Gun control advocates hold a “gun free” UK near and dear to their disarmament-loving hearts. American Fudds — hunters and sportsman who couldn’t give a toss about the gun rights of people who own or aspire to own handguns or ARs — are OK with the UK’s gun control regime. Yes, well, civilian disarmament is a slippery slope. The gun banners will have your shotguns and hunting rifles too, mate. Here’s proof from The Land of Hope and Glory via shootinguk.co.uk . . .
Have you ever taken a family member or friend, who no shotgun licence, on a day’s shooting on land that you do not own? If so, and you allow them to have a go, you could be breaking the law.
This illogicality on the borrowing of shotguns is why the Countryside Alliance (CA), with the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC), is asking the Government to update the 1968 Firearms Act. After the recommendations made by then Law Commission last year, now is the perfect time to reduce the legal complexity of the Act and the administrative burden on the police.
As the law stands, Section 11(5) of the 1968 Act allows “an individual, without holding a shotgun certificate, to borrow a shotgun from the occupier of private premises and use it on those premises in the occupier’s presence”.
Taking your son or daughter out shooting or participating in a Young Shots day, where they can be taught and experience handling and using a shotgun, is one of the best ways to introduce the younger generation safely to the sport. But unless you are borrowing a shotgun from the “occupier” of the land and the occupier is “present”, then this cannot legally be done. If there is no occupier present the only way for a young person to participate is to obtain a shotgun certificate.
Never happen here? As a TTAG commentator Mr. 308 points out below, a New York gun owner can’t even let someone with a permit touch his gun. If gun control advocates have their way, Fudds will feel the fickle finger of fate, too. Count on it.