A note received via FESAC which I am pleased to report to our members. Should anyone wish to apply to be at the 20th September event please let me know as soon as possible and I will pass that on. Invitations will be limited. Derek Stimpson

Dear Arms collector Colleagues and friends, As a board member of our Local collectors organization “AMAL” “friends of the Liege ARMS MUSEUM” ( one of the oldest museums of our region dd 1885 ) , I have the honor to let you know that on the 20th of September 2018 a new part of the permanent arms collection will be on display, ( behind the scenes there has been years of work to achieve this by prominent peoples in our organization, Claude Gaier the previous director and arms curator of the arms museum has been the driving force behind this event , together with AMAL president Jean-Pierre Leroi and Adrien Marnat ( the actual curator)) The permanent display until now (after the renovation 2001-2009) was downsized in regards to the long past of the worldwide famous museum , Only 900 arms were on display from 2009 till now, but in the reserves there are +/- 20000 arms and related artifacts. The new exhibition will be housed on one floor of the “Jean De Corte / Johannes Curtius house ” ( he was a very influential arms and gun powder trader of that era 1551-1628 )  There will be a new group of carefully chosen beautiful arms on display, this is only the first part of the new permanent collection, the goal is to have 3000 arms in permanent display on 3 floors but this again will take time !!! I have the possibility to invite FESAC board members and other prominent members from the collectors and firearms fraternity national and international for the opening inauguration which is held on the 20th of September, I need to file the contact towards the Museum direction for final approval and acceptance. Please let me know who of you would like to have this opportunity to join us for this nice event. Please forward to me as soon as possible your name and functions and contact details and full postal address as the official invitations will be send out by the Museum Direction and the City of Liege. http://lesmuseesdeliege.be/grand-curtius/ Met Vriendelijke groeten , Kind Regards Yves F. Quireyns Avenue Albert 1st – nr 11 4053 Embourg Chaudfontaine Belgium

Following my last recent post in relation to this we wish to reassure members that we are very proactive in the above matter although unable to report detail now as the evidence is with the committee. Please be reassured that we have taken all steps possible to protect our interests and are working closely with the BSSC. We have also taken into account in our communication what has been reported in the Committee Hansard. Parliament is now in recess and the debate will then continue in September.

Following 2014’s successful relaunch of the Historic Miniature Rifle event we have clarified and expanded the classes. The idea of this event is to provide a competition for earlier single shot, repeating (slide, bolt or lever actions) and modern Gallery rifles, both Target and sporting, competing in the “Spirit of the Original”. We are able to use once more the historic 25 yard Winans range complex at Bisley (now completely rebuilt) restricted to lower-powered rifles (up to 2000 fps and1200 ft.lbs energy). This is ideal for standing (offhand) shooting, and prone shooters will also be very welcome. In addition we also offer the option of the ‘Standing Supported’ matches, to be run in parallel with the standing matches. All NSRA August competitors will be particularly welcome. All competitors shall be members of an NRA or NSRA-affiliated club. Any rifle classification issues will be decided by the Match Director on the day. Please bring your Firearms Certificate and Shooters Certification Card (SCC). If you do not yet have an SCC you may shoot under “one to one” supervision subject to availability of SCC holders to do so. DISTANCE: 25 yards only

There is still time to enter the ‘4 Types’ Snaps and Rapids Competition on 29th July, from 0830 to 1230 hrs This is a fast and furious 100 yard shoot on ‘Turning' Fig 11 targets with a generously proportioned ‘Bull’. To enter, see the competitions page of the HBSA website– 3 shoots for £15 !! All entries must close by 26 July. Mike Townsend RCO

David Penn’s update is attached.

There is a Petition recently highlighted and circulating, which seeks to challenge all the firearms items – paragraphs 28 – 35, in this Bill. Please note the following:- A number of organisations have received this petition with requests to support it. Great care must be exercised here. Paragraphs 28 – 35 include banning “Bump Stocks”. BSSC’s stated policy is not to oppose the element of the Bill banning bump stocks. Bump stocks appear to work with .22RF SL rifles (see YouTube) and the last thing we want is bump stocks arriving here with a result that may be easily guessed for .22RF SL Rifles. In fact importation of Bump Stocks to UK is already banned. There have been other narrow petitions – one on knives only, by a knife retailer. Our intention has been to fight all the relevant parts of the whole Bill, including knives and corrosive liquids since they are both in common use in many respects, including firearm related activities and collections. As a matter of interest there are 2,400 signatures on the above petition at present. A problem with these well intentioned petition starters is that they don’t stop to consider that if it fails to gather sufficient support it doesn’t do us any good, but rather the reverse. The efforts of BSSC and its members, including HBSA, regarding the Bill have been, and are continuing to be, robust.

SHORT SIBERIA RANGE – SUN 29TH JULY (0830 -1230 hrs) Just to remind all members that on-line entry for the annual ‘4 Types’ competition is now open here>>>> With the same course of fire for all classes of rifle (5 rds single snaps and 5 rounds rapid), this event offers military style shooting at the popular HBSA ‘turning’ Fig.11/DP1 targets with a realistically dimensioned ‘bull’. Members may bring friends who are themselves FAC holders and have the appropriate Certificates of Competency. Entries must close by Thursday 26th July, so don’t delay, enter now and have a go, it is great fun ! Mike Townsend RCO

Details in the attached document.

Some explosives certificate holders in the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire area may have received a 2 page letter and a form requesting information and photographs about their Black Powder Storage which may raise concerns.

Dear Members HBSA July/August shooting is as follows NOTE: There is no midweek practice in July due to the unavailability of ranges caused by the NRA Imperial meeting. The Four types competition is to be shot on the 29th July. Kindly organised by Mike Townsend, this will be on Short Siberia at 100 yds. Online booking is now open. Moving to August we have taken the Whole of Winans range for Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th August for the Historic Miniature Rifle Competition. Competitors will be expected to enter and pay on the day. Optionally they can e-mail the Match Director in advance outlining the types of rifle that they intend to fire and in which matches. This will speed up the preparation of the results, which will be circulated by e-mail soon after Sunday evening.Details on the website Midweek Practice is on the Wednesday 15th August, 200yds on century Last but not least Paul Smith has agreed to organise the HBSA Long Range Competition on 19th of August this will be shot at 900yds AM and 1000 Yards PM. The practice day is the day before on the 18th August. Morning and afternoon will start at 900 falling back to 1000yds. Online booking is now open. Regards David Carroll