Target Shooting S
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Target Shooting S Item Code FS120004 Jan/04 Edition no 5 0845 300 1818 This is the fifth edition of the factsheet on the encourage young people to develop a good safety subject of Target Shooting. The Rules of the culture. Scout Association with regard to shooting with Firearms are set out in the Association’s Policy, Target Shooting – an Olympic sport. Organisation and Rules. Anyone proposing to Target shooting is an Olympic sport, and one in arrange shooting as a Scout activity must be which the United Kingdom has an excellent familiar with these Rules and with the relevant record. Success requires concentration and the Law. The person taking charge of the activity as disciplined control of both mind and body. It is a the “Range Officer” must hold an appropriate sport in which young and old, male and female, national governing body qualification. can compete together and which is available to The purpose of this factsheet is to help Leaders many people to whom a lot of sport is arrange target shooting activities and to facilitate inaccessible, for example those who are blind or discussion of the issues associated with target in wheelchairs. shooting. Examples of related activities not involving firearms and suitable for a wider age Types of Target Shooting recognised as range are also included. Scout Activity Target shooting with airguns (air rifles and air What is a Firearm? pistols) is the most accessible form of the sport The term “Firearm” is defined in Section 57 of the and it is possible to set up a safe airgun range in Firearms Act 1968. This defines a firearm as a almost any Scout Headquarters. Shooting is lethal barrelled weapon capable of the discharge typically on indoor ranges either 6 yards or 10 of any shot, bullet or other missile. So, in order to metres long. The relevant National Governing be classed as a firearm, an object must be a Body is the National Small-Bore Rifle Association weapon, it must have a barrel through which (NSRA), Lord Roberts Centre, Bisley Camp, some kind of missile is fired and the effect of the Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NP. Tel: 0845 130 6772. missile on the target must be potentially lethal. Outdoor shooting at reactive targets is also a Lethality is a complex issue but it is accepted that recognised air rifle discipline. Known as Field a device not capable of inflicting “a more than Target shooting, it is usually conducted under the trivial injury"— one in which only superficial auspices of the British Field Target Association damage such as bruising occurs — will not be (BFTA), P.O. Box 2242, Reading, Berks, RG7 classed as a Firearm. Most air rifles and air pistols 5YY. The BFTA is affiliated to the NSRA. The are capable of inflicting a lethal injury and so are distances involved will typically vary between 7 Firearms. The Rules regarding shooting in POR and 50 metres. Specific rules for the conduct of apply only to the use of Firearms as defined in target shooting with airguns as a Scout-led activity law. However, many of the underlying principles are contained in POR. should be applied to target shooting games with non-lethal equipment to ensure safety and to The Scout Information Centre Gilwell Park Chingford London E4 7QW Tel + 44 (0)20 8433 7100 Fax + 44 (0)20 8433 7103 email [email protected] www.scoutbase.org.uk page 2 of 11 The use of small-bore rifles (usually firing .22inch with muzzle-loading rifles and pistols. The Great rimfire cartridges) is also governed by the NSRA Britain Target Shooting Federation is an “umbrella through a system of affiliated clubs. Small-bore organisation” for International target shooting and rifle clubs that meet a stringent set of criteria are the British Association for Shooting and approved for this purpose by the Secretary of Conservation is the UK representative body for State for the relevant Government Department country shooting. All of these bodies issue (The Home Office, The Scottish Office, and the qualifications recognised by The Scout Northern Ireland Office as appropriate to the part Association in range safety and the proficient use of the UK). Scouts may practice target shooting as of firearms (see below). a member or guest of one of these “Home Office” The use of firearms on Service premises under approved clubs. Small-bore rifles are very much the supervision of an authorised member of the more powerful than air rifles and the ranges on armed forces, such as may take place on a which they are used by approved clubs will have military “open day” is permissible as a Scout been inspected for safety by the military activity. The range management qualifications authorities and will have a range safety certificate. issued by HM armed forces and UK Police forces These ranges may be indoors or outdoors and will are recognised by The Scout Association. usually be from 15 yards to 100 metres in length. Clubs carrying out target shooting with full power The Debate – Is Shooting Suitable? rifles and muzzle-loading pistols must be The possibility of parental or any local sensitivity approved for this purpose by the Secretary of to the activity needs to be taken into account State for the relevant Government Department. when planning to incorporate target shooting into Scouts may practice target shooting as a member the Scout programme. The use of guns in sport or guest of one of these “Home Office” approved can raise issues which it may be helpful for the clubs. Shooting is generally outdoors over young people to discuss prior to participation in distances from 50 to1200 yards. Ranges are the activity. The following is a brief summary of inspected for safety by the military authorities and the points for and against which may help in will have a range safety certificate. The national discussions. governing body is the National Rifle Association (NRA), Bisley Camp, Brookwood, Woking, Surrey, The case for GU24 0PB. Tel: 01483 797777. Target shooting brings forward many virtues. Clay Pigeon Shooting is target shooting with Guns are potentially dangerous and any young shotguns at moving targets. It is an outdoor person participating will need to learn and apply activity. The target is a “clay” – a disc projected the safety rules. By this means they should gain into the air or along the ground from a “trap” and an understanding of the need for an appropriate which breaks when hit. The national governing safety culture in the handling of dangerous body is the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association equipment in general. Strong self discipline is (CPSA), Edmonton House, Bisley Camp, required for undertaking shooting and a great deal Brookwood, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NP Tel: of co-ordination is required in the aiming and firing 01483 485400. Scouts may participate in clay process, which also requires a great deal of pigeon shooting under the standards and controls concentration, patience and self control. of the CPSA. Assurance that these standards are Dedication is required to improve the shooting being applied is most readily achieved by posture and so improve shooting technique and participation in the activity as a member or guest gain better scores. All of these virtues are of great of an affiliated club. benefit in the development of a young person. There are several other national bodies Shooting allows those who are less physically associated with the shooting sports. The Muzzle able to participate and gain the self esteem from Loaders’ Association of Great Britain is concerned competing on equal terms with physically able page 3 of 11 young people. Many other sporting disciplines, Age considerations such as archery, throwing the javelin, parachuting, The law does not stipulate a minimum age for the gliding and orienteering, exploit present or former handling of firearms under supervision and on military skills and their adoption as sports in which private premises. However, it is a key principle of friendly competition takes place at international the Scout Association’s Rules for all activities that level is a positive contribution to world peace. they should be appropriate to the maturity and ability of each participant and that equipment The case against should be of the appropriate size. The size of gun Historically, the one purpose of a gun was to kill or is very significant. Young people do not benefit incapacitate a fellow human being or animal. from being invited to “have a go” with an air rifle Although guns nowadays tend to be used in a which is far too big for them. This sets them up to sporting context, it does not alter the fact. In fail with the result that they may easily be put off America, the gun culture is proving very hard to the activity. break. A gun culture is starting to grow within this The mental maturity of potential participants is country and it is not sensible that The Scout even more important because this is a matter of Association should assist by allowing Scouts to safety. They must be capable of understanding participate in shooting. Scouting is not a military the need for the safety rules and the rules organisation but by far and away the greatest themselves. They must be willing to obey them. users of guns are the military. We should not, They must also be able to distinguish reality from therefore, even contemplate their use. Within the the fantasy or “play” world of “Cowboys and spiritual development of young people which Indians” and understand the very real Scouting aims to encourage, shooting does not fit responsibilities of being entrusted with a firearm.