Bad news from the Netherlands for dynamic shooters.

[Charlie-2-6]

Mods, if in the wrong forum or out of my lane, than either move or delete.

This hot from the press.

Dutch PM Opstelten, responsible for Public Safety & Justice, launched the idea of banning all dynamic shooting in the Netherlands. Dynamic as in IPSC, but also DSR (Dynamic Service Rifle) where I take part in.

The idea behind this, what I'd call political publicity stunt, is a shooting which took part in Alphen a/d Rijn in April 2011 and which costed the lives of 7 people + the shooter who killed himself after his shootingspree.

So mr Opstelten wants to make some quick political wins on the backs of law abiding sportshooters. He has the idea that, since the shooter used his licensed weapons, that any Dutch person legally owning a firearm is taking part in "dynamic" shooting and poses a risk to society.

We had something similar happening overhere in Belgium after a public shooting in 2006. Instead of tackling the real problem, the politicians went the easy route and made life for law abiding gunowners even more difficult.

But do you want to know what the real sad part of this story is: the KNSA, for matters of simplicity the Dutch NRA, is not supporting its members. Nope, they agree with the propesal of the PM.
Normally they have an advisory role to the government on anything shootingsports & firearms related. But it seems they have a hidden agenda and only want their members to own airrifles or even better forbid any public possession of firearms.

Airsoft is already VERBOTEN in the Netherlands, because they look too real. Next they want to tackle officialy approved disciplines like IPSC and DSR.

I can only hope that they come to their senses soon and the sportshooters make a big ruckuss about this.

 

[shootingbuff]

That sucks, and I feel anything that happens in the world of shooting and firearm ownership can come back on us here as well. Hang in there and get the shooters to contact the lawmakers about this to such a degree they will drop this just to be left alone.

 

[technetium-99m]

Some of the pro gun organizations out there are really just out to protect certain disciplines or types of firearms. I firmly believe that the shotgun sports and bird hunting will be the last items on anyone's ban list, with practical shooting gear firmly at the top of that list. Guns that look scary and all.

 

[dennishoddy]

Some of the pro gun organizations out there are really just out to protect certain disciplines or types of firearms. I firmly believe that the shotgun sports and bird hunting will be the last items on anyone's ban list, with practical shooting gear firmly at the top of that list. Guns that look scary and all.

History pretty much agrees with your statement. In England, gun owners are pretty much restricted to shotguns, and the same in Italy. Australia has had huge restrictions put in place for rifles and pistols. Again, shotgun owners slide by with less.

 

[Jefpainthorse]

I understand many European countrys require your firearm to be stored at a "gun club" or have some other regulations that are supposed to keep you "out of trouble"

For the pain in the nuts it can be... I think I will stay here.

 

[OlSlyGuy]

Hmmmm, sounds like its time to move to the good ol' U.S. of A.!

 

[dennishoddy]

I understand many European countrys require your firearm to be stored at a "gun club" or have some other regulations that are supposed to keep you "out of trouble"

For the pain in the nuts it can be... I think I will stay here.

Your correct. The gun cannot be kept at home. It has to stay in a gun club, where you "check it out". The ammo has to be stored in another facility.
I used to be on another forum with a retired London Bobby that was also a shotgun collector. He kept us filled in with all of the petty restrictions they had.

 

[aeropb]

There was a 16 car pileup just the other day. Should we ban cars? Lets ban cars!

 

[shootingbuff]

There was a 16 car pileup just the other day. Should we ban cars? Lets ban cars!

Ah using this process and hitting where it hurts alcohol.

 

[poopgiggle]

Hmmmm, sounds like its time to move to the good ol' U.S. of A.!

It would warm my heart to see Dutch IPSC shooters sneaking through the desert to get across the border, clutching only gallon jugs of water and their Open guns.

They came for a better life. They came for fair wages, clean water, and reasonably-priced 38 Super brass.

 

[Charlie-2-6]

Well the political apparatus is in motion. The "2e Kamer" the house of representatives IIRC has voted negatively wrt the proposal. So now the debate has started. Apparently there's also a report on the hows & whys of the shooting and it seems that the authorities responsible for giving this guy his license knew that he was a liability, ergo should not have received a license. Put somehow the PM did not mention that in his brief.
Let's hope that the affected clubs/shooters can come up with enough material to justify their cause.

 

[Hemmers]

History pretty much agrees with your statement. In England, gun owners are pretty much restricted to shotguns, and the same in Italy. Australia has had huge restrictions put in place for rifles and pistols. Again, shotgun owners slide by with less.

Your correct. The gun cannot be kept at home. It has to stay in a gun club, where you "check it out". The ammo has to be stored in another facility.
I used to be on another forum with a retired London Bobby that was also a shotgun collector. He kept us filled in with all of the petty restrictions they had.

Your bobby didn't know much about UK Firearms Law then. I don't want to derail this thread form the Netherlands topic, but I will just say in brief:
1. The UK is not restricted to shotguns. Not even close. We've lost most pistols, and centre-fire semi-auto rifles.
However, you can still get your hands on some pistols that have been modified to work around the laws (they banned "short firearms", not pistols. Suddenly a bunch of long barrels and "balancing rods" started making their way onto pistols...), and mini-rifles like the Ruger 10/22 are very popular, as are AR-15s with the gas parts removed to make them straight-pull. Don't get me wrong, it still sucks. I enjoy shooting pistol and AR15s abroad, but it's definitely not shotgun only. Even .50cal is fine, there's just a very limited number of places you can shoot it safely because we're a small crowded island and you struggle to find the ranges with suitable safety areas, as opposed to the US of A where you have huge open untouched areas stretching out for miles and miles!

2. Mileage will vary from country to country, but in the UK there is no requirement to store your guns in a club. I actually have a cabinet at home and in the club armoury. For convenience sake I often leave my rifles in the club, but if I'm headed off to a competition, I'll take them home. Having to go via the club before and after competitions to collect/drop off my rifles would be a massive pain in the ass. Some countries do have such restrictions.
Interestingly some of the tightest restrictions are in Eastern Europe, not the West. In many countries an individual cannot actually own a firearm. You join your country's version of the NRA, pay them for the gun of your choice, and the federation goes and buys it for you, and then sort of holds it in trust at your club where you can shoot it. Very weird, and IMO worse than the UK, which is usually held up as the paragon of gun control, although you can at least shoot pistol, just under those rather tight restrictions.


There are a bunch of quirks and often petty hoops to jump through, but the American perception that we literally have nothing other than airguns or shotguns simply isn't true. We have less than we'd like, but more than people think.

 

[dennishoddy]

Good info!

 

[Wall]

We have less than we'd like, but more than people think.

nice to know & welcome to the forum