Proposals from the EU which would see the use of lead in shooting banned, are imposing a major financial burden on farmers and gun-owners, Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has said.
He said that consultation with game clubs on the ban has been almost non-existent.
“We are looking at a situation where 70% to 80% of shotguns in Ireland will be rendered unusable and the cost of replacing these guns could amount to over €150m.
The only option open to gun-owners is to send their gun to Britain to be modified at a cost of anything up to €300 per gun
“Farmers account for more than half of gun users in Ireland. With the cost of replacing a gun ranging between €750 and €1,000, this is imposing a major financial burden on many hard-pressed individuals.
“If owners seek to have their guns modified to comply with the new legislation, which bans lead shot in favour of steel, they cannot do so in this country as the facilities for doing so simply don’t exist here.
Modification cost
“The only option open to gun-owners is to send their gun to Britain to be modified at a cost of anything up to €300 per gun,” he said.
Carthy said that the current Fine Gael government, supported by Fianna Fáil, has agreed to enact this EU proposal without engaging with those affected. Thus has caused huge frustration and further alienation in rural communities who see this latest move merely as the latest in a long line of attacks on their way of life.
“The EU proposals, as they currently stand, are unworkable and costly and are essentially tokenistic,” he said.
Read more
100,000 farmers' guns at risk from lead ban
Calls to defer on lead ammunition ban
Proposals from the EU which would see the use of lead in shooting banned, are imposing a major financial burden on farmers and gun-owners, Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has said.
He said that consultation with game clubs on the ban has been almost non-existent.
“We are looking at a situation where 70% to 80% of shotguns in Ireland will be rendered unusable and the cost of replacing these guns could amount to over €150m.
The only option open to gun-owners is to send their gun to Britain to be modified at a cost of anything up to €300 per gun
“Farmers account for more than half of gun users in Ireland. With the cost of replacing a gun ranging between €750 and €1,000, this is imposing a major financial burden on many hard-pressed individuals.
“If owners seek to have their guns modified to comply with the new legislation, which bans lead shot in favour of steel, they cannot do so in this country as the facilities for doing so simply don’t exist here.
Modification cost
“The only option open to gun-owners is to send their gun to Britain to be modified at a cost of anything up to €300 per gun,” he said.
Carthy said that the current Fine Gael government, supported by Fianna Fáil, has agreed to enact this EU proposal without engaging with those affected. Thus has caused huge frustration and further alienation in rural communities who see this latest move merely as the latest in a long line of attacks on their way of life.
“The EU proposals, as they currently stand, are unworkable and costly and are essentially tokenistic,” he said.
Read more
100,000 farmers' guns at risk from lead ban
Calls to defer on lead ammunition ban
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