Saturday 30 June 2012

Lead update.

The following is an update from our friends at the "Countryside Alliance" out-lining what the EU intends to do with regards to the use of lead ammunition here and all around Europe. In addition, so there is no mis-understanding with regard to the stand point of FACE, the following link takes you to their declaration on the use of lead FACE resolution

Lobby your MEP on lead shot

The debate over lead ammunition has been running for many years now. Domestically, those who oppose its use have consistently failed to produce any proven scientific evidence to support a ban. Moreover, faced with such a lack of evidence, opponents continually switch between environmental and health issues in a vain attempt to gain public support. 

A further threat comes from the European Union. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) started to look into the issues of all uses of lead. As part of their research, they instructed a company to collect evidence as to the level of use of lead ammunition around Europe. This was responded to jointly by all the shooting organisations through European umbrella organisation FACE. 

The Countryside Alliance believes that these threats to lead are unjustified. As far as the shooting community is concerned, those who want it banned have consistently failed to produce evidence that would support a ban. Granted, if someone finds and proves incontrovertibly that lead causes serious damage to health or wildlife then we are willing to talk. Until that point the status quo must remain.
We further believe this threat from Europe could be greater than the one we face domestically. Shooting throughout the United Kingdom would be disproportionately affected if there were a blanket ban on lead use across Europe. Our shooting is too important to the environment and the rural economy to be decided by Brussels, which is why I am proud to announce our new e-lobby. This will give all UK shooters the ability to lobby their MEPs on the issue of lead when it comes up in the European Parliament. To lobby your MEP, just click here, it will only take a minute, but could secure lead for generations to come.  
Barney White-Spunner
Executive Chairman


From the information on the blog statistics we have many readers around the world. For some the lead issue is non-existent, for others the ill informed have prevailed and managed to ban lead totally. Here in the UK the debate is some where in the middle. If anyone can supply details that could be used in support of this cause please contact us or leave details in the comments section. Be assured once this has taken hold there will be no stopping the march of the banners.