Just in from Steve at Cybershooters.org is an update concerning the VCR Bill. Several changes have been proposed to the bill (source), no doubt to the amount of letters they’ve had about the implications of what they originally proposed. The update is promising, but there’s still more to be done by the look of it:
The Government has proposed a large number of changes to the Bill, included among them are:
- a prohibition of the sale or transfer of air guns by way of trade or business by anyone except registered firearm dealers;
- a prohibition on the sale or transfer of airguns by way of trade or business except on a face to face basis (i.e mail order sales would be banned);
- provisions for allowing the sale of realistic imitation firearms for display by museums, theatrical use and use by re-enactment groups (but not, note, airsoft clubs);
- clarification of the definition of a “realistic imitation firearm”. The new definition excludes antique imitations; imitations of firearms made prior to 1870; and deactivated firearms, provided they have been inspected by a Proof House as provided under the 1988 Act.
- an increase in the age limit for sale, acquisition, etc. of crossbows to 18.
The exemptions are obviously good news, however action is still needed to stop some of these provisions; especially I would say the provisions relating to the sale of air guns. Prohibition of mail order sales will obviously put a lot of dealers out of business, and restricting sales to RFDs is too heavy-handed, I have suggested as an alternative a power to restrict sales to storefront businesses and other designated places, such as arms fairs. The RFD system won’t work for air guns, as a lot of them lack serial numbers, or specific models have the same serial number. These amendments are likely to be considered in the Commons quite soon, so now is the time to write to your MP or better yet go and see them and express your views. Steve, (Cybershooters.org)
