Air Rifle Shooting

PARENTS INFORMATION


Air rifle shooting at Scout Camp Sites is undertaken on a properly constructed indoor rifle range and instructed by adults who have trained as instructors with the National Smallbore Rifle Association.
In order to comply with the Scout Association rules, parents/guardians of all young persons under the age of 18 must give permission for their child to take part in the activity and confirm that their child is not ineligible by the conditions of the Firearms Act 1968 as printed below.
The Range Officer will not allow any person under the age of 18 years to take part in air rifle shooting unless they have a correctly completed permission form.
EXTRACTS FROM THE FIREARMS ACT 1968.
‘Section 21’
A person who has been sentenced (to custody for life or) to preventative detention, or to imprisonment or to corrective training for a term of three years or more (or to youth custody (or detention in a young offender institution) for such a term), or who has been sentenced to be detained for such a term in a young offenders institution in Scotland, shall not at any time have a firearm or ammunition in his possession.
A person who has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of three months or more but less than three years (or to youth custody (or detention in a young offender institution) for such a term), or who has been sentenced to be detained for such a term in a detention centre or in a young offenders institution in Scotland, shall not at any time before the expiration of the period of five years from the date of his release have a firearm or ammunition in his possession.
This means:
Section 21 prohibits the possession of a firearm and ammunition (under any circumstances), by any person who has been convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of imprisonment (or its equivalent for young people) of 3 months or more. The prohibition applies in all circumstances, including handling and firing at an approved shooting club or at a clay pigeon shoot where a certificate is not normally required. It is also applies to the possession or use of other categories of firearms and ammunition such as AIRGUNS or shot cartridges for which a certificate is not needed.
A sentence of 3 months to three years attracts a 5-year prohibition, shorter ones no prohibition but a longer one means a life ban.