BASC has submitted its response to the Government’s firearms safety consultation, and provided guidance to help if you also wish to respond

BASC has submitted its response to the Government’s firearms safety consultation. The consultation was launched in November last year. Quoting the Government website, the consultation sought “views on a range of firearms safety issues which were raised with the government during the passage of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019” and contained “proposals for how the law might be changed to mitigate the risks raised by these issues”.

The consultation included proposals for “further, targeted controls on the security of air weapons and access to them by under-18s in England and Wales”, and also sought views on the following firearms safety issues (raised with the Government during the passage of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 through parliament – high muzzle energy rifles, air weapons, miniature rifle ranges, and components of ammunition.

BASC submitted a detailed and practical response showing that it was prepared to support the Government’s proposed actions to improve firearms safety where there was direct evidence that it was necessary, but that it would fight against any proposed restrictions where there was no evidence to support their necessity.

Director of Firearms at BASC, Bill Harriman, said: “BASC is very pleased that the government’s Firearms Safety Consultation unequivocally confirms that airguns in England and Wales will not be subject to any licensing regime. That is an evidence-led and proportionate response.

“What is neither evidence-led nor proportionate is the proposal that young people aged between 14–17 should no longer be allowed to use airguns on private premises without supervision.

“BASC asserts that this proposal will disadvantage many young people without any commensurate increase in public safety and will use all its lobbying powers to oppose it.”

Mr Harriman said BASC would launch a campaign soon focusing on the use of airguns by under-18s to raise awareness of the issue and to show the government the importance of the issue.

You can read BASC’s full response to the consultation here

The consultation ends on 16 February 2021 and BASC is urging its members to spare five minutes completing an online survey form as their response.

For more information and BASC’s recommended answers to the survey, click here