardwell was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court where he was told he would not be able to apply for parole for at least 11 years."
See BBC - latest from Liverpool, and BBC News, Liverpool
withBBC News England not to mention
BBC World News
10/11/11 - Historic .303s roar again
Six Browning .303 machine guns excavated from a crashed Spitfire site in Northern Ireland fire again - and the BBC approves.
See BBC Magazine
25/10/11 - But better news in Scotland
Scottish gun crime falls to 32-year low, but they are STILL talking about licensing airguns!
See - BBC News, Scotland
(20/10/11)- THE A MAX ISSUE - RESOLVED
I have just had e-mails from both the Home Office and ACPO, who have agreed with BASC that A MAX bullets do NOT
fall under Section 5 of the Firearms Act, and may continue to be used for target Shooting.
I'll post any further news on the subject here as soon as I get it
BASC Press release
-
"BASC clears up ammunition confusion.
Confusion over whether Hornady A-Max US manufactured match target shooting rounds can continue to be used for target shooting has been cleared up with help from the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).
BASC has had confirmation from ACPO and the Home Office that in their opinion the Hornady A-Max US manufactured rounds are not classed as expanding ammunition and can continue to be used for target shooting
There was confusion over whether the ammunition was prohibited from use for target shooting because it might be classed as expanding ammunition, so BASC provided evidence that the design of the round was for target shooting rather than as an expanding bullet.
BASC’s senior firearms officer Mike Eveleigh said: “It was important to establish the design intention as that is what matters for the law.
Discussions have been complex but are testament to how the shooting community can work with the police and government to find common ground." "
(also at BASC Firearms Department)
Well - that's the end of a storm in a teacup!
(I'd also like to thank everyone who supported us on the various blogs/bulletin boards over this issue.)
(14/10/11)- A man has been shot dead in Liverpool
Two Three arrested after man shot dead in flat.
As usual, the BBC get it wrong about firearm possession - there's NO offence of "suspicion of being in possession of a firearm" - or we'd all be in jail!
See- BBC News Liverpool
(13/10/11) - British Shooting Appoint new Chairman
The Board of British Shooting has appointed John Harris as its first independent chairman.
See - Inside the Games
30th September 2011
THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE HOME AFFAIRS ENQUIRY INTO FIREARMS LAW
If you read the previous recommendations posted here for a brief period on 29th and now removed - please ignore them - I was given the wrong link.
This is the Government Response to the Home Affairs Committee Report on Firearms Control - the correct link.
Some brief headlines from the report (10:33, 30/9/11)
- The report has rejects any major changes to firearms law, or even a consolidation of the current acts.
- It rejects the call for compulsory medical checks, BUT welcomes the system of the police informing GPs that their patients have a firearm or shotgun certificate:
We believe this will be counter-productive and dangerous. BASC are continuing to negotiate with the Home Office, ACPO the BMA, and several other interested parties over this matter. That said, the government have rejected the ACPO proposal to “tag” shooters’ medical records
- The report rejects the call to have ex-partners’ consulted when someone applies for a certificate, but they will be studying the Canadian system, although even then they seem to have doubts about it.
- There will be no minimum age for the use of firearms - although they will look at making the current system simpler.
- There WILL be a review of certificate fees, but the report says that Chief Constables MUST put sufficient resources into firearms licensing, as they have a statutory duty.
- The report rejects central storage of firearms.
- The government FIRMLY REJECTS the licensing or banning of air weapons – and it states
“the vast majority of which are used safely and responsibly, and prefers to tackle the minority who misuse air weapons.”
- The report rejects a proposal for a standard minimum age for shooters, notes that the committee did not reccomend an increase in the ages involved, and "is not opposed to young people participating in sports shooting", although they will keep the matter under review.
BASC have published their response - see THE BASC Home Page
VIDEOS
(6/10/11) - Video of Bill Harriman re the Government respopnse to the gun control enquiry TWO videos.
see - BASC interview
11/5/11- Firearms Licensing Manager tells it like it is
Mick Fidgeon from Essex - one of the best firearms licensing managers in the UK - gives us his thoughts on being made redundant.
see- BBC News
(4/10/11) Bisley Live
This was a unique event where all facets of the shooting sports got together at the National Shooting Centre at Bisley over three days.
