L.S HAVENAIR TARGET CLUB
The Law, Range Safety, Club Rules
Contents
Page:
3. Frequently asked questions
4. The Law
5. General Range Safety
6. Air Rifles and Air Pistols
7. Club Rules
8. Club Rules continued
9. Club Rules continued
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to the most commonly frequently asked questions.
· When is shooting conducted?
The club is open for air gun target card shooting on nights ( to be decided )
· What type of gun will I shoot?
Any Style of .177 Air Rifle and Air Pistol that do not require a Firearms certificate information which is available at the club.
· Do I need my own gun to start shooting?
No, the club has various .177 Air Rifles for members and visitors to use. Which will be brought to the club each session by committee members as no air guns are kept on the premises.
There is a charge of £3.00 per session for use these this includes pellets and targets .
· Do you have any other facilities at the club?
We have tea and coffee making facilities..
· How can I join the club?
Enter your details on the membership form provided and return this with the appropriate membership fee to the club. Once all the checks are complete you will be provided with a membership card and your three month probation period will start.
The Law
What you should know about owning an airgun
It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that their airguns power falls below the legal limits. Our club is able to check the power of your gun as well as most good gun shops if necessary.
Ages
Under 14 years old- you may not own an airgun or your own pellets you may only shoot an airgun under the direct supervision of someone aged over 21.
14 to 18 years old – People in this age group may not own an air gun or pellets and are not allowed to buy them themselves. However they may use airguns without supervision. If they travel though a public place with an air gun they must be supervised by someone over 21 .
Over 18 years old- can purchase and own an airgun or airgun and pellets and use them unsupervised .
Licensing of air guns
Airguns can be purchased by a person over 18 years old without the need for a Firearms Licence so long as the muzzle energy is below certain limits such as referred to as legal limits.
Air Rifles are under 12 ft lb ( 12 foot pounds ) Air pistols are under 6 ft lb (6 foot pounds)
GENERAL
These parts of the law apply to everyone using airguns.
Airguns must not be loaded in a public place this includes having pellets in a magazine near the gun. Securely cover the air gun when you travel through a public place.
If you use an air gun on private property you must have the permission of the landowner or occupier. There is no exception to this rule as you need permission to shoot everywhere.
You may not discharge an airgun within 15 meter( 50ft ) of a public highway if doing so would cause a nuisance or endanger the public.
You must be aged 18 or older to carry an air rifle or air pistol in a public place even if it is cased. It is now a offence to carry an air rifle or pistol in a public place without reasonable excuse. It makes sense to get the PERMISSION IN WRITTING.
If you have been sentenced to any form of detention or corrective training you cannot possess an airgun or pellets unless permitted by the FIREARMS Act.
It is an offence to assist anyone to break the law that apply to them. A
Simple example would be to give an under 14 year old pellets as a souvenir.
Airguns must not be carried in the commission of any offence. This would obviously apply to things like a robbery but also to trespassing
It is a serious offence to kill or injure any bird or protected animal with an airgun unless you are a person 'authorised' under the wildlife and countryside act 1981.
Crime and Security Act 2010
From the 10th February 2011, the Crime and Security Act 2010 it is an offence for a person in possession of an air gun to fail to take “ reasonable precautions “ to prevent someone under the age of 18 years old from gaining unauthorised access to it.
The storage of air guns must be reasonable in all circumstances and it is now law for air gun owners to take appropriate steps to prevent young people gaining unauthorised access to their air guns.
Reasonable precautions will depend on their particular circumstances in each individual case. For example, where children are very young, it might be sufficient simply to store up high and out of their reach .
More normal examples of reasonable precautions could be :
· Locked Cupboard
· Gun cabinet
· Lock or locking device by which an air gun can be attached to the fabric of the building.
· Locking device which an air gun can be attached to a fixed feature.
· A security cord
· Lockable chain or similar device capable of passing through a pint of anchorage within the building.
Trigger guard locks do not satisfy the requirements , as they do not prevent the young person from taking the gun away from where it is stored even though it cannot be fired.
The provision of section 58(2) of the 1968 Act mean that the new offence does not apply to antique air weapons held as a ‘curiosity or ornament’ Nevertheless be sensible how you look after your antiques or pellets that are for your modern airguns
General Range Safety
Below are a few basic do’s and dont’s for when you are visiting the range.
Do: -
1. Observe the instructions of the range officer at all times
2. Wear protective equipment when shooting – your hearing and sight are important to you and us .
3. Keep a loaded gun pointed down the range at all times
4. Always prove a gun safe
5. Always keep the Airgun Pointed in line with target at all times with finger clear of the trigger.
6. Carry your pistol or rifle so that it can be seen to be made safe.
7. Be quiet and respectful of people shooting.
8. Ensure the benches are left clear for the next shooter.
9. Dispose of any unwanted targets in the clubs bins.
Don’t
1. Shoot without permission of the range officer.
2. Touch any Air Gun when people are downrange.
3. Touch any Air Gun until told to do so by the range officer
4. Load a gun anywhere other than the firing point
5. Enter the firing point during a detail.
6. Leave the firing point during a detail.
7. Go beyond the firing point without the permission of the range officer.
8. For ANY REASON point your air rifle or air pistol at anyone.
9. Disturb people shooting. This is known as range etiquette.
10. Mess around.
11. Handle any Air Gun without the permission of the owner.
12. Use mobile phones on the range, All Phones shall be on silent.
Air Rifles and Air Pistols
Club members can use any of the club air rifles and pistols or bring their own air guns with the permission of the Club Instructors.
