posted 6 Apr 2018, 23:44 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 6 Apr 2018, 23:45 ]
This year’s Historical McQueen will be held on the morning of Sunday 29th April at 200 yards on the Short Siberia range.
Match entry and 3 shoots costs £20, and entries are limited to 14 competitors to ensure that everyone can complete during the morning.
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posted 6 Apr 2018, 23:09 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 6 Apr 2018, 23:09 ]
Following the recent news on the Government ban on Ivory sales members will be interested in the following:-
We have received some commentary from BADA on the topic which may be of interest and help to members.
The de minimis amount of ivory below which it is proposed that objects can be sold without third party confirmation has been set at a very low 10%; in contrast to 20% for musical instruments. The trade argued for and justified a 50% cut off. Whilst 10% would still permit a considerable number of objects (including some inlaid items) to be sold without third party approval, it will prove a difficult percentage for the trade to administer. For a large number of objects this is because dealers will find it hard to decide on which side of the 10% cut-off their object lies. It will, of course, also make the sale of some inlaid items more difficult, if not impossible.
BADA will be pressing for the de minimis to be increased, and at the very least brought into line at 20% – it would be interesting to see the evidence the Government has to justify such a low threshold and to know why 20% is acceptable for musical instruments, but not for other cultural goods.
If the amount of ivory in objects lies above the threshold dealers/vendors would have to decide whether to apply to APHA to have them confirmed as being of the “rarest and most important of their type”. An application would be passed on to a museum or other institution which will allocate a member of staff to assess an item. Following their recommendation, it will be up to APHA to decide whether or not to issue a sale permit. Government have assured that the criteria for objects under this exemption would not be as high as used to stop the export of other cultural goods (Waverley). Defra will be working with the culture department (DCMS) and the Arts Council England to come up with statutory guidance on the defined exemption. Whether this will prove more restrictive than the BAMF suggestion that items be of “museum quality” remains to be seen.
Administration
For objects covered by the de minimis, musical instrument and portrait miniatures exemptions there will be a system of self-registration administered by the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA). It will entail registering the object online with a description/photograph and a document will be generated for the sale. The provider of the information will be legally responsible for ensuring that the object conforms to the criteria set out in the exemptions.
What next?
Whilst BADA (and we) welcome the overall concept of exemptions, they will draw to the Government’s attention the inconsistencies within its proposals, particularly concerning the unacceptably low “de minimis” threshold. Although there has not yet been an opportunity to review the other evidence taken account of by the Government, its approach is clearly more restrictive than the trade would regard as fair and proportionate and could prevent the sale of many culturally significant objects that have no connection to illicit poaching. BADA will also seek to have input into creating workable definition for the “rarest and most important” exemption. The timing of implementation is not clear at this stage, but measures will still need to get parliamentary approval in what is a busy legislative timetable.
BADA strongly believe there is a case for improvements to be made to the proposals and will put these forward to the Government, with our support. We all condemn the despicable poaching of African elephants, but the exemptions now appear tighter than is required to achieve the aim of stopping the illicit trade in their ivory.
We will advise any further news as it comes to us.
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posted 3 Apr 2018, 14:21 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 3 Apr 2018, 14:21 ]
DEFRA has announced a ban on the sale of ivory.
Please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-confirms-uk-ban-on-ivory-sales
There will be certain exceptions:
- Items with only a small amount of ivory in them. Such items must be comprised of less than 10% ivory by volume and have been made prior to 1947
- Musical instruments. These must have an ivory content of less than 20% and have been made prior to 1975 (when Asian elephants were added to CITES)
- Rarest and most important items of their type. Such items must be at least 100 years old and their rarity and importance will be assessed by specialist institutions such as the UK’s most prestigious museums before exemption permits are issued. In addition, there will be a specific exemption for portrait miniatures painted on thin slivers of ivory and which are at least 100 years old.
- Museums. Commercial activities to, and between, museums which are accredited by Arts Council England, the Welsh Government, Museums and Galleries Scotland or the Northern Ireland Museums Council in the UK, or the International Council of Museums for museums outside the UK.
