Further to my earlier email, my MP Michael Fabricant, has now had a
reply from The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP of the Home Office.
Quote:-

"Dear M

Thank you for your letter of April 26 about target pistol shooting
in the Olympic Games.

The Firearms (Amendment) Acts of 1997 were not intended as measures
to control the use of handguns in crime. They were intended to
ensure, as far as is possible, that the events of March 13 1996 at
Dunblane Primary School, when a legally held pistol was used to
shoot dead sixteen children & a teacher , would never be allowed to
happen again.

It is worth noting that mass shootings such as that at Dunblane are
rarely carried out using legally held weapons. Since 1997 there
have been a number of mass shootings in schools and workplaces both
in the United States & Continental Europe. In every case the weapon
was legally held.

The Government understood that the introduction of the 1997 Acts
would end competitive target pistol shooting in this country.
However during the passage of the legislation through Parliament we
made a commitment to consider favourably any request to allow target
pistol shooting events at major, multi event international games
hosted by a British City. The Secretary of State has powers which
allow this & he exercised those powers during the recent
Commonwealth Games hosted by Manchester.

The pistols were brought into the country shortly before the Games
opened through a single designated port of entry, where they were
placed in safe storage. They were transported to the venue by
secure authorised carrier & placed in a secure armoury. They were
let out of the armoury only for the necessary practice &
competition. At no time was any pistol allowed off site. At the
end of the Games, the pistols were taken out of the country the same
way they arrived. British competitors were subject to the same
regime as those from other countries.

The system worked well & it is anticipated that similar arrangements
will be made for the Olympic Games to be held in London in 2012.

There is no immediate prospect of any relaxation or dilution of the
handgun ban to allow British competitors to train in this country
with their pistols.

Hazel Blears MP."

End quote.

This posting is provided for your attention & consideration without
comment. I'm not making any comments at the moment. I'm too busy
repeatedly counting to ten.

Nigel
Rifle Coach
WMRTSS