Andy.



The guidelines are there already. BASC have issued best practice guidance as quoted in the last case we read about.



Strangely, rules and guidance have a habit of going by the wayside in the face of sheer bad luck. This is the second instance in a couple months - prior to that, nothing for years and years.



For a member of a group out fox shooting to be hit smacks to me of an ND in the car. Bad weapon handling maybe. Time will tell as the incident is more thoroughly reported.



I am not saying that your question is without merit. Personally, I believe in formal training. However, no actions on the part of the shooting community will ever be deemed 'sufficient' by a politician keen to be seen 'doing something'.



A driving licence does not seem to prevent road accidents!

It has been reported today in the national press that there has been yet another shooting related incident in the UK. A thirteen year old boy who was part of a party fox hunting has been shot and tragically died as a result of his injuries. Whilst the full facts are not yet available to the public, there will surely be widespread condemnation of the shooting fraternity in our media.

Is it now the time for our various shooting organisations (BASC, NRA UK, BDS etc)and ACPO to come together to formulate a nationaly approved training programme for all FAC holders to avoid further incidents and avoid a knee jerk reaction by the government? < !--color-->

Ian, I realise that there are formal training courses out there run by BASC (safe shots) and in the case of stalking we have DSC1 & 2. I wonder what percentage of FAC holders have undergone training?

As you say driver training does not prevent accidents, a vehicle in the wrong hands can cause far more damage than a firearm, however the public do not see the car as a killer therefore it is not an emotive subject.

I have and do experience the results of shooting accidents and road traffic accidents in my chosen career. Neither are pleasant, the worst part, speaking with the families explaining how a loved one had died.

I think that there should be a requirement for a person to undergo a course of instruction in safe weapons handling / target aquisition, etc. etc. before certificates are issued. Courses of a similar vein to those run in Europe could be devised.

Any firearms accident is one too many.