Supporting Sports4All

The shooting community as a whole and perhaps especially the target shooters amongst us are no stranger to one of shootings many benefits, that being how inclusive the shooting sports are.

It has been highlighted rather brilliantly with our recent guest article that sporting shooting, indeed any form of shooting can and does appeal to all and is very much inclusive to those who perhaps would be overlooked or at a competitive disadvantage in other sports.

With this in mind, we are pleased to let you all know that we have begun to build a relationship with Sports4All, an organization focused on sports that are truly open to everyone, of which shooting is very much a part.

Please give them your support in appreciate for this positive relationship.

The Negatives of Magazine Subscriptions?

I’ve been a fan of magazines for many years, and although that willingness to sink ever increasing amounts of money into a bound collection of shinny paper, with its ever increasing amounts of adverts has waned in recent years; I still derive a great deal of pleasure through there purchase.

I love an impulse purchase, and magazines are no exception. Searching for that one issue that really tickles your mood and interest, whether before a long journey or just to round off a shopping trip, was always something I would look forward to; still, the majority of my magazines arrived via way of a subscription.

There are some obvious benefits to magazine subscriptions; They are almost always cheaper, they may give you access to titles you would otherwise have to repeatedly request or order in and you get to enjoy them without leaving the house.

So the positives of magazine subscriptions are great, but are there any negatives?

Unfortunately I believe there are some negatives, which I would like to draw your attention to:

1. Perceived readership of your titles by store clerks, management and owners may be reduced.
2. Missing out on meeting like minded individuals in store.
3. Missing an opportunity to raise awareness by carrying or reading the magazine in public.
4. You may not be aware of subtle threats to your sport, such as the WHSmith policy on age restrictions.

Now, let me just make it clear that I’m not saying you have to give up those subscriptions, I like them just as much as you. I would just like the shooting/firearms community to be aware of any negatives and make the best choices they can in support and promotion of their sport and rights; that may mean making no changes, cancelling one subscription to pick it up locally, or just buying the odd extra issue locally and passing it on to a friend, colleague or relative.

If you can think of anymore negatives or positives please add them bellow as a comment or start a discussion about this topic on our Facebook page.

Supporting BASC’s New Campaign for Mobile Users

Today BASC have launched a new campaign aimed at mobile phone users. The campaign is to encourage people to get in contact with BASC via the website and report any problems they have experienced in accessing shooting related websites on their mobile phones. To tackle this problem BASC is already working with Virgin Media to develop solutions and they are willing to work with other networks as well, but need you to get involved.

Part of the problem is due to age restrictions on the mobile phones, and although these can be changed in a matter of hours, according to BASC, and we agree such a solution is only “treating the symptom and not the cause”. Such a solution also posses a problem for those who may need timely access to information either on the shooting websites or on other websites which may impose similar filtering such as Google Maps, for example whilst travelling.

We ourselves have been discussing a similar issue with a UK airport over its use of URL filter, which regrettably blocked our own website and I have personally been unable to find any information on a particular shooting ground via the Google Maps application on my Android mobile phone. We encourage you all to be on the look out for such problems and report them to BASC and your network provider as discussed on the BASC website.

What you can do?

Anyone connected with firearms or the shooting sports within the UK doesn’t have to think too hard to realize that our rights and their associated past times have been under attack for many a year, and are still under threat from ideologically motivated attacks, fueled by emotion and ignorance.

If you care as we do about our sports, our jobs and our rights,,, to be able to own firearms, go target shooting whether with rifle or shotgun, undertake some pest control or pursue game for the table then it is imperative that you stand up in their defense. The wolves of ignorance and gun control have long been circling and it is no longer acceptable for each shepherd to look after their own flock, we must unite as one and defend all of our remaining shooting rights, whilst we still have them to defend.

There are many things you can do to support your industry, hobby or sport and we have a collection of suggestions for you bellow:

• Sign petitions, You’ll find some on the right hand side under Direct Action
• Join a shooting organization, such as BASC or SACS
• Introduce family, friends and co-workers to shooting, consider taking them to the range with you
• Visit and contribute to related websites, YouTube channels and blogs
• Write your own blog to show the positive side of firearms ownership, shooting and hunting
• Take out a magazine subscription
• Build your own airgun range and it share it with family and friends
• Consider starting a shooting or hunting club
• Join shooting and/or hunting clubs
• Take out a subscription to a video site such as Shootingandmore.com
• Like and be involved in shooting and hunting related Facebook pages
• Praise shooting and hunting on Twitter, Our Twitter link is on the left
• Buy books and videos on shooting and hunting and let us know what you think
• lobbying doesn’t end when the campaigns come to a close… its important to write to MP’s and representatives to make sure you are being represented

There are also some suggestions on things we feel you should try to avoid:

• Don’t jump to negative assumptions about other areas of shooting and hunting
• Don’t rush to create a petition without checking if one already exists which covers your grievance or concern
• If writing a petition, be concise and spell and grammar check

For more ideas and further reading we recommend the Supporting Shooting guide from BASC and the Support your Sport video which is available free from Shootingandmore.com

2012 Starshot Championships

Shooting: The Sport: The Facts Video

Shooting: The Sport: The Facts

Shooting – The World’s most inclusive sport – perhaps?

I was wondering, what is required to take part in shooting sports?

First off some money is needed – For the formal game shoots that literal cost thousands and where some of the guns cost more than cars (and even houses) a significant budget is required. For “plinking” on your own property, an airgun and a target, probably about around £100, particularly if you go for second hand kit. Then there are a multitude of types of shooting and varying costs in between.

So who can shoot?

We know that both men and women shoot. We also know that young people under the age of 18 enjoy shooting hobbies. Clearly skin colour, race and sexual orientation doesn’t make any difference whatsoever to a person’s shooting ability. Religion? I’m not aware of any that specifically prohibit shooting sports, perhaps hunting maybe?

So, men and women of all ages can shoot regardless of colour, race, sexual orientation or religion – fantastic, but what if you have a physical impairment?

I have seen pictures of people shooting from wheelchairs, so I went on a quick hunt on the Internet for more information. I came across the Disabled Shooting Project and the examples of people enjoying shooting sports are absolutely amazing. People who I would never have thought would be physically able to shoot have been given the opportunity. There is a gentleman who is paralysed from the neck down shooting pistol and rifle. Also a young man who is blind and uses acoustic equipment to assist with the aiming of the rifle. Amazing!

So through my very quick search it looks like pretty much anyone can shoot providing they can understand and abide by the safety rules with the only restrictions being Government legislation of perhaps the only truly inclusive sport?