Mr. Michael Tope:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to express the views of the National Association of Sporting Rifle and Pistol Clubs, NASRPC. This organisation is the largest target shooting organisation in the country and represents the vast majority of rifle and pistol clubs engaged in target shooting. The NASRPC is the national governing body for a range of non-Olympic target shooting sports in Ireland. Currently, membership consists of 18 clubs, with combined membership of approximately 2,500. The sportsmen and women we represent have achieved international success on many occasions and currently Ireland is Gallery Rifle World Champions, having won the competition last year. Furthermore, Ireland will be hosting the Gallery Rifle World Championships in 2017.

I would like to make it clear that the members of the clubs that we represent are Garda vetted, law abiding citizens. Furthermore, they are sportsmen and women who seek only to participate in their chosen sport and develop it in a safe sustainable manner. With this in mind, we sought to engage with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality over an extended period to bring about a mutually acceptable solution to the ongoing litigation, which has been a feature of firearms licensing over the past number of years. Alas, despite our best endeavours, we failed to make any progress. In the context of firearms licensing, we would point out to the committee that in 650 or 92% of cases firearms certificates were granted by the courts to sportsmen and women who were initially denied these certificates by An Garda Síochána.

We are not seeking the liberalisation of the nation’s gun laws, nor are we seeking a dramatic increase in the number of licences issued. We are asking the committee to recommend the firearms legislation implementation process be independently reviewed, ultimately, to enable us to continue in our chosen sport and develop it in a safe and sustainable manner. The claim has been made that sporting firearms owners are being targeted by criminals. Our firearms are licensed. There are 150,000 illegal and unlicensed firearms in the country. In addition, given that firearms can be illegally imported with a customs detection rate on only 10%, the evidence suggests that it is easier for criminals to import guns rather than steal them.

Is theft of firearms from those involved in target sports a problem? No, it is not. The figure for stolen firearms for the past four years, which stands at 1,136, includes firearms stolen from firearms dealers, blank firing firearms, crossbows, antique firearms, deactivated firearms, humane killers and, of course, firearms stolen from members of the Defence Forces-An Garda Síochána. If the proposal is to ban pistols, pump-action shotguns and semi-automatic centre-fire rifles because their theft poses a danger to public safety, the key figure must be how many of this type of firearms were stolen from licensed firearms holders. This is the key figure and we urge An Garda Síochána to make this number available to the committee as it is key to the discussion and we believe it is likely to be in low single digits if not zero.

The proposal to allow the issuing officer to refuse a license based on calibre, ammunition velocity, the appearance and lethally of a firearm is, in our view, not the way to proceed. We believe that the focus should be on the suitability of the individual applicant and not the firearm. We accept that all firearms pose an inherent risk if used illegally or incorrectly. We would suggest that the most effective way of preserving a sport, where Ireland has achieved international success and is demonstrably safe, is to initiate and independent review of all aspects of firearms licensing and administration. Such a review should include all or the relevant stakeholders. As I mentioned, the NASRPC represents 2,500 sportsmen and women. However, we are aware that there are at least another 100,000 sportsmen and women who will be directly affected by this legalisation.

In regard to natural justice, one can imagine a scenario where a new superintendent entering a district could, because he or she did not like the appearance of firearms being used in a particular sport, effectively wipe out that sport. The investment made by the shooting participants, clubs and ranges in that area would be lost without compensation. How is that fair, reasonable or constitutionally compliant? This is another reason we need an independent review of the firearms legislation. I urge the committee to initiate an independent assessment of the firearms legalisation and its implementation.