Dear all.
Isaac Preston ( http://www.cobbatoncombat.co.uk) was kind enough to send me the email below, seeing as it is relevant to all of us, he gave permission for it to posted here so have a read through and again, do something about it!
Thanks to Isaac and to the MVT Council of Management. please do keep us up to date.
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Dear MVT Member,
The Violent Crime Reduction Bill. "Manufacture, import and sale of
realistic imitation firearms"
Most Members now realise the seriousness of this proposed bill, with a
ban on sales making our de-activated weapons and AFV's worthless. Many
have already contacted MP's, the Home Office, etc, and we must keep up
the pressure.
Here is a recent reply from Mr Bottomley at the Home Office to an MVT
Member's query on stakeholders ;
Dear Sir,
There is no question of applying to be a stakeholder. Anyone with a
legitimate interest in the possession and use of realistic imitation
firearms is automatically a stakeholder and is welcome to make a
submission to the consultation. To do so you should make your case in
writing and send it to the Home Office, POPCU, Firearms Section, SE
Quarter, 5th Floor, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
Alternatively, if you prefer, you could send your submission to my
e-mail address.
Keith Bottomley
keith.bottomley@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Below are a few more quotes from Mr Bottomley ;
" the Bill is still in the early stages of its journey through
Parliament During that process, weaknesses and anomalies will be
exposed, debated and turned into any number of amendments. That being
the case any finished legislation will probably look very different to
what it does now. "
" As you may know, the Bill allows for exceptions and exemptions to the
proposed ban on the manufacture, importation or sale of realistic
imitation firearms. The Government recognises that the law must work in
a way which allows for certain genuine interests and needs. The Home
Office will be consulting stakeholders about this, but the Government
believes that the case for any exemptions will need to be strongly made
to ensure they do not undermine the central purpose of the ban. "
" We can confirm though that the Home Office has already received a
number of submissions suggesting possible amendments and exceptions for
the benefit of collectors, re-enactors, film and theatre groups and
other sections of the community that use realistic imitation firearms,
including deactivated guns, in their pastimes. "
" The Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Commons in June and is
scheduled for its Committee Stage there in October. We expect that the
sorts of exceptions and exemptions that will be allowed for will emerge
then but we cannot say what these might be at present. However, I can
assure you that your comments have been noted in this context. "
" Stakeholders are those people with an interest which means there is no
need to be registered; if you have an interest, you are a stakeholder.
We will be formally consulting with the major organisations representing
specific interests (the Gun Trade Association for example) but at the
same time, we welcome written contributions from any individual such as
you who has an interest. "
We don't have much option but to believe him !
The committee's first meeting is set for Thursday October 13th. The
general opinion is that in some form this bill will become law.
So as individuals and as groups we must keep informing those involved in
drafting and passing this bill of it's many serious repercussions, and
sending in well reasoned suggestions for exemptions and exceptions to
save as much as possible of our heritage, hobby and businesses.
There are various suggestions for exemptions, for example weapons made
before a certain date, and or over a certain calibre, some favour a
register of guns and owners etc etc. If you have a viable suggestion,
send it to the people who will be making the decisions.
WE MUST KEEP THE RIGHT TO SELL OUR LEGALLY OWNED DE-ACS.
OUR BOTTOM LINE HAS TO BE THAT IF WE ARE TO LOSE THE RIGHT TO SELL OUR
LEGALLY PURCHASED AND OWNED ITEMS, THEN WE MUST BE COMPENSATED FOR THE
FINANCIAL LOSS. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS IN ANY SUBMISSION.
The MVT has applied to be included as a stakeholder, and should be
included in consultations along with the Gun Trade Federation, as the
MVT represents much wider interests than the Federation.
PLEASE ASK FOR THE MVT WITH OVER 5000 MEMBERS, BE INCLUDED ALONGSIDE THE
GUN TRADE FEDERATION AS A MAJOR ORGANISATION TO BE FORMALLY CONSULTED.
JUST REMEMBER, MR BOTOMLEY HAS SAID HE WILL WELCOME YOUR SUBMISSION.
AS GOOD LOYAL SUBJECTS OF THE QUEEN, THEN WE SHOULD OBLIGE HIM WITH
PLENTY OF CONSTRUCTIVE CORRESPONDENCE.
CONTACT DETAILS OF SUGGESTESTED "INFLUENTIAL" PEOPLE.
The Prime Minister
The Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
10 Downing St.
London
SW1A 2AA
The Opposition Leader
The Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP
howardm@parliament.uk
The Home Secretary
The Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP
The Shadow Home Secretary
The Rt Hon David Davis MP
The Liberal Democrat Leader
The Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP
dosanjhg@parliament.uk via Gurpreet Dosanjh
Apart from the Prime Minister, the address for all these, including the
members of the VCR Committee listed below is ; House of Commons London
SW1A 0AA
Website to find who your MP is. http://www.theyworkforyou.com
BELOW DETAILS OF THE VCR COMMITTEE.
Their first meeting is set for Thursday October 13th.
(L) Labour. © Conservative. (LibD) Lib Dem. (SNP) Scottish National
Party.
Ms Diane Abbott (L) can be contacted via Camilla at
drejerc@parliament.uk Hazel Blears (L) blearsh@parliament.uk
Kevin Brennan (L) brennank@parliament.uk
Ms Dawn Butler (L) butlerd@parliament.uk
Mr James Clappison © clappisonj@parliament.uk
Rosie Cooper Cooper (L) cooperre@parliament.uk
Mr Jonathan Djanogly © djanoglyj@parliament.uk
Lynne Featherstone (LibD) featherstonel@parliament.uk
Stewart Hosie (SNP) hosies@parliament.uk
Mr Kevan Jones (L) jonesk@parliament.uk
Ms Sally Keeble (L) keebles@parliament.uk
Steve McCabe (L) mccabes@parliament.uk
Mr Humfrey Malins © malinsh@parliament.uk
Mr Mark Oaten (LibD) oatenm@parliament.uk
Stephen Pound (L) pounds@parliament.uk
Mr Mark Prisk, © priskm@parliament.uk
Mark Pritchard, © pritchardm@parliament.uk
Chris Ruane, (L) ruanec@parliament.uk
Jim Sheridan, (L) sheridanj@parliament.uk
Lynda Waltho (L) walthol@parliament.uk
Jeremy Wright © wrightj@parliament.uk
The chairmen are
Mr Joe Benton (L) bentonj@parliament.uk
and Mr Eric Forth. © forthe@parliament.uk
WE HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT ON THURSDAY SEPT 15th A JOINT MEETING FOR
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES WITH THE HO WAS HELD IN LONDON. THE MVT WAS NOT
INCLUDED, IN SPITE OF SIMON BROMLEY ASKING SINCE JULY FOR THE MVT TO BE
INCLUDED IN CONSULTATIONS.
DO ALL YOU CAN TO GET THE MVT INCLUDED IN THE CONSULTATION PROCESS.
Please do not write to me, chase your MP, the VCR Committee, or Tony
Blair !
