Laugh away, you were the one claiming Europe has the most restrictive laws and then didnt front up about the fact it was a straight pull rifle, a decent idea even if a neutered example of the previous Tories mad rush to prevent the police rightly carrying the can over public safety at Hungerford.
We are not the most restrictive firearms laws in the world, the UK compared to Europe perhaps and that is even perception.
Japan, Zimbabwe, Israel all have far more restrictive firearms laws for private individuals than we do.
Some would consider Canada and some US states to have the worst especially when you consider their game laws.
Firearms are for killing, paper targets are for practice. Target shooting is honing those skills.
lets not forget that and ensure that it is done respoinsibly. Now were you in say Holland or switzerland or Finland yes I would agree it would be fun. Lying prone and putting up with pettifogging rules from narrow minded officials etermined to preserve their eleite status whilst punching holes in paper. Thats sad.
Want fun? Get your FAC vaired for stalking, bring along your saiga/Ismash or whatever and we'll show you fun and what your weapon was originally made for or capable of!
The NRA has, as part of their 'code' (as do many, many, other clubs up and down the country) the purpose of keeping alive shooting skills in this country to provide the armed forces with trained shooters in times of war. That's the basis for many clubs gaining charity status too.
So, in respect of punching paper for the purpose of practicing fof the real thing, I concur. Deer Stalking, Boar Hunting, rabbiting, squirreling or any other form of live game or pest hunting could be construed in the same way, and it's also a lot of fun, puts food or money on the table, adds more skills than paper punching alone, and also does a job that is much required in the process of managing the countryside, this being keeping down numbers of animals that a: have no natural predators such as Deer (as well you know), Boar, and of course all the other little critters that cause harm.
So, all in all, hunting all the way for me, with the occasional foray into Hythe, Lydd or Bisley for shits and giggles.
BTW, what's this about you, Japanese rifles and the Imperial War Museum? Something you aren't telling us?