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posted 28 Mar 2018, 23:41 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 28 Mar 2018, 23:42 ]
The Annual HBSA Rook and Rabbit rifle competition on Sunday 8th April has now attracted 24 competitors, but there is still room for a couple more early or late in the day. See the HBSA website here>>> for full details and on-line entry arrangements.
Allan Kirk (wessex.group@hbsa-uk.org)
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posted 20 Mar 2018, 11:01 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 20 Mar 2018, 12:07 ]
Many thanks for entering the competition and to those of you who braved the appalling weather conditions snow and cold to attend Bisley!!
I think despite the cold most had a reasonable shoot, the truncated field and results are shown here>>>>
We will see if the calendar permits a repeat of this competition later in the year for those that could not make it on Sunday. I feel it could become a popular event and it was a shame that the attendance was so reduced.
David Carroll
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posted 20 Mar 2018, 02:28 by Tony Cattermole
Attached is David Penn’s latest update. |
posted 15 Mar 2018, 23:28 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 15 Mar 2018, 23:28 ]
Members will know that we and many others responded to the recent Government air weapon consultation. There was also a petition submitted “Drop any proposals to licence airguns in England & Wales” and members may be interested to see the Government response as follows.
The process continues and Government proposals will follow in due courseDerek Stimpson
The Government is reviewing the regulation of air weapons in England and Wales. The review is looking at relevant issues such as access by young people, safe storage and manufacturing standards.
The Government announced a review of the regulation of air weapons in England and Wales following a request from the Suffolk coroner in his report into the death of Benjamin Wragge, aged 13, who was accidentally shot with an air weapon in May 2016.
Although no licence is required to possess most air weapons in England and Wales, they are nevertheless regulated. In particular, it is an offence for a person aged under 18 to purchase or hire an air weapon or ammunition, and it is an offence to sell, hire or gift an air weapon or ammunition to a person aged under 18. It is also an offence for a person aged under 18 to possess an air weapon or ammunition unless:
• they are being supervised by a person aged 21 or over, or
• they are shooting as a member of an approved target shooting club, or
• they are using air weapons at a shooting gallery, or
• the young person is aged 14 or over, is on private premises and has the consent of the occupier.
The Crime and Security Act 2010 brought in legislation concerned with reducing the risk of children getting hold of air weapons and accidentally harming themselves or others. This inserted a provision into the Firearms Act 1968 that requires owners to take reasonable precautions to prevent a person under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to an air weapon.
The Government has sought the views of interested parties on relevant issues, including secure storage and the arrangements to prevent children gaining access to air weapons, manufacturing standards, and on the position in Scotland and Northern Ireland where air weapons are licensed. The Government has received a large number of representations about the review and these will be considered carefully before any decisions are made about how to proceed.
Home Office
The Petitions Committee will take a look at this petition and its response. They can press the government for action and gather evidence. If this petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the Committee will consider it for a debate.
The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government and in opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government.
Thanks,
The Petitions team
UK Government and Parliament
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posted 4 Mar 2018, 12:13 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 4 Mar 2018, 13:32 ]
We much regret to report that Rae Wills, long standing HBSA member, and much more, passed away on Saturday 24th January, after a long-term illnesses.
Rae who was well known to many of us, and had celebrated his 79th birthday a few weeks ago, passed away at home peacefully.
We will communicate further when funeral or memorial service arrangements are known.
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posted 20 Feb 2018, 20:40 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 20 Feb 2018, 20:41 ]
Attached is David Penn’s summary for February. |
posted 19 Feb 2018, 01:41 by Tony Cattermole [ updated 30 Sept 2020, 20:15 ]
On the morning of Saturday 17th February we held the HBSA’s inaugural junior members shoot on Cheylesmore range, with the youngsters shooting .22RF rifles.
The promulgator of this junior initiative is David Franklin Johnson, strongly supported by Maurice Kanareck. At the shoot they were joined by John Beirne and his son.
We need to see young people coming into the sport and if they do it through HBSA, and in contact with historic arms, so much the better. Thanks to David for starting this.
Maurice was heard to quote “In the words of Lord Reith, founder Director General of the BBC, “our youngsters we would wish to inform, educate and entertain” and indeed they were!
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