25-06-2006, 12:01 PM
A new consultation document, which proposes to reduce the age at which young people in Northern Ireland may possess shotguns and airguns, has been published by the Northern Ireland office.
The consultation has been released following many years of lobbying by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and other interested parties. The consultation acknowledges the gross disparity of treatment of young people in Northern Ireland from those in Great Britain, with regard to access to licensed firearms.
BASC’s Northern Ireland Director, Roger Pollen, said “BASC has lobbied for many years to achieve this fairer position, and we are very pleased that our efforts appear to be bearing fruit. The Consultation proposes to reduce the age at which young people may possess shotguns and airguns from 16 to 12. They would not need a firearm certificate, but would be subject to strict supervision by an experienced shooter who is over 21 years of age.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers has submitted evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster stating that the supervised use of licensed firearms by young people in Great Britain produces almost no problems at all. The Committee considers that all young people in the UK should have the same opportunities to participate in sporting shooting.
Roger Pollen added “Through its Young Shots events in the Province, BASC is aware of the huge interest in sporting shooting amongst young people. With the impending Olympic Games in London in 2012, this change to the law cannot come a moment too soon, if Northern Ireland's youngsters are to have a fair opportunity to practice clay shooting and learn the field craft associated with sporting shooting.”
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.
The consultation has been released following many years of lobbying by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and other interested parties. The consultation acknowledges the gross disparity of treatment of young people in Northern Ireland from those in Great Britain, with regard to access to licensed firearms.
BASC’s Northern Ireland Director, Roger Pollen, said “BASC has lobbied for many years to achieve this fairer position, and we are very pleased that our efforts appear to be bearing fruit. The Consultation proposes to reduce the age at which young people may possess shotguns and airguns from 16 to 12. They would not need a firearm certificate, but would be subject to strict supervision by an experienced shooter who is over 21 years of age.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers has submitted evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster stating that the supervised use of licensed firearms by young people in Great Britain produces almost no problems at all. The Committee considers that all young people in the UK should have the same opportunities to participate in sporting shooting.
Roger Pollen added “Through its Young Shots events in the Province, BASC is aware of the huge interest in sporting shooting amongst young people. With the impending Olympic Games in London in 2012, this change to the law cannot come a moment too soon, if Northern Ireland's youngsters are to have a fair opportunity to practice clay shooting and learn the field craft associated with sporting shooting.”
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.