This will be our first meeting held at the Museum of London. Members may benefit from viewing the access information on our website here >>>>

The Met Police FLD have asked our assistance in publicising an on-line survey which they are asking their certificate holders to complete following any transaction with them (ie grant, renewal etc). There are only 20 questions which should take not more than a few minutes to complete. The Met Police FLD feel that this will be of great help to them to understand the quality of service they provide and how we might improve it. Needless to say polite and factual answers only please. The link to the survey is: http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FETLONDON

Press Release 4th April 2017 The Council is a founding member of the World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA), a NGO in Roster Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Notes: Association membership is composed of the Association of Professional Shooting Instructors (APSI), the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA), the Countryside Alliance (CA), the Deactivated Weapons Association (DWA), the Gun Trade Association (GTA), the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (HBSA), the Institute of Clay Shooting Instructors (ICSI), the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain (MLAGB), the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Small-bore Rifle Association (NSRA), the Scottish Association for Country Sports (SACS), the Sportsman’s Association of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (SAGBNI) and the United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association (UKPSA).

For members information the attached is the revised text of the EU Firearms Directive as it stands currently. Continuing discussion on some points is reported separately.

Yesterday Wednesday 5th April the Council General Secretariat released three statements, sent to us by FESAC Chairman Stephen Petroni and quoted below for members information. Derek Stimpson FESAC UK Rep The first demonstrates an unrepentant Commission which still has no regard for democratic process. Statement by the Commission on most dangerous semi-automatic firearms and on collectors

The European Commission is satisfied that the co-legislators have reached an agreement on the revised firearm directive. These new rules will substantially reduce the likelihood of dangerous but legally held weapons falling into the hands of criminals and terrorists. At the same time, the Commission regrets that some parts of the original proposal were not supported by the Parliament and the Council – in particular concerning semi-automatic firearms where the Commission had proposed a greater level of ambition with a complete ban of the most dangerous semi-automatic firearms, including all semi-automatic firearms of the AK47 or AR15 families. The Commission also regrets that the magazine size was not limited to 10 rounds for all semi-automatic firearms. The Commission also stresses the importance of the proper implementation of the strict security rules relating to collectors.

The second statement below is from the government of Luxembourg, which is notably Mr Junker’s home country. The Luxembourg government is not happy with the results and supports tougher action against law-abiding citizens. Statement by Luxembourg

Effective and proportionate action at EU level is essential to respond to complex threats to security and to protect our citizens. The terrorist attacks, including those in France and in Belgium, have revealed considerable gaps in the European regulatory framework on firearms. To address those gaps, the reform of Directive 91/477/EEC focuses on a number of areas: improved control of firearms trafficking, greater traceability and better deactivation of firearms, stricter rules for the acquisition and possession of firearms, a ban on civilian use of the most dangerous firearms and improved information exchange between Member States. Throughout the negotiations, Luxembourg actively supported all those aspects of the original proposal for a directive and reiterated its commitment to maintaining the ambition of the reform at a level capable of responding to the security threats that Europe currently faces. In that context, the ban on the most dangerous semi-automatic firearms based on objective specification criteria is a key part of the reform: a strict and harmonised ban on those firearms would have a direct impact on the security of all European citizens. However, the compromise text resulting from the interinstitutional negotiations waters down any such strict and harmonised ban by making provision for excessively broad exemptions for certain categories of people (target shooters), that is to say exemptions for a significant percentage of those who possess firearms and apply for authorisations for them. Given that the restrictions on the acquisition and possession of such firearms are insufficient, Luxembourg cannot support the compromise text to be formally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament and will vote against the text.

The third and last statement is by a country that stood its ground: Statement by the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic welcomes the fact that work has started on an amendment of Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons with a view to enabling the European Union and the individual Member States to better respond to current security threats, and in particular to terrorism. We have participated in the negotiations on the proposal in an active and constructive manner and are pleased that some problems have been resolved. Nevertheless, we consider certain key elements of the proposal to be inappropriate in substance, legally unclear and, sometimes, markedly disproportionate. In some cases, the Directive advocates discriminatory treatment. In particular, we would express our disappointment with regard to the unclear and unnecessary prohibition of certain semi-automatic firearms. Together with the ill-thought-out grandfathering clause, these measures may even worsen the security situation in the medium and long term. They cannot and will not achieve the declared goals of the Directive. We consider the proposed implementation period to be unreasonably short, since a large number of national laws will need to be amended significantly. Moreover, it should be noted that the national legislator will have to accommodate Commission implementing and delegated acts in national legislation in an even shorter period of time. For these and other reasons, the Czech Republic cannot endorse the draft Directive.

Members should be aware of a forthcoming change in our home base for meetings in London which will move from Marylebone R & P Club. We are pleased to announce that the Museum of London will offer us a room on an ongoing basis for our usual Monday evening meetings. The address is 150, London Wall, EC2Y 5HN. The Museum, which is free entry, closes at 18.00. We will return to our usual times of Council meetings at 18.00, main meeting at 19.00 with the lecture starting about 19.30 and clearing the building by 21.00. Access for members arriving after 18.00 will be via the staff entrance at the rear on the same level as the main entrance. There are nearby tube connections and a NCP. Members will need to show their membership card for admittance. At present security arrangements will prevent us from bringing firearms to meetings but this is under review. As the 17th April is Easter Monday the first meeting at the Museum will be on Monday the 24th April 2017 with Alan Christmas lecturing on Sporting Rifles part 3 We are pleased to be able to establish this link with the Museum of London. At the same time we extend our grateful thanks to Marylebone R & P Club for taking us in and hosting us in their clubroom for well over two years. Whilst we are settling in we suggest that you please check the website for any news or details prior to attending future meetings and lectures. Look forward to seeing you at the Museum of London on 24th April.

Derek Stimpson

David Penn’s Legislative Update for March 2017 is attached

Open Meeting @ 200 Yards Classes for

• Classic
• Veteran
• Post Veteran (first generation 7.62mm)
• Service & Sporting Rifles

This is the fifth year that the HBSA has held this event, the course of fire and targets may have to be modified on the day but generally will be as follows:-

1. A dedicated sighting target has been booked, hopefully a standard frame with a DP14 centre
2. A DP14 target will be utilized for all matches if possible (to be confirmed on the day)
3. For the open sighted matches a decision on the day will confirm the type of target to be used

Please remember that this match like all others is run by volunteers so we would ask for your understanding and assistance. David Carroll is the Match organizer – contact details are below. This event is intended to encourage the use of Classic, Veteran and Post Veteran (first generation 7.62mm) Service and sporting rifles under competitive conditions but mainly to have an enjoyable mornings shooting alongside other like minded individuals. If you have not previously attended this meeting come and have a go, we are always ready to assist and encourage new comers. If you own a suitable rifle come and have a go, you never know you may well show us all how it should be done. There are classes for just about every type of Historic Rifle. This year’s event will be limited to 14 individual entrants and 3 match cards each at a cost of £20. This follows the discussions from last year and allows for the maximum use of the range whilst keeping costs to an affordable level. Entry and payment must be made on-line prior to the event here>>>> First come first served!! Contact: rifle.practice@hbsa-uk.org Please refer to the HBSA website for the most up to date information regarding range bookings etc.