Hi all.
I think that the post by foxhole is referring to an historic event?
in days of yore the legislation was shall we say lax, by todays standards where Health and Safety RULES!
And I say quite correct, air weapons are to be treated as FIREARMS, but over a shorter distance, on a good day, a really good day I can hit a target at 55 yards with my .177 Pellet. when I shoot .22 rimfire I can score 94 / 98 out of 100 but inconsistent
I digress, there is a new proposed law in Scotland that will require all owners of air so called " weapons, rifles and pistols" to obtain a license to own and shoot an air gun, likewise all clubs, and there are not many of them will need to be licensed.
We seem to have moved full circle here? in that what has been posted here and the post above have moved us all on to a new and hopefully safer ground?
Present law, up here is generally.
1/. Plinking in your back garden is prohibited if there is any chance of the pellet leaving your land.
2/. Hunting, or vermin control can only be undertaken on land that you have written permission to hunt over.
3/ You can not shoot an air weapon within a set number of meters / yards from the centre line of a public road.
From here the list goes on and on.
If you consider things, all the above are simple things that air rifle shooters will readily conform to, it is the minority of mindless sometimes drug addicted idiots that use air weapons to take pot shots at cats, Swans, general wildlife and in one seriously notable case a young child, yes a young child was killed by an air rifle, the perpetrator was jailed BUT?
Is the proposed Scottish legislation proportionate to actually control air weapons?
on a complete flyer here, the Commonwealth Games are coming to Scotland fine great.
BUT where are the shooting events to take place?
In a little known suburb of Glasgow called "Barry Budden" this venue is situated on an old MOD establishment sited about 2 Hrs. north and east of Glasgow
This all signing and dancing facility with electronic targets for Shotgun, Full bore long range, Full bore short range, .22 long and short, air rifle, air pistol, free pistol [don't ask] has or is being built..
After the games are over what happens? ---- the entire thing is torn down and thrown away---- what does that say about the Scottish governments commitment to sport?
As an aside if the Air weapons legislation comes into force any so called "visitor" will have to get a temporary License to bring there air guns into the country?
Legislation? we are now awash with it?
Cheers all thanks with reading my RANT?
Ken
