International affairs

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Domestic legislation is increasingly shaped by international agreements and treaties, and this is as true in the field of shooting sports as in any other area of public administration. The European Firearms Directive has been of great importance in shaping Britain’s firearms legislation and prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, BSSC was a major contributor to the lobbying process associated with the reform of the Directive, successfully helping to ensure that the interests of antique collectors, auction houses and young shooters were protected.

With increasing attention upon small arms and light weapons at United Nations level, the Council is determined to ensure that legislation designed to thwart arms smuggling and the unwarranted proliferation of military arms does not impact upon the legitimate aspirations of sport shooters, hunters and the civilian gun trade. It is therefore a founding member of the World Forum on Shooting Activities (WFSA), a Non-Governmental Organisation in Roster Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Secretary is currently President of WFSA and attend WFSA’s meetings and conferences worldwide.

In addition, BSSC co-operates with many international bodies representing aspects of shooting sports, such as the Federation of Associations for Hunting & Conservation of the EU (FACE), the Foundation for European Societies of Arms Collectors (FESAC), the Association of European Manufacturers of Sporting Ammunition (AFEMS) and the European Shooting Sport Federation (ESSF).