Further supplementary memoranda submitted
by the British Shooting Sports Council
Gun Control Network: Canada has a registration
system since 2003 for most conventional long arms (rifles and
shotguns) and a licensing system for pistols and "restricted"
long arms.
Gill Marshall-Andrews referred to one third
of all traced murder weapons in Canada being licensed. Statistics
produced by various organisations on the misuse of registered
firearms can be at variance. For instance the Canadian public
safety department has recently stated that, of 2,441 homicides
recorded in Canada since mandatory long-gun registration was introduced,
fewer than 2% (47) were committed with rifles and shotguns known
to have been registered. A study of homicides between 1997 and
2005, however, reported that 13%, not 30%, of all firearms involved
in a homicide could be found in the registry (Dauvergne, 2005).
A variety of police studies have found that between 2% and 16%
of crime guns were ever in the Canadian gun registry. Each police
department defined "crime guns" in a different manner.
Canadian Juristat homicide reports show that firearms crime has
been stable for seven years and homicide with firearms has been
stable for ten years. There has been a very significant, if unsteady
(with peaks and troughs), historical decline in firearms homicides
in Canada, but this decline started in the 1970s, long before
registration. There is a 30% figure which comes from a recent
study of "recovered guns" by the Canadian Chiefs of
Police, almost all of which have been recovered by police when
they attend an "incident". The so-called "crime
guns" in this study are mostly from suicides, attempted or
actual, not murders or crimes such as robbery or assault. The
guns used in criminal violence in Canada are mostly not recovered.
Canadian legislation requiring spouses to sign
off on applications for firearm licences was introduced by the
Kim Campbell government in 1991, not 1995.
The murder rate of women by their spouses has
been gradually declining for three decades.
Gill Marshall-Andrews is not correct when she
states that gun ownership is a privilege, not a right. Whilst
it is reasonable to assert that the right to have arms which existed
prior to 1920 has been circumscribed, elements of that right remain
in current legislation, viz. Section 27(1) "A firearm certificate
shall be granted where the chief officer of police is satisfied…"
and Section 28(1), "…a shot gun certificate shall be
granted…" Whilst the conditions that follow are stringent,
the term "shall" is used rather than "may".
This is not accidental and arises from recommendations of the
Blackwell Committee of 1919.
Nor do we agree that the duration of a firearm
or shotgun certificate should be shortened to two years. The present
five year period is satisfactory. Finland has a "life"
license, Sweden has "life" or five years depending on
weapon type, Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg have five year licenses,
the Netherlands is to change from one to five years, Eire has
changed from one to three, while Germany and Portugal have three
year licenses. The important factor is whether or not there is
a monitoring system in place. There is an argument in favour of
very long licenses with mandatory periodic reviews (and revocation
if necessary), since this avoids problems that may require the
issuing of temporary permits if for some reason the police have
not renewed a license by its expiry date. Unfortunately EU legislation
does not permit "life" licenses.
With regard to more public access to information
about certificate holders, Gill Marshall-Andrews' comments quoted
in the Coventry Telegraph on 15 November were not hedged
with the caveats she gave in her oral evidence:
With regard to the introduction this year of
licensing of air guns in New Zealand, this applies only to powerful
pre-charged pneumatic types and is not applied to traditional
spring powered or CO2 powered types, or to BB guns or paintball
guns. This is very similar to existing law here which requires
a firearm certificate for "specially dangerous" air
rifles whose muzzle energy exceeds 12 ft lbs.
With regard to greater public knowledge about
who possesses firearms, Gill Marshall-Andrews' comments, below,
to the Coventry Telegraph published on 15 November were
not hedged with the caveats she gave in her oral evidence:
"These are deadly weapons and we should
know much more about who is permitted to own them."
"Gun owners in the UK have always been protected
by a culture of secrecy. Police will not give out information
about gun ownership, saying it's a private matter."
"But when legal gun owners commit such dreadful
crimes, it's clearly not a private matter."
"We should know who around us has guns so
we can judge whether they are suitable people to hold such deadly
weapons."
The BSSC sees no need for a "spousal hotline".
Spouses and others, including rifle clubs, show little reluctance
in calling the police if they have a concern over a shooter's
behaviour.
We would wish to see the evidence from which
Gill Marshall-Andrews has inferred that poor storage by shooters
has contributed to thefts of firearms.
We are happy to continue to "collude"
with the police on matters pertaining to firearms security, although
we prefer the word "co-operate".
Medical issues: With regard to the involvement
of General Practitioners we would note that acting as an agent
of the state is not their primary role, and routine referral of
all applications for a certificate would place a significant additional
burden on the police and the medical practices. Routine referral
risks the filing of far more indicators (such as copy letters)
in practice records which would flag up to the ill-intentioned
the presence of a firearm at a particular address. The proportionality
of routine referral deserves consideration. Nor are such referrals
reliable or consistent in their outcomes. We are advised that
many GPs are reluctant to meet their obligation in the Road Traffic
Act to advise the DVLA of individuals who are unfit to drive,
so suggest that the effectiveness or otherwise of this existing
reporting requirement might be considered an indicator of the
likely effectiveness of a similar requirement relating to firearms.
The BSSC accepts in principle, however, that the greater involvement
of General Practitioners should be given careful consideration,
but would wish to review any detailed proposals and has concern
over any financial impact on an already expensive licensing process.
