More than 250 Liberal Democrat parliamentarians and party members were introduced to shooting at the party’s Spring Conference in Liverpool.
They were given hands-on lessons by accredited shotgun coaches using a state-of-the-art shooting simulator provided by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the UK’s largest shooting organisation.
The simulator allows people to shoot computerised targets under expert tuition. BASC works to ensure that all parties support shooting and has previously taken the simulator to a Conservative conference.
Independent research published in the Value of Shooting report in 2014 shows that shooting is worth £2 billion per year to the UK economy, is involved in the management of two-thirds of the UK’s rural land area and supports the equivalent of 74,000 full-time jobs.
Duncan Greaves, BASC Council member and accredited shotgun coach, said: “This provides an opportunity for people to try shooting for themselves using a computer simulator. For many of those who tried the simulator it was their first experience of shooting. We had some very positive feedback from everyone who used it.”
Christopher Graffius, director of communications at BASC, said: “Having the simulator at the Liberal Democrat conference provided the chance to discuss the benefits and value of shooting with parliamentarians, policy makers and election candidates. Shooting makes a valuable contribution to life in the UK and it is important that people of all political parties understand these benefits. The shooting simulator is a great way for people to try their hand and to understand the skill involved in successful shooting.”
ENDS
Notes to editors: Pictured on the homepage is Duncan Greaves briefing Lord William Wallace, Government spokesperson on Foreign and Commonwealth affairs and a Government whip, and Jim Wallace, Advocate General for Scotland.
Pictured above is an example of the shooting simulator in action.