Size limit rules hit carriage of firearms

Shooters will now find it more difficult to post firearms longer than Royal Mail’s new maximum size limits on parcels.

According to the new rules, which were introduced on 2 April, any parcel exceeding 61cm in length must be carried by Parcelforce. But Parcelforce will only allow the carriage of guns from one registered firearms dealer to another. BASC is seeking a solution to the problem.

The decision follows last year’s consultation on Royal Mail’s proposal to ban the carriage of guns and their component parts (News, 3 October 2012).

Nearly 1,500 people expressed their views in emails and letters to Royal Mail. A petition opposing the plans — which was set up by airgunner Geoff Chim — attracted 2,236 signatures and 1,742 comments.

There was also a significant response from the gun trade, which demonstrated that the ban would have a significant impact on Royal Mail customers.

The rest of this article appears in the 17th April issue of Shooting Times.

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