Within our membership we have a number of shooters who participate in game, or, vermin control. As of May 2nd, 2017, the laws relating to the lending of shotguns or rifles have changed, and verbal permission may now no longer be sufficient. With this in mind, our good friends at the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, have supplied information pertinent to these changes in a short statement and associated links. Please read them.
The Policing and Crime Act 2017
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 received Royal Assent on the 31st January. As a result we have to relearn how we lend firearms. Section 11(5) of the 1968 Act and Section 16 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 no longer exist. They are replaced by Section 11A.
Full details of the exemption are contained in the fact sheets at the end of this email, please read them in full as the criteria has changed. This email relates to written permission which now forms part of the criteria.
In the case of lending shotguns and rifles the lender must be;
a) a person who has the right to allow others to enter the premises for the purpose of hunting animals or shooting game or vermin, or
b) a person authorised by them in writing.
This means that as of the 2 May 2017 – you must seek written permission before you loan rifles or shotguns to non-certificate holders if you as the lender are not entitled to allow others to enter the land to shoot. This is regardless of any verbal or other agreement currently in place.
The following wording should be used to ensure that shooting can continue lawfully;
I hereby give permission for X to use the land at X for the purpose of shooting artificial targets and carrying out training/coaching* using rifles/shotguns*
For those who host courses including the killing of live quarry e.g. DSC Level 2 or intermediate deer course – you must add the wording “hunting animals, shooting game or vermin” as appropriate.
Please send any enquiries to firearms@basc.org.uk using P&C2017 in the header so we can ensure your query is answered expeditiously.
BASC Press release –
BASC FAQ’s – https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/PC-FAQs.pdf
BASC detailed briefing – https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/PC-Briefing-Web-2.pdf
‘Borrowing Shotguns’ fact sheet –
https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=39
‘Borrowing Rifles’ fact sheet –
https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=38
If you are not already a member of a pro-shooting organisation, I strongly urge you to join one. Your membership enables information such as this to be passed to all shooters, for the benefit of all shooters.
Hope this all helps Sean.
Fittleworth Rifle Club 