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Consett Sports Centre Gun Club

Constitution 2026

1. Objectives

a) The aim of the club is to promote small-bore and full-bore target shooting in Consett and District in accordance with the National small-bore rifle association, National rifle association, Durham and Cleveland small-bore Rifle association rules. All members will be required to participate in club competitions except where there are extenuating circumstances. 

b) The club will carry out all activities in accordance with the Firearms act 1968, Firearms (Amendment) Act 2026 (as amended) and conform to the home office requirments.

2. Membership

a) The club may have small-bore, full-bore, probationary and junior members. The club does not operate a day or temporary membership scheme. The club may have up to 12 guest days a year. Guest members must be either members of a recognised outside organisation (eg scouts & Guides, schools, Rotary Clubs and women’s institutes) or individuals who are known personally to at least one full member of the club. Guests must be supervised on a one to one basis at all times when handling firearms and or ammunition by either a full club member or someone who is a coach with a qualification recognised by the Great Britain target shooting Federation and governing bodies. The Police firearms licensing department, must be given at least 48 hours advance notice of such guest days by the club secretary. 

b) An Application for probationary membership must be sponsored by one full club member. Before becoming a full club member individuals must have a probationary period of at least 6 months (unless the club wishes to terminate a probationers membership during this period) during which time they must attend and shoot regularly. The probationary member must be given a course in the safe handling and use of firearms on a one to one basis by the club coach with a qualification recognised by the Great Britain Target shooting Federation and governing bodies. Once a probationary member has satisfactorily completed a course in the safe handling and use of firearms, he/she may apply for his/her Firearms certificate. If the probationary member has not completed the safety course within the 6 month period, (except where there is good reason) his/her membership will be terminated. The club will inform the police of any application for membership, giving the applicants name/ address, and the outcome of any application. No application for full or probationary membership will be granted unless the applicant has informed the club of whether he or she has ever had an application for a firearm or shotgun certificate refused by the police, or had a certificate revoked. Prospective members and guests must be asked to sign a declaration to say that they are not prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition by virtue of section 21 of the Firearms act 1968. 

Prospective members and guests should understand that signing the section 21 declaration whilst knowing they are prohibited from possessing/ owning and or handling a firearm is a serious crime. Applying for membership with the club is a serious and complex endeavour with legal penalties applying should any attempt be made to access firearms illegally. Please be aware the club maintains a very close relationship with the police and your details will be passed on to them should you be suspected in any way shape or form to be unsuitable of owning a firearm or becoming a club member. 

The probationary period maybe waived at the club’s discretion for someone who is already a full member of another club approved for the type of weapons, or has handled firearms in the course of duty in the police or armed services, and has a statement from his/her existing or former senior officer stating that they are fully trained in handling weapons for which the club is approved, and is able to use them safely without supervision. The club shall not at any time have more probationary members than full members.

c) Any member of the club may at any time by notice in writing to the secretary, terminate his/her membership. The committee shall have power to expel any member who shall offend against the rules of the club or whose conduct shall in the committee’s opinion, render him or her unfit for full membership of the club. Before any such member is expelled, they shall be given seven days written notice to attend a meeting and shall be informed of complaints made against them and no member shall be expelled without first having the opportunity of meeting with the committee and answering complaints made against him/ her. Furthermore no member who’s membership has been terminated under this rule or who owes money to the club shall be introduced by any member of the club as a visitor to the club.

d) The correct procedure for the introduction of new or guest members is: Giving at least 48 hours notice to the secretary by email contact@consetthistoricrifleclub.co.uk informing him that you wish to introduce new member/s, the proposed new member/s can be invited to the club night and introduced to the club officials but will not be allowed to shoot. After filling in and completing the clubapplication form, their names will be placed on a waiting list. The committee will accept new members in a time order list format with those who have been on the list the longest given priority.The above will apply to all guests, but firearms certificate holders will be allowed to shoot and will be given priority on the waiting list at the discretion of the committee. You must be a full member to introduce a guest; probationary members cannot introduce guests.