There were some organisational difficulties, and it was perhaps more expensive than it should have been, but everyone I spoke to felt that it was an excellent idea - with at
least threee people saying "Why hasn't this been done before?"
It was so good to see different areas of the sport mixing together and trying to gain an understanding of each other: Barriers were undoubtedly broken down and friendships formed
(certainly in the numerous bars of the shooting clubs dotted around Bisley!)
It was a sort of Game Fair/Target Shooting fair with with lots of additional "bolt-ons" - and it showcased Bisley at its best.
The excellent weather helped no end and the NRA and MLAGB staff worked extremely hard on the ranges to ensure those who came to have a go at shooting had a good experience - and I certainly
didn't see anyone who hadn't - many smiling faces !
As with any new event there were teething problems - no two ways about it - but there was nothing that couldn't be sortyed out for the next time.
The event should be run again in 2012 and if it is half as good as this year - I'd recommend visiting it.
A petition to "save" the Birmingham Gun Quarter
You might wish to sign this petition: Birmingham Council seem hell-bent on airbrushing out references to the trade that made them great by renaming the gun quarter as "the St Chad & St George" Quarter!
See- Save the Birmingham Gun Quarter
21/09/11 'Boy had gun' near school
A teenage boy has been arrested after a "firearm incident" outside a secondary school in Essex. He was detained by armed police near the school.
See -The Independent
21/09/11 First World War Gun found in Aberdeenshire quarry
A piece of Scottish history has been found in an old Aberdeenshire quarry.
See BBC News Scotland
15/9/11- Solider shot on shooting range
A soldier died during an incident on Lydd Ranges on Wednesday
See - BBC News
13/9/11 - Cowardly raid on home to steal guns
A leicestershire couple in their late 60's are tied and beaten up in their own home by three burglars after guns
See - BBC News Leicestershire
9/9/11 - Mick Gault comes out of retirement
Pistol Shooer Mick Gault tempted out of "retirement" by the Olympics
See- Norfolk Evening News
6/9/11 - 06/09/11 Shotgun burglars sent to prison
Two men who drove round Worcestershire to raid empty homes have been jailed for a total of eight-and-a-half years, but a worrying feature of the case is that three shotguns were among the stolen
property and they won't say where they are.
See - Worcester News
06/09/11 - Gun ownership soars under Obama
For most gun loving Americans, the election of President Obama brought fears of a clamp down on their hobby.
But new statistics show the President may just be the best thing to happen to the U.S. gun industry.
See - The Daily Mail
6/9/11 - Mental health chiefs admit failures in David Bradley care
Mental health chiefs admitted failures in the care of a former soldier from the North East who shot four members of his family
See - North-East Journal
6/9/11- Theft of shotgun cartridges
"Hundreds" of shotgun cartridges stolen from clay pigeon cl;ub in Scotland
See-STV News
4/9/11 - An ambitious small-bore shooter suceeds
A good MoD article about small-bore shooter S/Sgt Zoe Bruce
See - The MoD Oracle
4/9/11 - Olympic hopeful opens sponsorship website
Rifle Shooter Sheree Cox has started her own website to get sponsorship for her Olympic Games hopes
See - Shooting UK
4/9/11- Pistol shooter nominated to carry Olympic torch
......but will she get it ?
See - The Salisbury Journal
2/9/11 - Max Barber wins the Cadet Open Championship in Canada
A young Guernsey rifle shooter ends his college career on a high.
See- This is Guernsey
30/8/11 - Farm raid on shotguns
Farmer praised for bravery after an armed raid on his farm to steal shotguns.
See - The North-East Journal
22/08/11 - Newport shooting - Family say gunman 'needed help'
The family of a gunman found dead after shooting his estranged wife in a hair salon in Newport say he needed help.
See - BBC News South East Wales
22/8/11 - Who ELSE knows where your guns are stored?
Can you imagine the reaction of your firearms licensing department if you told a perfect stranger that you had guns at home, then gave him your name and address? I suggest that they would be
VERY unhappy with you for this breach of security.
Well, it seems that some firearms licensing departments are doing this for us.
