News
Deadline Approaches for Antique Firearms Law Change
The UK Government has issued the following press release in respect of the impending changes to the law in respect of antique firearms. Given the change coming into effect on 22 September 2021, if you are affected and have not taken any action yet, please contact your local firearms licensing department for advice. This change will affect…
Medcert
Since 1 April 2016, the General Practitioners (GPs) form has been a requirement to be completed when applying for either the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate. Born out of several critical incident reviews when certificate holders used their guns to commit homicides…
Aim to Sustain
Nine rural organisations formerly known as the Shoot Liaison Committee have announced the launch of an exciting new partnership called Aim to Sustain to promote the multitude of conservation and community benefits from game shooting.
The nine bodies are: Countryside Alliance, British Game Alliance, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Country Land & Business Association, Game Farmers’ Association, Moorland Association, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Scottish Land and Estates and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
Guntrader Website Database Breach
We are aware of a suspected breach of gun advertising website Guntrader's user database. A large volume of names, addresses, telephone numbers and some GPS location data appears to have been stolen via hacking. Although no certificate details appear to have been compromised, the majority of the subscribers are likely to be certificated shooters. The website in question has confirmed they are looking into the …
Trichinella Testing
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has published revised guidance for trichinella testing of UK feral wild boar. The revision makes the process of sampling for trichinella clearer, with additional graphics and images on how…
Game Dealers’ Lead Ammunition Statement
The National Game Dealers Association has voted to commit to sourcing all feather and fur game as well as venison and wild boar from lead-free supply chains from 1st July 2022. This is to future proof the sale of Game meat…
Lead Update
At SACS, we recognise that the traditional world of shooting with lead ammunition is changing. Consumer led, environmental and political challenges in Europe and the UK will likely result in the statutory replacement of some types of lead ammunition, such as lead shot, to non-toxic alternatives in the relatively short years to come…
PSNI Firearm Magazines
Yesterday evening, SACS, Country Sports Ireland, Countryside Alliance Ireland and BASC NI had a constructive meeting with PSNI FEB, Justice Department, Patsy McGlone MLA, Mervyn Storey (NI Policing Board), Jim McAllister (QC), head of FEB Jonathan Howarth and Superintendent Sam Donaldson…
Legal Expenses Insurance
SACS is a not for profit membership organisation. It represents members’ interests in policy areas such as shooting laws, wildlife management, firearms licensing, etc. It is a voice which is heard. It also seeks out best value for its members. And when challenges arise in respect of firearms licensing, it provides a highly competent advocacy service in an effort to resolve challenges…
Shooting Tax Nonsense
'The Ferret' has published an article based on 'research' conducted by Scottish Greens MSP Andy Wightman on Shooting Rates and how it is apparently wrong for there to be a shooting rates exemption - known as Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) - available for small businesses and landholdings. Sounds daft? Then read on…
Update on General Licences
After an enormous amount of genuine and effective engagement from Defra, which SACS and many of our partner organisations enthusiastically fed in to via seminars, briefings and panel consultations, Defra have today published their new General Licences for 2021…
Lead Shot Update
Following the joint announcement today by the UK’s leading shotgun cartridge manufacturers, SACS wishes to provide further clarification on its participation with the joint statement released by the nine shooting organisations in relation to the proposed five-year transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting…
Lead Shot Statement
Shooting and rural organisations take control of lead shot destiny. Leading shooting and rural organisations have today announced they want an end to the use of lead and single-use plastics in shotgun ammunition for live quarry shooting within five years…
Grouse Shooting Review
Rural organisations said today that the recommendations of a government-commissioned review of grouse moor management will mean a ‘seismic’ change for grouse moors across Scotland…
Major Changes Ahead for Grouse Moor Management
Following evidence by members of the grouse moor review group to the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee today, a joint statement has been issued by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Scottish Association for Country Sports, Scottish Countryside Alliance, Scottish Gamekeepers Association and Scottish Land & Estates…
Findhorn Bay: Anti-Shooters Destroy Agreement
Many of you will be aware of the negotiation over wildfowling at Findhorn Bay. Despite local wildfowling being a long-established cultural and wild food harvesting activity of abundant species, a number of anti-shooters have sought to stop wildfowling or restrict it to the point where it is no longer viable…
Findhorn Update and 2019 Restrictions
For anyone who wildfowls at Findhorn: Update on the Findhorn wildfowling negotiation and 2019-2020 season voluntary shooting restrictions. Links at bottom, but please read the following briefing first…
Proposed Scottish Green Party Legislation
The SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY wants to ban all fox, hare and potentially other wild mammal control in Scotland. Alison Johnstone MSP is looking to draft a Private Member’s Bill and has launched a public consultation exercise to that end. As reckless as this proposed legislation might sound to anyone with a basic grounding in the realities of the natural world and farming, we cannot ignore this threat and need to respond robustly and intelligently…
Findhorn Wildfowlers’ Statement
Today, 10th September 2019, the Economic Development & Infrastructure Services Committee of Moray Council met to discuss the wildfowling situation at Findhorn and whether the anti-wildfowling petition should be dismissed. During the meeting a number of councillors gave their opinions on the matter and what could be done going forward…
Deer Working Group Report
In late March, the Scottish Government published its response to the report from the independent Deer Working Group on ‘The management of wild deer in Scotland’. The earlier SACS response can be found HERE.