e) The committee from time to time determine who shall be admitted and on what terms they shall be admitted membership with due regard to section d).

f) Members shall pay in advance an annual subscription due on the first of January each year. The subscription will be determined at the annual general meeting, for cost purposes. Once a member has paid his/hers annual subscription he/she will be issued with a NRA/MOD range safety certificate to allow him/her to shoot on MoD ranges for that year. 

g) If a club members subscription remains unpaid after the 31^st of March or, in the case of a new member, after four weeks from his/hers acceptance, he/she shall not be allowed to use the club facilities until after such subscription is paid. Anyone who’s subscriptions are not paid by 30^th April, will after due notification have their membership cancelled. 

h) Junior members will pay half the weekly and annual subscriptions of an adult member and shall be limited to three in number. They must be more than 17 years old. 

i) CIVILIAN SHOOTERS ON MOD RANGES. All members need to be assessed and certified annually as to there ability to shoot safely, this assessment takes place at every shoot. ALL shots must be accounted for, any misses must be reported immediately for investigation by the RCO & where necessary, advice or re training given. ALL GUESTS MUST BE SUPERVISED ON A ONE TO ONE BASIS. ALL LOADING AND UNLOADING OF THE FIREARM WILL BE DONE BY A CLUB MEMBER, ONE ROUND AT A TIME.

3. Committee

a) The club shall be governed by a committee (which will consist of the club secretary, Chairman, Treasurer and Club Coach). Authority will rest within the committee to legislate upon any point not provided for in the club constitution/ regulations. 

b) The Committee consists of no more than 4 officials from the club. 

c) The committee shall have the power to make, add/remove as necessary bye-laws and rules for the efficient working of the club. These changes will be published on the club website and remain in force until ratified by an annual general meeting.

d) The committee will as far possible run all competitions under NSRA/NRA/DCSRA rules and regulations.

4. Annual General Meeting 

a) The annual general meeting of the members of the club shall be held each year and at least 7 days notice will be sent to each member. 

b) The Business to be transacted at each meeting shall be:

• To receive a report from the committee from the previous year.

• To consider the accounts and financial statement of the club ending 31^st December of each year. 

• Any amendment of or addition to the rules and regulations of the club. 

• The transaction of any special business of which due notice has been given on the notice convening the meeting.

5) Special General Meeting

a) The committee may at anytime if it deemed necessary conduct a special General Meeting.

A Special General Meeting may also be conducted at any time on the written request of 5 clubmembers.

b) Seven days clear notice shall be sent to each member of the club and such notice shall state in clear terms, the business to be transacted, and no other business shall be done or considered during the Special General Meeting.

6. General Rules

a) All Louisa Centre and MoD Range standing orders and safety Rules shall be obligatory and any breach of them could result in suspension of club membership.

b) Firearm certificate holders are responsible for the safe keeping of their own firearms and ammunition whilst on club premises or outdoor ranges.

c) The Duty RCO will have full Jurisdiction over all activities on the range. If the RCO or any other person on the range sees anything dangerous or unsafe taking place, they should shout stop stop stop!All shooters should gently place their firearms down in front of them, step back from the firing point and await further instructions. DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER SHOT; DO NOT TRY TO UNLOAD UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

All firearms must be kept pointing straight ahead at your target at all times when on the firing point. If your rifle goes click instead of bang, do not open the action for at least 30 seconds, keep the rifle pointing towards you’re target and raise your trigger hand to attract the attention of the RCO so your rifle can be unloaded and cleared safely. Misfired cartridges MUST NOT BE RE-FIRED, they must be taken away by the firer for disposal by a competent person.

d) Firearms are not to handled at all on the range except on the firing point.