Numbers of firearms: The BSSC does not consider
that the number of firearms held by an individual is an indicator
of potential risk. It is not possible to use more than two firearms
concurrently. Different types of specialised firearm are required
if a good standard of performance is to be achieved in each target
shooting discipline. Some shooters choose to shoot in a variety
of disciplines. Different rifles and shotguns may also be required
for different types of quarry. The Home Office Statistical Bulletin
05/10 "Firearm Certificates in England & Wales 2008-09",
the latest figures available, indicate that there are on average
3.1 "firearms" per firearm certificate (although this
average may include such things as spare barrels and sound moderators
as well as complete firearms) and 2.4 shotguns per shot gun certificate.
Some certificate holders are collectors with an antiquarian and
heritage interest and may well hold larger numbers than average.
The security aspect is well covered by "Firearms Security
Handbook 2005" produced by the Home Office, ACPO, ACPOS and
the BSSC.
Power of air guns: We understand that BASC is
to respond on this point raised by Dr Huppert.
Raoul Moat: We understand that there may be
some misunderstanding about Raoul Moat's possession of a sawn-off
shotgun. We understand that Moat was a violent criminal who had
just been released from prison, did not have a shotgun certificate
and obtained the gun in question from criminal associates.
Storage: The BSSC endorses the additional submission
from Mike Eveleigh (BASC) on this matter.
Streamlining of the licensing system by the
shooting organisations: Graham Downing has responded to the Chairman
on this issue in his letter of the 15th November 2010.
Last year (2009) the National Rifle Association
applied for 400 British Visitor's Permits, of which 271 came from
the EU, so possessed an European Firearms Pass. Mr Roger Weedon,
Licensing Officer for Surrey, reckons it takes about 20 minutes
to process each one. The National Small-bore Rifle Association
applied for about 100 with 80 from the EU and the CPSA processed
540, with 245 from the EU. If EU citizens could travel on their
EFP only then the manpower saving for Surrey would be about 200
hours plus of course postage etc. It is understood that Thames
Valley processes even more applications than Surrey.
Theft of firearms: The Fraud squad at Gwent
advise that 309 guns were reported as "missing" at the
beginning of the D J Litts enquiry. They have now traced 120 of
these, but 189 are still outstanding. It is not clear what number
of these were reported to the Home Office as misappropriated,
as it may be that they had recovered a number of them when the
returns were sent.
The Home Office report itself is vague—"around
a third of these shotgun thefts….related to one incident
in the Gwent police force area."
On the basis of information available to the
BSSC, the apparent huge rise in thefts of firearms in the 2008-09
year relates largely—if not wholly—to the DJ Litts
enquiry, ie they have not fallen into the hands of potentially
violent criminals bent on their misuse.
Young people and firearms: The British Shooting
Sports Council is firmly of the opinion that there are real benefits
to be gained for society and for the individual by permitting
and even encouraging those young people who are interested in
firearms (and there are many) to learn their disciplined use in
appropriate circumstances. Even with the very strict firearms
legislation in place in Britain, this point of view has been widely
accepted.
Gerry Sutcliffe, then Minister for Sport, speaking
in 2008 stated: "National Shooting Week gives an opportunity
for all the misconceptions about shooting to be put to one side
but it also gives people an opportunity to understand that this
really is a sport that can be for everybody".
In 2009, Martin Salter said in regard to National
Shooting Week: "When Rob Gray from the Countryside Alliance
asked for my support for this new project back in 2006, I was
only too happy to help because it is so important to demystify
firearms and show the general public that responsible shooting
is safe and accessible to all."
Kate Hoey has taken school children from her
inner-city constituency clay pigeon shooting. She says "I
have taken some constituents to experience the countryside and
have a go at clay pigeon shooting. I think it is important that
children understand that shooting can be a great fun sport where
we win medals and children are taught about the discipline…"
Ms Hoey said encouraging inner-city children to shoot in the countryside
would not entice them to use illegal guns on the streets. "Anti-social
young people are going to do that anyway—what we are doing
is showing youngsters the opportunity that shooting can be a properly
disciplined sport".
Adrian Whiting, Chair of the Association of
Chief Officers of Police Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working
Group and member of the ACPO Criminal Use of Firearms Steering
Group stated in correspondence with the BSSC's Secretary in specific
reference to a draft United Nations CASA (Coordinating Action
on Small Arms) ISACS (International Small Arms Control Standards)
module concerned with children, youth, small arms and light weapons:
"Having had a chance to quickly read this through, and as
you indicate I concur it is seemingly very much aimed at reducing
youth related trauma through criminal use of firearms—very
laudable intention. In terms of licensing control I sense there
is little to observe save that police are content that properly
supervised shooting sports activities for youth appear to generate
self discipline and positive sporting traits and do not appear
to have an adverse impact on youth. On that basis I would not
pro-actively support any suggestion that the controls that may
flow from the document should be taken as needing to reduce or
restrict the ability of youth to participate in lawful sporting
shooting activities."
We would support Adrian Whiting's comments on
this issue to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 16 November.
In 2008 the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown
and his Education Minister Ed Balls supported the growth of the
Cadet movement in schools. Mr Balls stated: "I believe combined
cadet forces can make a huge difference to the young people who
join them and the schools and communities in which they are based."
A major review of the military's role in society stated that encouraging
more state secondary school pupils to join the cadet corps would
improve discipline among teenagers while helping to improve the
public perception of the army, navy and air force. Under the new
government proposals, state schools which did not set up a cadet
system would encourage pupils to attend a community cadet force
instead. One of the core elements of the cadets' training is mastering
shooting skills and military drill. Advocates believe the virtues
of discipline, physical exercise and team spirit outweigh any
concerns over the use of firearms. The notion of introducing cadet
forces across schools was welcomed by heads and teachers. Mick
Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers,
said: "One of the things that these organisations do bring
is discipline and order and, in my experience, working with children
who have fragmented lives at home, that is something that is missing
and something they crave."
22 November 2010
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