We have been told that the Met, Sussex, Gloucestershire, Essex, Hampshire and West Yorkshire Police (and perhaps others) are sending letters to your doctor's surgery to tell them when you have a certificate granted
or renewed.
This means that doctors, receptionists, nurses, practice managers, clerks, and perhaps even cleaners etc in your surgery will have access to the information that you have guns at home, and will know your name
and address.
Worse, the letter states that
"this means that they [the certificate holder] may have more or less immediate access to firearms and ammunition."
As you can imagine his statement is guaranteed to cause
concern amongst those who have little or no knowledge of our sport.
Did the police tell you they were going to do this? did you give your permission for them to do this? I think not.
There is a world of difference in your allowing your GP to give information to the police should they need it, (you sign to allow that on the application form)
and the police giving information to the surgery - you didn't sign up for that.
You might be interested in The Information Commuissioner's Office
If you've renewed recently, why not ask your doctor ?
22/8/11 - Is it dangerous to fire a gun into the air?
An article by the BBC which discusses the midddle-eastern tendency to celebrate by firing AK47s into the air
see BBC's "Who, What, Why?"
10/8/11- Sark Islanders have international success
Our favourite channel island has an excellent clay pigeon club which we visited last year, and we found them incredibly friendly and hospitable.
This is a VERY small island, ( 3 miles by 1 mile) with no roads or cars - they deserve success!
See This is Guernsey (Sark is too small to have it's own newspaper)
9/8/11 - Not really "news" but just to remind ourselves.....
Firearms Licensing managers arrested (2006)
See- BBC News, Devon - 27 October 2006 and The Free Library, North Wales, 2007
8/8/11 - Malcolm Cooper's record broken
James Huckle has broken the British three-position rifle record in South Korea
See - G S E Agency News
and there's also a very good article by the BBC at
BBC Olympics News which contains this quote -
"Your nearest club is the best place to start learning the safety aspects, and also to meet other guys who can tell you about the sport."
We couldn't agree more.
7/8/11 - Britain takes GOLD in the European Championships!
Our mens shotgun team have taken the gold in the double trap in the European Championships in
Belgrade.
Richard Faulds, Peter Wilson and Steven Walton took the first place, and
Michelle Smith won a silver medal in the 50m prone rifle.
There were also bronze medals in the junior women's individual for
Esme Sparey, and for Mark Shaw, Callum McMillan and Nick Gowrie in the junior men's team.
5/8/11- Matrix UNloaded
Five officers from Merseyside Police's operation Matrix - the very successful anti-gun-crime unit - have been sacked
See - BBC News, Liverpool
3/8/11- Club official arrested for possession of a self-loading rifle
The former chairman of the Norton Shooting Club was arrested and later released after it emerged he had certificates for most of the seized weapons.
See - The Droitwich Advertiser
2/8/11-The Home Office come to Bisley
The Homer Office Firearms department visit Bisley to meet representatives of the shoting sports -
See- Shooting UK
1/8/11 - Jersey do well at Bisley
The Jersey team do well at the Imperial meeting
See - This Is Jersey
1/8/11 - Doctor from Mold acquitted of pistol possession
A Mold doctor who was attempting to import an antique revolver for which NO certificate is required, is rightfully acquitted.
It seems the UK Border Agency use different firearms laws from the rest of the UK!
See - The Flintshire Chronicle
1/8/11 - Close his facebook account - that'll really hurt!
The Ministry of Justice closes a gun-using criminal's facebook account
See The Southport Visiter
22/7/11- "Accidental" theft of pistol
A five year sentence for ‘unwittingly’ stealing pistol (with his victim possibly facing the same sentence)
See- BBC News Scotland and The Scotsman
22/7/11- A "Gun rampage"? We must have missed this one!
A curious concept of a ‘rampage’in Cleland - a Fairtrade zone, after all
See - Wishaw News
22/7/11 - Age is no bar
An 87 year-old target shooter earns certificate and medal
See- The Deeside Piper
21/7/11 - Sleeping gamekeeper fined over guns on table
A gamekeeper who was found asleep in a chair in his kitchen with a shotgun and rifle lying on the kitchen table was fined £160 at Inverness Sheriff Court.
