Firearms Expert Committee Updates

[Firearms United]

The purpose of this thread is to keep a record of the goings on with the FEC as it happens. This will be kept up to date by FUNI over time.


Taken from our Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/FirearmsUnited ... 596942201/

**IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR GUN OWNERS**

The report from the last FEC meeting is online: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://as ... #page=null
I want to draw peoples attention to point four:

"The Committee continued its consideration of whether firearms certificates should be conditioned to specify the locations where the firearm may be used and whether firearms certificates should be conditioned to limit the use of the firearm to the purpose for which the firearms certificate was sought."
They want to restrict the location where you can use your firearm. I believe this is a stealth ban on guns. It's no different to the consequences of the lead ban, with the real goal to make it as difficult and expensive as possible for civilians to own guns.
We have to oppose this at all cost. This might not only affect hunters, but target shooters as well. If you are completely confined to your range/club , then it will kill open competitions around the country. This will literally affect everyone so please inform as many fellow shooters as possible and write to your local TD's and the minister.

Temporary Minister for Justice:
simon.harris@oireachtas.ie
Junior Minister:
james.browne@oireachtas.ie

Please share with any shooters you know.

Thanks,
Firearms United Ireland

[They Call Me Trinity]

Reading the introduction paper on the government website here: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://as ... #page=null

This paragraph at the bottom is quite telling of their mindset when it comes to dealing with law abiding gun owners:

"This creates a public policy balancing act. On one hand, we must consider concerns around public safety including those of An Garda Síochána, primarily an unarmed force who are tasked with addressing the criminal use and misuse of firearms; on the other, we must consider the concerns of the shooting community, the vast majority of which possess their firearms in a responsible and safe manner. The work of the Firearms Expert Committee will assist in striking this balance when developing new policies and measures to regulate the possession and use of firearms."

The language used here suggests to me a lot of distrust from the Gardai towards licensed gun owners.

[They Call Me Trinity]

Looking back over these first documents posted by the committee I think I found the next issue that will be facing us. A limit on the number of firearms a person can own.


"To consider whether there should be a limit on the number and type of firearms a person may hold."

This can be found in the mode of work paper here: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://as ... #page=null

So the question is, how many guns are enough? And how will that be decided?

[Whiskey Shot]

So the question is, how many guns are enough? And how will that be decided?

You can never have enough guns

[Firearms United]

We have had a huge response from this Facebook post we made Friday morning. Really got people's attention. Nearly 4k people reached and 22 shares so far and private messages sent to us in support of our stance.

As far as I can tell we are the only shooting org to publicy post about this issue facing shooters. We pride ourselves on continuely informing shooters on important issues facing shooters in Ireland and maintaining transparency which we will continue to do so.

If you want to do something constructive ask the following questions of your TD's and shooting orgs.

1) How were the two pro shooting reps selected? What interviews were conducted to hire these people? We can ask these questions because they are being paid by public money.

2) Minister Browne said they did not want anyone on the committee who was apart of the "gun lobby". But then went onto select someone that was head of the Sports Coalition and is also living in Browne's constitutionacy and friends.. well on Facebook at least. This person also has a defunct range and non trading gun shop.

3) How was the chair person selected when two legal people with firearms experience were rejected? This chairperson also has ties to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael sitting TD's.

These are questions we should be asking the dail complaints committee. We should be calling for this FEC to be "defunked" and reconstituted and that Browne and Harris answer these questions in a committee.


Thanks to everyone for all their support. Keep fighting for what's right.

Firearms United Ireland

[They Call Me Trinity]

I just want to add as well, because the penny hasn't dropped for some people commenting on Facebook. If we go after the dubious way the committee was selected, using tax payers money, then we can bring a halt to these stupid proposals and also the next proposal which will be about capping the number of firearms a person can license.

I repeat. If we can bring them to task for the above we might not have to fight every silly proposal thrown at us.

[Simon J]

The Febuary minutes are up. If you are of a Republican or Shin Feiner,you will love this one.
https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https%3A%2 ... #page=null

[They Call Me Trinity]

The Febuary minutes are up. If you are of a Republican or Shin Feiner,you will love this one.
https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https%3A%2 ... #page=null

Point 2 of the report:

"2. At the meeting, the Committee reflected on its videoconference meeting with the Police Service of Northern Ireland firearms licensing branch on 1stFebruary, 2023. The Committee agreed the note of this meeting and to the incorporation of the answers provided by the PSNI to its questions in the relevant sections of its reports."

We have a Garda commissioner that was PSNI and now we have a Justice Department committee being advised by the PSNI

[They Call Me Trinity]

Seen this posted on boards. https://www.boards.ie/discussion/205825 ... doj#latest

Looks like the FURG are back in business.

IHP fb post.PNG (275.5 KiB) Viewed 7448 times

boards furg screenshot.PNG (33.89 KiB) Viewed 7448 times

[Firearms United]

**IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR GUN OWNERS**

FURG have released a letter that they have sent to all the TD's and members of Senators of Dail Eireann. See attached. They have reported that:

"We have been informed today Thursday 16.3.2023 by the Department of Justice, that they will not meet us, and they are going to produce their Report without any input from us or indeed any ‘user’"

FURG also released a statement(attached) asking for members of shooting orgs to:

• Contact your local Councilors, TD’s, Senator’s, MEP’s and ask them to contact James Brown, Minister for state in the Department of Justice, to give Firearm owners like you fair and equitable treatment in this process, and follow up with them to make sure it’s done.

• Bring this to the attention of all your club members, friends, and particularly the farmers in your area. Raise the awareness in the rural community of the way this government is treating rural Ireland yet again.

Letter re Firearms Expert Committee.pdf

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FURG groups statement 16.3.2023.pdf

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