Below are examples of air guns which you can use at the range:
Under lever Air Rifles - These have a fixed barrel and a lower loading lever.
Break-barrel Air Rifles - These load by breaking the barrel and loading the pellet direct into the end of the barrel.
Pre-Charged Air Guns - These use compressed air, normally filled via a diving bottle. Pre-charged air guns offer much less recoil than a spring gun.
CO2 Air Pistols - These pistols and some rifles use a small bottle of CO2 gas to provide their power.
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Pneumatic Air Pistols – These recoilless pistols and some rifles draw in atmospheric air in to a storage reservoir through a non- return valve as the top of the pistol is closed down this then provides their power.
Club Rules
(1) Air Rifles 177 of muzzle velocity must be under 12 Ft/Lbs recommended ft/lb is around 6 ft/lb Air Pistols . 177 of muzzle velocity must be under 6 ft/ lb with appropriate size ammunition will be allowed.( .22 is not allowed)
(2) The Range Officers have the authority to refuse any air gun or ammunition on the Range if they consider either to be unsafe or inappropriate.
(3) Shooting may only take place when the Range is SAFE.
(4) In the interest of SAFETY, there must be Qualified Coach / Club Instructor and at least one other Adult present before shooting may commence. One must hold an in date First Aid Qualification.
(5) The Range Officer will appoint Assistants as required to run the Firing Point and/or other Duties.
(6) The Assistant Range Officers are in complete charge of the proceedings under the Range Officer.
(7) Nobody will advance forward of the Firing Point unless authorised by the Range Officer.
(8) Any person pointing an air gun at another person or persons in any circumstances whatsoever and whether loaded or otherwise, or being found guilty of any practice which in the opinion of the Committee on the report from the Range Officer of the day, will be liable to expulsion from the CLUB. (See constitution rule 6.2)
(9) Members are reminded that it is an offence to carry any type of firearm ( this includes AIR Guns) exposed in any Public Place. They must be unloaded cased and locked .
(10) On Range Premises Airguns will be unloaded and proven safe at all times even when on the firing point, (see 11 a and b) or they are properly stowed within their carrying cases or other receptacle for transport or holstered.
(11) a. At the Firing Point, no air gun will be touched or loaded during a Cease Fire.
b. Air guns may be handled and/or loaded only after the Range - Officer has so advised for resumption of shooting, or has otherwise given specific permission.
c. Members wishing to demonstrate, show, or coach with an air gun must first take the same to the designated area. Known and identified as the “Dry Firing Area”.
(12) On the Command Cease Fire, all air guns will be unloaded immediately and placed with actions open, safety flags inserted on the bench, and with their muzzles pointing towards the targets.
(13) Should there be any cause for shooting to be interrupted on any Range and for whatever reason, the call Cease Fire by anyone will be obeyed immediately and all Air Guns on the firing point to be made safe.
(14) Any Member or Spectator seeing that the Range is not SAFE must call Cease Fire and have the same authority in such an emergency as the Range Officer.
(15) During a Shooting, should there be a ‘jam’ or other stop-page with either Air Gun or target, the Shooter will raise his/her disengaged arm to attract the attention of the Range Officer who will deal with the matter according to the appropriate Rules.
(16) When shooting is in progress, all other Members will have the courtesy of observing reasonable silence to avoid any distraction, and will assist the Range Officer in ensuring that only the permitted number of shooters and others are on the Firing Point and the others are all standing well back from the point.
(17) The Committee members impress on all Members that it is one of the Conditions of their membership that they should help maintain a TIDY Range, All dangerous or potentially dangerous rubbish, which may be found, shall be the responsibility of the finder to remove. A TIDY RANGE IS A SAFE RANGE!
(18) Competitive shooting will always be carried out in accordance with the rules of the N.S.R.A. or N.R.A. or other properly constituted Body as relevant and as maybe modified by local Range conditions.
(19) Other than special competitions as arranged from time to time, all shooting will be carried out from behind the benches or tables provided at 6 yards to 10 meters
(20) Until a Beginner has satisfied the conditions laid down in Constitution Rule 11 He/She will be required to be supervised by a Club INSTRUCTOR or Authorised Senior Member at all times in the interests of Safety and will comply with all instructions given by the said Supervisor.
(21) All Range Officers will endeavor to give following details ample warning so that they may prepare for their own detail.
(22) Details vacating the Firing Point will do so as quickly as possible and-with the minimum disturbance to others.
(23) Coaches and other instructors may-not supervise more than two Beginners at a time and these must be on adjacent firing positions.
(24) The Rules applying to any discipline will be clearly explained to each and every detail before their Match begins.
(25) Except as provided by the Range Officer and unless a Cease Fire is in force, no Shooter may approach the Firing Point without permission of the Range Officer or leave it without weapon clearance by the Range Officer.
(26) Spectators at L.S HAVEN Air Target Club are expected to keep well to the rear of the Firing Point and must not approach the benches.
(27) Coaching during Matches of all kinds will at the sole discretion of the Range Officer, only be allowed on a supervisory basis with Beginners only, to comply with Safety Standards.
(28) Competitors will be told the Match Rules. Competitors should be left in no doubt s to which rules govern the shoot.
(29) NO SMOKING is allowed in the indoor range.
(30) NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS are allowed in the range and any persons suspected of such or under the influence of will not be permitted onto the premises.