Firearms and responsibility main topics at hunting exhibition

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The responsible use of firearms was strongly advocated at the GoExpo exhibition at the Helsinki Fair Centre last weekend.
     
Both recreational shooters and hunters considered that the proposed amendments to Finland’s firearms legislation are good, as the improved act would restrict the availability of a weapon, advising all amateur shooters to join shooting clubs.
      ”This feels really nice. I could even consider starting to do this in my free time”, considers Helsinki resident Kiia Wadén, while trying clay pigeon shooting at the expo.
      ”On the other hand, I do not know whether it would be decent to start any shooting hobby these days”, she adds.
      Many visitors to the hunting department of the GoExpo exhibition said that the recent school shootings have brought disgrace on shooting as a hobby.
      Everybody was unanimous in their opinion that the granting of firearms should be strictly supervised. However, amateur shooters feel that in the debate on weapons they have been made into scapegoats.
     
At the GoExpo, amateur shooters and hunters were campaigning for securing the responsible use of weapons.
      ”It is good that people discuss the responsible use of weapons”, said Patrik Larsson from Loviisa, while instructing his daughter Jenna Lahtinen, 11, at the moose-hunting stand.
      However, Larsson feels that the debate has gone too far in the aftermath of the school shootings.
      ”No normal person starts shooting at other people”, he says.
      Aarne Klemetti from the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation agrees, saying that it is sad that the recreational use of handguns should now be restricted as the society has not been paying enough attention to mental health problems.
     
Nevertheless, firearms and shooting appeared to interest both young and old visitors to the expo, while long queues for both the clay pigeon shooting stand and the moose-hunting simulator could be seen.
      A crowd was also gathered at the stand demonstrating assault rifles of reservists.
      With the amendment to the Firearms Act pending, both shooting athletes and hunters alike admitted that there is need for supervision.
     
”The new act sounds sensible. It is good that amateurs are advised to join clubs, as a gun is no basic right which should be granted to everyone”, says Risto Aarrekivi, the Executive Director of the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation.
      Aarrekivi also regards as good the new regulation that states that the health of each applicant is to be checked. However, he is somewhat sceptical about some other rules, including the 20-year age limit and the proposed two-year practising period prior to the granting of a handgun permit.
     
The proposed amendment to the Firearms Act would have no negative impact on hunting.
      ”The proposed amendment does not contain anything that would restrict hunting in Finland. Licences for all kinds of hunting weapons would continue to be granted”, notes Timo Tanner from the Finnish Hunters’ Association.
      ”It is true that the law would create more bureaucracy, but if a hunter is not patient enough to fill in some forms, he or she should not start hunting in the first place”, Tanner concludes.
     
The Ministry of the Interior is proposing significant restrictions on the availability of handguns. In future, only persons who have reached the age of 20 and practised shooting as a member of a shooting club actively for at least two years could be granted a handgun permit. The first fixed-term permit would be valid for up to five years.
      In addition to a health certificate, a handgun permit applicant should undergo an aptitude test, the proposal states.
      In future, an acquisition permit for a hunting weapon could be granted to persons who have reached the age of 18 years. With the consent of the parents or guardians, persons of the age of 15 could be granted a parallel permit for a shotgun, combination weapon, rifle or small-calibre rifle for the purpose of hunting, target shooting, or target practice.
      The parents or guardians in turn could be granted a permit for the acquisition and possession of a firearm, provided that the child is under 18 years of age and takes part in hunting or shooting as a hobby.
      The government decided to tighten the availability of handguns after the Kauhajoki shooting incident.


Links:
  Ministry of the Interior
  Helsinki Fair Centre

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