Madam,

Although Dyfed-Powys has seen the highest rate of increase in gun ownership over recent years (‘Gun ownership nearly three times UK average’), Home Office statistics report that the number of offences has remained at three per 100,000 population since 2010/11.

There are only four of the 42 UK Police Force areas that score lower in the gun crime tables. This speaks volumes about the responsible attitude of gun owners in this area.

Of course the Gun Control Network would prefer to achieve zero gun ownership, but this would impinge on the civil liberties of thousands of entirely law-abiding and responsible members of society who shoot.

Whilst recognising that some dislike shooting, it has to be recognised that many shoots enhance biodiversity as was recently confirmed by Martin Harper, director of conservation, RSPB, when he wrote: “It is likely that game estate management, including farmland habitat management and targeted predator control, can increase the numbers of some birds, for example ground-nesting species such as lapwing and grey partridge. Research shows that woodland management for pheasants can increase the numbers of some bird groups, such as warblers and estate management also benefits some small mammals, particularly wood mice and bank voles.”

With nearly two million hectares in the UK actively managed for conservation as a result of shooting it is simplistic to think that the removal of legally-owned guns would not have a significant negative impact on how we manage our countryside.

Furthermore, in Wales alone, shooting brings an annual £75m benefit to the Welsh economy with the Welsh shooting community carrying out some 120,000 days of conservation work per year.

Ceredigion can also boast a number of shooters who have risen to the very top level of the sport of clay pigeon shooting, these fine sportsmen are also legal holders of shot guns.

Yours etc,

Owen Williams. Ceredigion chair, The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

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