You can show your support for target shooting in Scotland by rejecting the proposal by answering Q30 of the consultation with our suggest answer below.

This response relates to 6.2 Temporary Use of Land: Shooting Ranges: 

Question 30: Do you have any comments on the potential exclusion of the use of land as a target shooting range from class 15 PDR? If such a change were taken forward, do you have views on the potential justification for exempting the activities discussed in paragraphs 6.2.4 and 6.2.5?

Response:

The context for change, listed in 6.2.2 through 6.2.6 does not, in my view, provide any evidence for a change in PDR. It is interesting to note that noise is listed as the potential main objection to shooting activities. There are, however, numerous exemptions for shooting activities listed in Sections 6.2.3 and 6.2.4. All of these activities have the potential to cause noise problems, so to identify one type of shooting activity as unsuitable for a PDR seems unfounded. It should also be noted that much target rifle shooting is conducted with guns fitted with sound-moderators, which considerably reduce the noise signature. This option is not available for activities such as clay pigeon shooting, an activity to be exempted under the proposal.

6.2.2 states that “the use of firearms is subject to separate licensing and checks by Police Scotland to ensure public safety. For ranges this will include a requirement of a safety certificate issued by the National Rifle Association or a similar body, as well as having adequate insurance being in place.” This is only partially correct. On a formal Home Office Approved Range, such conditions may apply, but on other types of range that is not the case. All rifle shooters permitted to shoot live quarry, and possessing an open certificate, would normally have as part of their conditions the phrase, “ …and for zeroing and practice on ranges, or land where the holder has lawful authority to shoot.” In such circumstances, anyone with an open certificate can set up a fixed target on land they deem suitable to zero and practice. In short, a temporary range.

Were there to be several shooters who have permission to shoot live quarry on the same piece of land, they may decide to set up a temporary range where they can all zero and practice. Such a range would not be subject to safety checks by Police Scotland or have a safety certificate. There would be no requirement to set up as a Home Office Approved Club. As the targets used for zero and practice are likely to be non-permanent structures, no development would have taken place; therefore, no planning permission exemption would be needed. The use of such temporary ranges for zeroing and practice with rifles have taken place on land in Scotland and the rest of Britain for over a hundred years, without issue.

In conclusion, Section 6.2 does not support any changes to the current legislation. The proposal appears to have identified one particular type of shooting for vilification. Furthermore, the proposal is not evidence led and we would aver that it is both discriminatory and disproportionate. As such, BASC would actively oppose any such change.