Royal Mail, firearms and the law

[Mr. X]

From the Countryside Alliance today:

Royal Mail firearms consultation - Countryside Alliance

Royal Mail, firearms and the law

Small, incremental changes to the way things are done are biggest threat to shooting. By allowing seemingly inconsequential changes to progress unchecked, we could irreversibly damage our sport and way of life. A prime example of this can be seen in Royal Mail's ongoing consultation, which proposes banning all firearms and firearm components from being sent through the postal network.

Despite similar proposals being dismissed by the postal regulator in 2005, the Royal Mail is citing the 1988 amendments to the Firearms Act to substantiate the plans, with which it claims it can no longer comply. As this would prevent all gun components from being sent in the post, it is clear that these proposals, if implemented, would have far-reaching financial implications for thousands of gun users across the United Kingdom. In addition, gun businesses and the Post Offices they use would be disproportionally affected by such restrictions.

These proposals would remove yet another service from Post Offices, an ongoing concern of ours over many years. We are firm on this point: we should be enhancing services offered by the network, not removing them and further threatening their viability. In addition, removing this option would leave only more expensive courier options both for the gun trade and the shooter. With many businesses facing threats to their very existence in rural areas now is a time to bolster and support them, not pull the rug out from under them for no good reason.

As an organisation with a long history campaigning for rural Post Offices, businesses and shooting, we are well placed to voice strong opposition to these unfounded and far reaching proposals. But I also urge you, our members and supporters, to take part in the consultation by visiting our website here and following the simple instructions. Your support will help prevent further restrictions to shooting and damage to our fragile rural economy.

Barney White-Spunner
Executive Chairman

You might also like to sign an epetition against the consultation proposals and can do so here.

 

[diddavetellyou]

Good post Mr X,

This is really interesting subject and not something a lot of people would here about. and i agree with you that the bureaucratic machine does like to change this slowly so that people don’t notice and all of a sudden you’ve not changed anything and it has become illegal.

I have two questions

Firstly; I know that is a bit of a leap but does this or could it in the future have implications for spearfishing equipment like trigger mechanisms or complete guns? in the fact that they are potentially deadly weapons.
I did see a bit of discussion on DB about self regulation of the sport vs. waiting for government control.

Secondly; slightly less related the issues with traveling with spearguns on public transport.

my own experience of traveling from Cornwall to uni in Brighton by train with the gun that I made during the summer holidays. It was carefully packed in my big suitcase with about 30 cm sticking out the top and covered in a pair of rugby socks. This was fine till i get on the train and there is not enough space to store it like this so the conductor makes me take it out at which point the trigger and pistol grip are clearly visible and you can see the colour drain from his face. After I reassured him it is just for fishing and isn’t in fact functional as yet he allows me to stay on the train to my destination i.e. not to be met at Exeter station by the Police armed response unit and escorted from the train. He told me in no uncertain terms i have to keep it out of sight and very close to me.

I've seen a few threads on here that look at different countries and companies policies on traveling with spearfishing equipment but it seams totally hit and miss so if any one has any funny/frustrating stories on the subject or has researched any specific company policies is it worth starting a dedicated thread (unless there is one I’ve missed sorry)?

I know that sometimes getting a reply from a big national or multi national company can be like getting blood out of a stone so would a giant of the sport like William Trubridge or Tanya Streeter get a faster/ more positive response?


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Have dry-bag will travel.