Target Shooting S

Target Shooting S Item Code FS120004 Mar/11 Edition no 8 0845 300 1818 The Rules of the Scout Association with regard to Target Shooting – an Olympic sport. shooting with Firearms are set out in the Target shooting is an Olympic sport, and one in Association‘s Policy, Organisation and Rules. which the United Kingdom has an excellent Anyone proposing to arrange shooting as a Scout record. Success requires concentration and the activity must be familiar with these Rules and with disciplined control of both mind and body. It is a the relevant Law. The person taking charge of the sport in which young and old, male and female, activity as the ―Range Officer‖ must hold an can compete together and which is available to appropriate national governing body qualification. many people to whom a lot of sport is The purpose of this factsheet is to help Leaders inaccessible, for example those who are blind or arrange target shooting activities and to facilitate in wheelchairs. discussion of the issues associated with target shooting. Examples of related activities not Types of Target Shooting recognised as involving firearms and suitable for a wider age Scout Activity range are also included. Target shooting with airguns (air rifles and air pistols) is the most accessible form of the sport What is a Firearm? and it is possible to set up a safe airgun range in The term ―Firearm‖ is defined in Section 57 of the almost any Scout Headquarters. Shooting is Firearms Act 1968. This defines a firearm as a typically on indoor ranges either 6 yards or 10 lethal barrelled weapon capable of the discharge metres long. The relevant National Governing of any shot, bullet or other missile. So, in order to Body is the National Small-Bore Rifle Association be classed as a firearm, an object must be a (NSRA), Lord Roberts Centre, Bisley Camp, weapon, it must have a barrel through which Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NP. Tel: 0845 130 6772. some kind of missile is fired and the effect of the Outdoor shooting at reactive targets is also a missile on the target must be potentially lethal. recognised air rifle discipline. Known as Field Lethality is a complex issue but it is accepted that Target shooting, it is usually conducted under the a device not capable of inflicting ―a more than auspices of the British Field Target Association trivial injury"— one in which only superficial (BFTA), P.O. Box 2242, Reading, Berks, RG7 damage such as bruising occurs — will not be 5YY. The BFTA is affiliated to the NSRA. The classed as a Firearm. Most air rifles and air pistols distances involved will typically vary between 7 are capable of inflicting a lethal injury and so are and 50 metres. Specific rules for the conduct of Firearms. The Rules regarding shooting in POR target shooting with airguns as a Scout-led activity apply only to the use of Firearms as defined in are contained in POR. law. However, many of the underlying principles should be applied to target shooting games with The use of small-bore rifles (usually firing .22inch non-lethal equipment to ensure safety and to rimfire cartridges) is also governed by the NSRA encourage young people to develop a good safety through a system of affiliated clubs. Small-bore culture. rifle clubs that meet a stringent set of criteria are 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 approved for this purpose by the Secretary of the British Association for Shooting and State for the relevant Government Department Conservation is the UK representative body for (The Home Office, The Scottish Office, and the country shooting. All of these bodies issue Northern Ireland Office as appropriate to the part qualifications recognised by The Scout of the UK). Scouts may practice target shooting as Association in range safety and the proficient use a member or guest of one of these ―Home Office‖ of firearms (see below). approved clubs. Small-bore rifles are very much The use of firearms on Service premises under more powerful than air rifles and the ranges on the supervision of an authorised member of the which they are used by approved clubs will have armed forces, such as may take place on a been inspected for safety by the military, the military ―open day‖ is permissible as a Scout NSRA or the NRA and will have a range safety activity. The range management qualifications certificate issued by one of these authorities. 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 or the points for and against which may help in the NRA and will have a range safety certificate. discussions. The national governing body is the National Rifle Association (NRA), Bisley Camp, Brookwood, The case for Woking, Surrey, 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 with muzzle-loading rifles and pistols. The Great young people. Many other sporting disciplines, Britain Target Shooting Federation is an ―umbrella such as archery, throwing the javelin, parachuting, organisation‖ for International target shooting and gliding and orienteering, exploit present or former page 3 of 11 military skills and their adoption as sports in which they should be appropriate to the maturity and friendly competition takes place at international ability of each participant and that equipment level is a positive contribution to world peace. should be of the appropriate size. The size of gun is very significant. Young people do not benefit The case against from being invited to ―have a go‖ with an air rifle Historically, the one purpose of a gun was to kill or which is far too big for them. This sets them up to incapacitate a fellow human being or animal. fail with the result that they may easily be put off Although guns nowadays tend to be used in a the activity. sporting context, it does not alter the fact. In The mental maturity of potential participants is America, the gun culture is proving very hard to even more important because this is a matter of break. A gun culture is starting to grow within this safety. They must be capable of understanding country and it is not sensible that The Scout the need for the safety rules and the rules Association should assist by allowing Scouts to themselves. They must be willing to obey them. participate in shooting. Scouting is not a military They must also be able to distinguish reality from organisation but by far and away the greatest the fantasy or ―play‖ world of ―Cowboys and users of guns are the military. We should not, Indians‖ and understand the very real therefore, even contemplate their use. Within the responsibilities of being entrusted with a firearm. spiritual development of young people which It has been suggested that for most children this Scouting aims to encourage, shooting does not fit occurs at some time between the ages of 8 and well and we should therefore not offer the 10. The responsibility for inviting young people to opportunity to handle guns.

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