BASC submits new evidence to Westminster firearms enquiry

Monday, 6 December 2010 12:00 AM

The UK's largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), has submitted three sets of supplemental evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee's enquiry into firearms law.

BASC attended each of the committee's evidence sessions in order to assess the arguments put forward by both opponents and supporters of shooting. Our representatives listened carefully to what was said and extracted themes and issues to elaborate on in order to assist the committee. These form the basis of the supplemental evidence.

The main themes of the extra evidence are:

BASC's opposition to: the separate storage of shotgun ammunition, the 'tagging' of medical records of certificate holders, shortening the life of firearm and shotgun certificates and a proposal to change the shotgun licensing system to that used for firearms. There are also sections focusing on young people, air weapons and international comparisons.

Separate pieces of supplemental evidence concentrate on:

* Gun security - outlining the current system of security and BASC's objection to central storage of firearms and ammunition.

* The criminal use of firearms - focusing on deactivated weapons and the crossover from legally-owned weapons into the criminal pool.

BASC submitted its main evidence earlier this year. Bill Harriman, BASC's director of firearms, and Mike Eveleigh, BASC's senior firearms officer, both appeared before the committee to give evidence.

Bill Harriman said: "We have done our utmost to inform the debate and to furnish the committee with the facts it needs to reach sensible conclusions and sustainable recommendations."
BASC's evidence can be read in full at www.basc.org.uk

ENDS

For more information please call the BASC press office on 01244 573031

Tags: