Membership

The Association was founded originally for collectors and researchers in the smallarms field and its membership procedures reflect this.
 
A variety of classes of membership are available, one of which should cater your needs
  • Full Voting Membership
  • Full Non-voting Membership
  • Junior Non-voting Membership
  • Corresponding / Institutional Subscribers
  • Overseas Corresponding / Institutional Subscribers

Application Procedure

Full Membership

In UK law the Association is a Home Office Approved Club, which gives its Full Members legal justification for holding a Firearms Certificate, but which also imposes strict membership criteria.
 
Unlike most local clubs, the HBSA does not have a ‘home range’ at which we could assess the suitability of new applicants. As a result, it is Council policy that all applicants for full membership should be interviewed by two Council or senior members.
 
Complete the Full Membership Application form and return it with your cheque to the Membership Registrar. You will then be invited for interview at a mutually convenient location, and you will be most welcome to attend our general meetings during the period that your application is under consideration. Should your application be declined, your fee will be refunded.
 
Following the initial interview, your application will be “read” at three monthly meetings of the Association before you can be elected to Full Membership.
 

Corresponding or Institutional Subscribers

To apply for Corresponding or Institutional subscription, there is no requirement for interview – simply complete the Online Paperless Application or download the Publications Subscription application form and return it with your cheque (for overseas applications the Membership Registrar can arrange for a Paypal invoice).
 

Renewals

Existing Full Members, Associations, UK and Overseas Subscribers may all renew their annual subscriptions online here >>>>
 

Membership Classes and Benefits

Full Voting Membership

HBSA Membership card f

Full voting membership is awarded to persons capable of handling arms and ammunition safely, and possessing a substantial knowledge of some aspect of the history, use or technology of smallarms. Full voting members are entitled to attend all meetings of the Association, to receive all publications of the Association, may join the online HBSA Members Forum, and to vote at General and Special Meetings of the Association. Full voting members should ideally attend at least one meeting of the Association in any period of twelve months.

 

Full Non-voting Membership

HBSA Membership card b

Full non-voting membership is awarded to persons capable of handling arms and ammunition safely, but they need not possess a substantial knowledge of the history, use or technology of smallarms. Full non-voting members are entitled to attend all meetings of the Association, to receive all publications of the Association, may join the online HBSA Members Forum, but not to vote at General and Special Meetings of the Association. Full non-voting members should attend at least one meeting of the Association in any period of twelve months.

Junior Non-voting Membership

The HBSA values younger members and wishes to encourage interest in our field of study.
With this in mind, we admit junior members under the age of majority with a Full Member’s parental consent, however we also recognise that junior members are unlikely to have developed an in depth knowledge of the subjects surrounding our activities.

With this in mind Junior applicants will not be asked to undergo our normal interviewing procedure, but will be accorded Junior membership status on their parent or guardian’s recommendation subject to a single reading at Council. Surrey police will be informed of their intent to join. This membership status carries with it no voting rights.

Junior members will only come to us via parents or relatives who are already Full Members, who in this instance serve as referees and this should suffice at this stage to ensure that the junior candidate is suitable for membership. The parent or guardian must be one of the proposers for membership, thereby conferring their continuing permission to join the HBSA.

Upon reaching the age of majority the junior member will be invited to interview for consideration of eligibility for Full Adult Membership. By this time they should be able to demonstrate some knowledge and enthusiasm for the activities of the HBSA.

It should be borne in mind that certain legal age related restrictions exist regarding the use and handling of firearms and ammunition, and that some ranges operate age and/or size restrictions. There also may be insurance implications. It will be the responsibility of the accompanying adult to ensure familiarity and compliance with these strictures.

Junior members should be accompanied by a responsible adult all times where firearms are being used unless they have proven levels of responsibility and competence i.e. are in possession of a relevant valid shooters competence card.

Corresponding / Institutional Subscription

Corresponding or Institutional subscriptions are appropriate to those persons unable to fulfil the attendance conditions required for full membership or to corporate bodies which wish to be associated with the work of the Association. Corresponding / Institutional subscribers are entitled to receive one copy of all publications of the Association, but not to attend meetings of the Association (except as a guest), nor to vote at General and Special Meetings of the Association.
 

Overseas Corresponding / Institutional Subscription

Until very recently the HBSA Members Forum was restricted to only Full Members of the Association, but there have been occasional requests from knowledgable correspondants overseas whose location meant that they cannot meet the Association’s conditions for full membership. As a consequence Council have now resolved to extend the privilege of Forum membership to Overseas Corresponding Subscribers.
 
 
This is a summary of the entitlements of the different classes of membership. Full details can be found in the Rules of the Association.