What we do

This page sets out our response to the Government's Consultation Paper "Controls on firearms" published in May 2004...

The BFTA is the National Association of the Governing Bodies relating to Field Target shooting in Scotland, Wales and the seven Regional Associations in England. Field Target is the sport of shooting metal silhouette targets with air rifles, in natural outdoor environments. The sport, conceived around 1980, evolved from hunting with air rifles and combined the need for competitive target shooting with beingoutside amongst friends and like-minded people. The age of our members varies from 12 up to over 70 years, with both male and female bale to take part on an equal footing. We have rules for varying degrees of disability and wherever possible we provide wheelchair access.

The BFTA committee meets on a regular basis and has a formal constitution and a comprehensive set of shoot rules, together with standards for safety, competitions and disciplinary matters. Training courses are held together with examinations for nationally recognised instructors and coaches qualifications in the sport of Field Target.

The BFTA has a negotiated insurance scheme for the benefit of our regional clubs. The scheme covers public liability, club plant, equipment and tools, the club individuals for their equipment, and finally committee cover at national, regional and club level.

We have a seat on the National Small-bore Rifle Association (NSRA), the Airgun Manufacturers and Trade Association (AMTA) and we also have close liaison with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). The BFTA are one of the founding members of the World Field Target Federation (WFTF) and we are pleased to say that the 2005 World Field Target Championships will be held in the UK.

Our regional associations and member clubs regularly organise and run air rifle shooting events at country fairs and shows. Some clubs train scouts for their Master at Arms Badge and some also train and assist young people for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

A Grand Prix-type series of national shoots is arranged every year, with qualification for a grand final (the Showdown) being run concurrently. In addition, the European Championships are hosted every year in the UK, as well as the British Masters, Home Internationals, and Inter-regional Championship.

Within the sport of Field Target we primarily use air rifles and so will restrict our input to these guns and the associated sections in the "Control on Firearms" Consultation Paper.

We feel that we (the BFTA) have the experience, skill, training and knowledge to respond to the Government Paper and we would wish for our comments to be recognised.

Thank you for taking the time to read this introduction. I welcome you to the sport of Field Target shooting and I look forward to meeting you sometime in the future. If you want to discuss any matter privately, or you need more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can email me here and my details are in the contact list.

Roger Moy

BFTA Chairman