BASC NI has organised an event for firearms dealers in Northern Ireland to discuss proposals to significantly increase firearms licensing fees in the Province.
A public consultation on plans to increase fees and make a number of other amendments to the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 was launched in late June by the Department of Justice (NI).
The consultation document proposes a significant increase in the cost of a firearm certificate from £50 to £120. The consultation also proposes a very substantial increase in the cost of a firearms dealer’s certificate which would increase from £150 to £697.
BASC NI, working in partnership with Countryside Alliance Ireland, the Gun Trade Guild NI and the Northern Ireland Firearms Dealers’ Association has organised the firearms dealers’ evening which will be held on 18th September 2012 in the Island Hall, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn, at 7pm.
BASC NI has written to all 108 MLAs and extended an open invitation to them to attend the meeting.
Tommy Mayne, BASC NI director, said: "The aim of the evening is to provide a forum for discussion where members of the gun trade can convey their views and the views of their customers to our politicians which should include members of the Northern Ireland Justice Committee. I would encourage all of the province’s firearms dealers to attend the event to voice their opinion on the proposals contained in the consultation."
For more information and to confirm attendance, phone the BASC NI office on 028 92 605050.
To find out more about the consultation click here.
BASC NI and the other organisations have launched a petition which opposes the fees increase and calls for a reduction in age limits to allow young people to be taught to shoot under supervision.
The petition can be found here.
ENDS