With the Offensive Weapons Bill due to receive its
Third Reading and Report Stage in Parliament, a number of constituents have
recently got in touch to seek my view on bill’s proposed ban on weapons with a muzzle
energy of more than 13,600 joules or 10,000 foot-pounds, particularly .50
calibre single-shot target rifles.
I share their concerns that the proposed ban could
disproportionately affect legally licensed gun owners.
Policymaking needs to be underpinned by clear evidence. The Home
Office has suggested that the proposed ban will help tackle gun crimes in the
UK. However, instances of such weapons being likely to fall into the wrong
hands are incredibly rare. As Sir Geoffrey has previously pointed out in a
parliamentary debate regarding the bill, “there was one incident when one was
stolen; the barrel was chopped down but the gun was quickly recovered and never
implicated in a crime. There has been only one other incident: more than 20
years ago, a .50 calibre weapon was stolen in Northern Ireland and used in the
troubles and then, again, recovered.”
These heavy and bulky weapons, which are often longer than the
length of one’s arm, are simply not the criminal’s weapon of choice; they are
far more likely to turn to smaller, less powerful and less unwieldy firearms.
Instead of achieving its stated objective of preventing gun
crimes, I am concerned that this proposed ban will bring unintended
consequences by ending the well-established and legitimate sporting use of
these rifles, namely in target shooting. For instance, over 400 members of the
Fifty Calibre Shooters Association (FCSA) in the UK regularly compete in the
annual World Championship in the US representing Great Britain. The UK FCSA is
a Home Office Approved Club. Were the bill to be passed with its current
wording, it would bring to an end the club’s legitimate sporting activity,
which to date has a flawless safety record and is undertaken by individuals
already deemed safe through police vetting processes.
I am keen to see the Government reverse its thinking on this ban
and will therefore be supporting Sir Geoffrey’s amendments at the Report Stage
of the Offensive Weapons Bill when it comes before Parliament.
