BASC applauds bump stock import ban

BASC is applauding the government's decision to halt the importation of bump stocks into the UK. The Import Licensing Branch of the Department of International Trade has issued a notice to importers advising that the government has published a revised version of the UK’s Open General Import Licence (OGIL). As well as minor drafting changes to the previous OGIL, the new version temporarily bans the importation of “bump stocks” into the UK. These are devices which, when fitted or added to a self-loading firearm, utilise recoil forces to automate repeated pressure on the trigger, increasing the rate of fire of the firearm. BASC's director of firearms, Bill Harriman, said: "The decision to introduce an import ban was taken on the grounds of public safety as there is a perceived risk that such items can be used on legally-held firearms such as .22 semi-automatic rifles. The import ban will remain in force pending further tests. "BASC has long been concerned that bump stocks or similar devices might be used in conjunction with .22 self-loading rifles to create firearms capable of fully-automatic fire. "BASC applauds the government’s decision to amend the Open General Import Licence to prohibit their importation, pending further forensic testing. "Self-loading .22 rifles are important for pest control as well as being very popular with many target shooters. BASC joined other associations in 1987 to campaign for the exclusion of .22 self-loading rifles from the general prohibition on self-loading rifles. We do not want that sensible and helpful decision upset in any way." Although the importation of "bump stocks" has been temporarily stopped, possession of the devices in the UK is not prohibited.