See - Highland News
21/7/11- Gun "Collector" used forged Registered Firearms Dealer's Certificate
This man was always going to get caught but now, because of the one time this offence has been seen, there are calls for
changes in the law. One swallow doesn't make a summer, so perhaps one crime doesn't make a change in law?
See - This is Devon
21/07/11 - Jailed gun collector in call for tougher laws
A man jailed after a huge stash of illegally held weapons was seized at his home by police has written to the Echo from his prison cell – and called for a tightening of gun laws.
See - This is Exeter
21/07/11 - Wife's bizarre gun gift to husband leaves him facing five-year jail sentence
A man faces being locked up for at least five years after his wife gave him a Russian rifle as a wedding present.
See- The Daily Record
21/07/11 - A burglar meets his match
Pensioner Mavis Britcher paid a heavy price for her courage in confronting a burglar armed with a hammer.
Mavis grabbed an air rifle to confront the raider who had used a hammer to smash his way into her Saltwood home near Hythe.
See - Kent OnLine
11/7/11 - Surrey Police Officer makes International target shooting team
29 year old PD Emma Nuttall has made the GB fullbore team to compete in Canada
See - Flikr.com
11/7/11 - Uncomfortable ammunition stoage
Waheed Munir pays the price for unconventional ammunition storage.
See - The Brimingham Mail
8/7/11 - A school gun crime initiative
A school takes part in national business challenge to tackle gun and knife crime, but I fail to see how a mobile app that flashes and makes a siren noise when you're in danger will make you less of a target for an illegal gunman?
See - The Enfield Independent
28/6/11 - The Geoffrey Place Range is listed!
English Heritage have designated the range at Mostyn House School as a Grade ll listed building!
Although this has only just been announced, the listing was from the 1st June. You can see the full School details
Mostyn House School listing entry number 1401335
The bit that relates to the range is...
"World War II (WWII) air raid shelter: Concrete stair entrance with barrel-shaped, corrugated steel roof set to south-west of Jarrah leads down into school's WWII air raid shelter aligned
approximately north-west - south-east underneath playing field. Now a rifle range. Interior: Reinforced concrete with vaulted corrugated steel roof and original steel doors, 18-bays long.
Modern partition wall with doorway and viewing window inserted to north-western end to create small office/waiting area for rifle range.
Additional partition wall with shooting targets inserted to south-eastern end. Original pump and three wall-mounted lights moved from their original locations to north-west end wall."
You can see that your work hasn't gone un-noticed, and that it has been very important in getting it listed. This is good news - it means that it is FAR less likely that the range will be demolished or filled-in.
We still don't know what the future will be when the site is sold however.
30/6/11- Merseyside Initiative against Gun Crime
An anti gun crime campaign funded by Merseyside Police, Citysafe, and The Safer Knowsley Partnership.
See - ClickLiverpool
21/6/11 - Long Barrelled pistols use restricted on MoD Ranges
The Chairman of the Land Ranges Safety Sub Committee of the MoD has issued an edict that long barrelled pistols may only be used on MoD ranges if they have a shoulder stock attached
See - Land Ranges Safety Sub-Committee Range Safety Notice 2/11
29/6/11 - Political correctness harms shooting in Wales
Sir Roger Jones gives evidence to the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee’s inquiry into inward investment
See- the Shooting Times
30/6/11- Indian Pistol shooting grandmother
A very slightly patronising article about pistols hooting in India - but worth seeing, for sure.
See -BBC News
Young 23/6/11 - Young people are not interested in Olympics, but ARE interested in shooting
An article including young people’s interest in target sports
See This is Cornwall
21/06/11 - 'No one to blame' after schoolboy gun drama
Rumours of a schoolboy carrying a rifle to class were shot down when police found it was a prop intended for a drama lesson
See - Surey News
21/06/11 - Child issued with shotgun licence by Cheshire Police
A 10-YEAR-OLD child was issued with a shotgun licence by Cheshire police.
The police say current legislation does not set a lower age limit for holders of shotgun licences but insist individuals are subject to ‘rigorous checks’.
