Members should note the following email received from the Home Office. I will keep members posted but if there are any questions I will try to deal with them. Derek Stimpson

Home Office advice re EFP “I’m writing from the Home Office, working on preparations for our exit from the EU on 29 March. Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. This has not changed. However, a responsible government must plan for every eventuality, including a no deal scenario. We have previously written to you about guidance for travelling with a European Firearms Pass if there’s no Brexit deal, so people could make informed plans and preparations. Changes to EFPs If we leave the EU without a deal, UK residents will no longer be able to use a European Firearms Pass to travel with their firearm. They would need to comply with whatever licensing requirements each EU country imposes, as well as UK import and export licensing requirements. What this means for your members Anyone travelling to, or due to be in, an EU country with their firearm after 29 March will need to check licensing requirements with the country they’re travelling to. This is particularly important if any of your members are taking part in competitions or events shortly after we leave the EU. Countries may have varying lead times for applying for licenses, so your members should consider checking requirements now. If you are sponsoring an EU visitor to the UK, you should apply to the local police force for a Visitor’s Permit like now, but will not need to show a valid EFP as part of this process. Next steps We’d like you to share this information with your members, to make sure they’re prepared in case we leave the EU without a deal. If you receive any enquiries from your members, sponsors or visitors about travelling with firearms after we leave the EU, you can direct them to further information on GOV.UK. “

Working in cooperation with BSSC a very comprehensive brief was produced for the Lords readings and Grand Committee. The Bill will shortly go back to the Commons. It seems likely that rapid firing rifles (MARS & lever release) will become prohibited, but not high energy rifles at present. The latter will be the subject of a public consultation after Queen’s Assent to the Bill. Also expected to be the subject of a public consultation are issues raised in debates on the OWB, namely; Miniature Rifle Clubs – the 11(4) Exemption, handloading, air guns and medical evidence. Another serious matter is continued use of lead in shooting and EU law (to which we are signed up). More detail can be found in the Legislative Update which can be found elsewhere on this website >>>>. Needless to say we continue to work closely with BSSC in following and addressing these issues.

Based on “Classic” NRA courses of fire, tiered system of percussion revolvers — “STANDARD PERCUSSION” / “TARGET” and “FREE” and matches for “MODERN MUZZLE-LOADERS”… all that is left for us for Pistol Competitions since the Firearms (Amendments) Act 1987. TWO-handed shooting as well as “Offhand”, and allowing Black Powder substitutes (such as Triple 7… ). Entry Fees WELL below those for the Phoenix, IHAM and TM. Illuminated Prize Certificates and “Skilled Shot” awards. There are three Open Meetings already confirmed. APRIL 13-14 Army Target Shooting Club A full programme of Gallery Rifle, Air Pistol, Long Barrel P &R and M-L. The “R.P” Matches are on the Saturday AM & PM and Sunday AM, with MLAIC Precision and (NRA) T&P1 and “Multi-Target” on the Sunday p.m. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Surrey Branch MLAGB website  http://www.mlagb-surrey.org.uk and returned to  entries_atsc@hotmail.com JULY 20-21 Surrey Branch MLAGB “RP OPEN” As part of the NRA “Imperial Meeting. This also includes the two “South London RC Pistol Pairs” team events, and separate Branches of the MLAGB count as “Separate Clubs”. SEPTEMBER 14-15 Surrey Branch MLAGB “RP OPEN” Details available from the Surrey Branch MLAGB Website (under Downloads/Competitions) and also from surreybranch.rpm@gmail.com

Attached is David Penn’s legislative update.

On 16th January I attended the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the contribution by Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield (RSAF) workers to WW1 efforts. See following comments. Derek Stimpson

Patrick Gray the Heritage Manager of RSA Trust wrote:- Thank you for coming to the RSA Island Centre and taking part in the unveiling of our plaque to commemorate the efforts of the workers of the Royal Small Arms Factory during the Great War. It was lovely seeing you attend and I hope that you enjoyed yourselves meeting new people and catching up with friends and acquaintances. I would like to thank Gary Walker, Martin Jewell and the other Trustees of the RSA Trust for hosting this event and being on hand to welcome you to the Centre. I’m incredibly grateful to Philip Abbott and the Royal Armouries team who set up the Roll of Honour project and have made this memorial plaque possible. The work of John, Jan and Stacey from Enfield Museum & Local Studies has also driven this project forward and I’m grateful for their support on the day as well. Ray Tuthill and the RSAF Apprentices Association have been instrumental in not only sourcing objects and helping the Trustees of the RSA Trust set up the RSA Interpretation Centre, but have also aided the research for this project. Finally I’d like to thank Jim Lewis for his pulling the rope to unveil the plaque to the world. His passion for the Lea Valley and knowledge of the history of the Royal Small Arms Factory are second to none. The Roll of Honour project will continue, with new stories about the workers and operations of the Factory coming to light throughout the project. There will be further exhibitions, family events and a plaque to the Second World War coming later this year! Patrick Gray Heritage Manager RSA Trust Tel: 020 8482 2281 Mob: 07905 809 191 patrick@rsatrust.org www.rsatrust.org

As members may be aware the OWB was given its second reading in the House of Lords last Monday. Our input went into the briefing note provided to Peers by BSSC, which is an excellent and very complete document. As far as firearms are concerned there were few surprises. The Lords Shrewsbury and Bilimoria in particular gave detailed positive addresses, as indeed did others. The issues of violence in society and lack of police resources were raised. The Government seems committed to hold the enquiry into “.50 rifles” after the Bill. The position on rapid firing rifles replicated what came out of the Commons so we will see what the effect of support for them has is in due course. Section 11(4), an important issue for the shooting community, was not mentioned, but we know that it will be looked at as part of the enquiry after the Bill. Medical reporting was mentioned by the Minister as an important issue so hopefully we will see progress. We have written to him under the BSSC banner in relation to the unsatisfactory situation that prevails at present. I will keep members posted as circumstances permit.

Our annual Long Range .22RF Competition will be held on Short Siberia (200 yards am) and Century ranges (300 yards pm) at Bisley, on Sunday 24th March 2019. The Competition is open to modern and historic .22RF rifles with classes for both telescopic and iron sighted rifles.