New Year’s message from BASC's Chairman

[Christel]

Dear member,

2016 has been a challenging year for your association but despite this there were significant achievements and we look forward to building on these in 2017. I would like to thank you for your continued support and making this possible.

Working closely with the government, MPs and other shooting organisations, we were able to deliver on long-term political aims, such as extending the life of a certificate if the police have failed to renew it in time, improving the law on loaning a shotgun and removing expanding ammunition from general prohibition. All this, and other improvements, are contained within the Policing and Crime Bill which is completing its final stages in parliament.

The BASC firearms team continues to work with all licensing departments, particularly those which are performing poorly. We are involved in the training of licensing staff and are planning to expand this next year. In 2016, the team responded to more than 9,890 members with queries and issues to do with licensing.

BASC membership stands at a record high of more than 147,500 - above target and growing. We continue to improve members’ benefits with the aim of ensuring that being a BASC member delivers far greater value than the cost of the subscription. The numbers of discounts we have secured are worth thousands of pounds on new vehicles and we have more than 100 trade members offering discounts on sporting equipment.

I am also delighted that The Game Fair in 2017 will be offering complimentary admission to all BASC members.

We continue to introduce young people to shooting through our Young Shots programme. We ran a clay line, for the first time, at the International Scout Jamboree, where BASC coaches gave 5,817 Scouts and Guides a taste of shooting.

A summary of our work can be found on the BASC website here. Shooting in the UK will again face major challenges in 2017. Those, who want to stop or restrict what we do, will not go away. Together, and with your continued support, we can preserve the sport we all love for future generations.

I wish you a very happy New Year and hope that your shooting will be straight and safe.

That is a link in the email sent to members. https://basc.org.uk/bascs-key-achievements-2016/

[dromia]

Obviously their view of shooting is different from most of us.

The way things are in the real world they have achieved little in protecting gun owners.

Fur coat and no bloody knickers just like the rest of our organisations.

No mention of their own internal mismanagement issues either.

[Mikaveli]

I thought they'd done a good job this year -- any positive news is good for shooting in general - doesn’t matter if it doesn't directly benefit our type of shooting.

[dromia]

Until they tackle the establishment anti gun ownership agenda full on, any other achievements will be Pyrrhic victories.

[saddler]

I thought they'd done a good job this year -- any positive news is good for shooting in general - doesn’t matter if it doesn't directly benefit our type of shooting.

No great impact from ANY organisation on the Scottish airWEAPON certificate snafu.

[David Nimrod]

Until they tackle the establishment anti gun ownership agenda full on, any other achievements will be Pyrrhic victories.

There's such an endemic prejudice against shooters and shooting in this country... until that turns 'round, we're on the run.

[Christel]

Not running anywhere, if asked I will tell people what I do.

I do realise that certain areas in the country has a more negative approach against guns than others, making life slightly more difficult.
Luckily we live in a conservative area where hunting and gun ownership is mostly accepted.

[dromia]

We are all on the run from the national firearms cerification agenda of less FACs and less firearms held.

That is regardless of where we live.

[David Nimrod]

We are all on the run from the national firearms cerification agenda of less FACs and less firearms held.

That is regardless of where we live.

Precisely.

[Dunc]

Good idea Christel to post this. I got the email recently myself but didn't think to do so.

IMHO, (as someone who works in the 'communications' world), the politicians that I speak to regard BASC as a professional and up to date organisation, dispelling some of the myths that others/politicians have about shooters.

I've needed their help myself on a few occasions and each time they have been helpful and a successful conclusion was reached. They aren't miracle workers of course, but their advice and help, in my experience, is second to none.

Happy New Year to you all.