This is just another lazy journalist copying others' examples as a way to produce a "story." We've seen it all before.....
See- Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News
16/06/11 - Security guard blasts off own finger to remove a wart
Security guard Sean Murphy blasted off his own finger - after using a shotgun to try to remove a wart.
Some people try ointments from the pharmacist. But Sean Murphy decided on the firepower of a 12-bore Beretta at a Doncaster garden centre.
See - The Star
17/6/11 - Armed Police do random checks on Cheshire certificate holders?
A rather inaccurate Ellesmere Port Pioneer report on young people and firearms, stating that armed police officers are doing random checks on lawful certificate holders -
and getting it all wrong in the last paragraph.
See- The Ellesmere Poer Pioneer"
16/06/11 -Guns seized as police ambush traveller convoy on its way to TV thug's ‘organised fight’
Armed police swooped on a convoy of up to 100 travellers after being warned that they were on their way to an organised fight involving a thug featured in TV’s My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
See- The Daily Mail
16/6/11- Bring back .22 pistol shooting
There's now an online petition to return the sport of .22 pistol shooting
See- Pistol shooting petition We should all sign it!
03/06/11 - Birkenhead man who went on gun rampage is jailed indefinitely
A Birkenhead man who went on an early morning booze-and-drug-fuelled spree, pointing a gun at strangers on their way to work, was locked up after being branded a danger to society.
See- Wirral News
03/06/11 - Pupils in gun scare at Falmer School
This one is worth reading for the comments - the story itself is a non-story.....
See- The Argus
03/06/11 - Villagers' fury as police ban starting pistol for traditional Whitsun race
Villagers in Oxfordshire are smarting after being hit with a ban on using a starting pistol to send off competitors in a centuries-old race.
A shotgun was once used to start the Great Shirt Race, which is held at Whitsun and features two teams pushing prams round Bampton's pubs and drinking half a pint of beer at each.
But in 2000 that was replaced with a starter pistol after pressure from police.
See - The Daily Mail
02/06/11 - Youngsters granted gun licenses
Wigan youngsters as young as 13 have been granted a gun licence.
(Another great non-story)
Figures obtained by the Wigan Observer reveal that last year a 13-year-old was granted a shotgun certificate in Wigan, along with two 14-year-olds, one 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds.
The previous year, in 2009, Greater Manchester Police granted two 13-year-olds shotgun certificates.
See - The Wigan Observer
27/5/11- James Huckle scores
James (who started shooting with the famous Lea Valley club) has achieved a qualifying score in three position rifle for the Olympics.
See London Olympics
27/5/11 - Can any Welsh shooters help?
An appeal for information about a shooting trophy.
See- Wales on-line
23/05/11 - Gun alert boy’s guardian says military look will stay
The guardian of an 11-year-old autistic boy who sparked an armed police alert says he will not ban the youngsters’s military gear.
Last week three armed officers confronted Connor Fry at Sheddingdean shopping centre in Burgess Hill.
See - Mid Sussex Times
20/5/11 - Charity Commission finds mismanagement at two charities
Financial "problems" at two now-defunct anti-gun crime charities
See - Charity Times
19/05/11 - Saving youngsters from gun mis-use
Train driver Tony Gavin is bringing his Safe Shooting School to Greenfield to educate and inform people about the perils of gun ownership.
See- The Daily Post
18/5/11 - Firearms offences committed by Kent police officer
See This is Kent
13/05/11 - Teenager wins three-year battle to clear name after wrongful arrest
A teenager has spoken of his relief after winning a three-year battle to clear his name after being wrongfully arrested.
David Robson was awarded more than £6,000 compensation after a court ruled his arrest, aged just 14, was "unlawful".
See -This is Hull & East Riding
13/05/11 - Armed police surround autistic boy of 11
Armed police aimed their guns at an autistic boy of 11 who had been playing soldiers with his grandad.
They surrounded Connor Fry – who had an unloaded BB gun – as he waited in a car while grandad Dave went into a chip shop.
See- Daily Mirror
8/4/11 - The first news item about financial cuts affecting firearms
Mick Fidgeon was one of the most respected firearms licensing managers in the UK - until he was made redundant on 1st April.
See- The Shooting Times
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