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Olympic pistol shooters to be exempt from handgun ban

Currently, Olympic shooters wishing to practice their sport can only do so abroad.

By Selena Masson, Shooting Times

Friday, 07 March 2008

Only a small number of elite pistol shooters will be exempt from the handgun ban to allow them to train in the run-up to the Olympics.

Currently, Olympic shooters wishing to practice their sport can only do so abroad.

A Department for Culture , Media and Sport (DCMS) spokesman told Shooting Times: "UK Sport and DCMS are committed to doing all we can to maximise our chances of success in 2012 in all Olympic sports."

"There is agreement in principle across government departments to allow all our athletes to train in the run-up to 2012. Proposed changes are within the existing legislative framework and would only relate to a small squad of elite pistol shooters."

Following the shootings at Dunblane, more than a decade ago, the 1997 Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, was passed.

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Comments

Leonard Gant

Fri, 30th May 2008 13:19:26

With a change of government looming and with Blair gone and Brown on the way out, its high time our shooting organisations began putting pressure on the next administration to repeal the 1997 act and before the next Olympics or how silly will we look in the eyes of the world. Yes, the Dunblane murders were a terrible event, but its ten years on now and time for a review. If Hamilton had not shot himself, he would just about be due for release having served his ten years in a mental hospital, under New Labour's soft on real crime approach and no doubt be offered a slot on some trendy liberal channel four social documentary show. We hear much these days about Scottish independance, well, if the Scots want to retain a pistol ban,thats OK with me but why must the English continue to be punished for a crime committed in Scotland under Scottish law? Pistol shooting is allowed throughout the EU the only place where our government allows this practice is the Broad Water Farm estate and several similar venues throughout the UK.

Joe Cummins

Wed, 12th Mar 2008 18:36:40

Another attempt by the Home Office to give Joe Public the impression that the English, Welsh, and Scottish "top guns" are now back on equal terms with the rest of the world! The truth is just the opposite and plays right into the trap they have set for sports funding (only for sports that achieve in the future). Ban the Olympics (from the UK) or get FAIR with training facilities! ALL the qualifie pistol ranges in my part of the world have been CLOSED DOWN. Thank you. Joe Cummins, Plymouth Devon.

Ben-Ami

Tue, 11th Mar 2008 12:44:17

How does one expect to qualify to the team if you are not alloewd to shoot pistols BA

Stuart Andrews

Mon, 10th Mar 2008 20:05:04

...so another minority of shooters has been bought off..excuse me if I am under-whelmed.. Yet another piece of spin from a discredited policy left over from an even more discredited government. What the Olympic comittee should be doing is to press for the full repeal of the 1997 Firearms Acts. In that way, the future of target sports pistol shooting could be assured. When will the UK`s many shooting organisations realise that you don`t get anywhere by being subservient and "reasonable" ? Overseas, our gun sports are protected by constant agressive campeigning. It`s time the UK grew up.

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Olympic pistol shooters to be exempt from handgun ban

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