HEADING WEST
Busy times
Simon West, director of the GTA, reports on a busy month within the Gun Trade Association...
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GTA director, Simon West
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The Home Offi ce is taking a lot of Simon’s time.
hese are busy days. While I do fi nd time to enjoy an armed patrol some weekends, there seems to be a lot going on in the world of shooting politics. The Association is here to protect, promote and represent the trade across all the areas where we might have business interests. That means we get involved with a very broad range of organisations, government departments and licensing authorities to ensure that your businesses have the least interference and best opportunities to get on with doing your job. My team and I rely on the calls we get from you to know where we need to get involved. Whether its problems with Section 5 licences, import/ export, banking or social media and advertising, we can help make sure you are represented in getting it right. Keep that information coming and we can ensure we give you the best service. And, if you need help, give us a call. We deal with dozens of quick calls every week to provide members with guidance on all sorts of topics. If we don’t know the answer, its our duty to fi nd out! So, while you can have faith we
are doing our bit, it’s important that you know about the areas where we all should be ready to have our say. Current work includes the following:
Lead 1 76 | Tackle & Guns | November 2019
The world is becoming more aware of the infl uence of lead in the environment. As a toxic element,
its use is being constantly reviewed. As a trade we have been key to fi nding alternative ammunition for shooters and that research and development is moving at pace. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are consulting now to collect information to assess the impacts of a possible restriction on the placing on the market and use of lead in ammunition (gunshot and bullets) and fi shing tackle. Through the coordinating body of the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC), we are gathering and passing on that evidence. Whether we are in Europe or not, any decision made over the next couple of years will infl uence what happens in UK. We are fi ghting for derogations to cover the essential uses of lead in ammunition but we are also helping to drive forward new technologies and ammunition choices to ensure our sport is protected.
Home Offi ce Statutory Guidance You will all be aware of the Home Offi ce’s Firearms Licensing Guidance that helps police forces operate their licensing operations. In the core processes deciding who gets licences, there has been too much variability between forces on how it’s done. That has created a need for fi rmer guidelines, so in parallel with the general guidance, the Home Offi ce recently issued a draft of a new statutory document. Again, working with the BSSC, we have responded. Much of it is a good step
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