After a detail has finished shooting, all firearms must be cleared by the RCO ONLY! Each firearm must then be returned to its bag/ rack before the order to go forward is given. REMEMBER IT IS THE SHOOTERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THEIR FIREARM CHECKED AFTER FIRING HAS TAKEN PLACE. All firearms must be kept in a closed bag/case when not on the firing point and firearms/ammunition should not be left unattended.

Dii) Photography/ video recording on MoD ranges is taken extremely seriously by the MoD and the club. No Photography/ video recording of any kind is permitted. Special permission from the MOD has been granted to the secretary & Chairman where upon images/ video taken will be forwarded on to the MoD for vetting before permission to publish is granted.

e) The club will maintain a register of member attendance together with details of which firearms used and competitions taken part in. 

Range registers are in place at every indoor and outdoor shoot with members expected to sign the range register when shooting.

It is expected that all members write in BLOCK CAPITALS with your proper name, as the range register will be used to check how many times members have shot within the club year.

Members should also be aware that recorded data from the range register can sometimes be asked for by the police this information will be given to the police upon request. 

All members should shoot with the club at least 6 times per year. Failure to do so may result in their expulsion from the club. This decision will be made by the committee.

f) One person may only shoot in each bay on the indoor range and three per lane on the outdoor ranges. Only participating shooters, RCO’s and Coaches are allowed on the indoor range firing point when whilst shooting takes place.

Only Participating shooters, RCO’s, coaches are allowed on the outdoor firing point whilst shooting takes place.

.At the discretion of the RCO & Coach additional probationary members or guests maybe allowed on the range/firing point to observe courses of fire or receive training, providing that they do not in anyway distract shooters.

g) The RCO on duty may not shoot or coach, he/she should stand behind shooters to oversea the safety of all persons on the firing point and the range. If anyone has a malfunction or problem that they cannot resolve they should lay there rifle down pointing towards their target raise their trigger hand and attract the attention of the RCO. 

The same procedure should be followed on the indoor ranges and clearing of rifles will take place after the entire detail has finished. 

h) No firearms to be open and on display outside of the range or armoury area or off the firing point.

i) Any suggestions or complaints by members to be made in writing and to be considered by the committee at the next committee meeting.

j) The use of of alcohol and or illegal drugs is strictly forbidden. Any member suspected of being under the influence of the above will not be allowed to shoot whether on the indoor or outdoor ranges and will be asked to leave. The club member will be immediately suspended from the club. His/hermembership will be terminated pending investigation by the committee.

k) All members/ guests are expected to to behave in a responsible and safe manner any person deemed to be acting in a way that jeopardises the safety of club members will be asked to leave the club. As a result of this a committee meeting will take place where the incident will be reviewed. Member/ Guest suspension and or termination will be discussed and acted upon should the nature of the incident warrant it. This decision will be made by the committee.

l) Hearing protection must be worn on and off the firing point whilst in the indoor range and outdoor ranges. This is non negotiable if you do not have hearing protection whilst attending the indoor range there are club ear defenders which can be used. If club members do not have ear defenders or adequate inner ear plugs on the outdoor range they will not be allowed to shoot and instructed to leave the range by the RCO. The use of disposable foam ear plugs is not deemed as satisfactory hearing protection. The use of disposable foam ear plugs are banned both on the indoor and outdoor range. If club members attempt to use disposable foam ear plugs on the indoor or outdoor range they will be instructed to leave the range by the RCO.

The wearing of Eye protection is also advised. 

m) Club ammunition is sold purely for club use, probationary members and non FAC guests must fill in and sign a post shooting declaration, stating that they have not taken any ammunition from the range. Any full club members who intend taking ammunition home must possess a firearms certificate, and have the secretary enter the transaction on their certificate.

n) The club must and will inform the police of any member whose membership has ceased for whatever reason.

0) Any Club member whose subscriptions are 3 months in arrears without good reason may their membership terminated.

ANYONE BREAKING SAFETY RULES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE FIRING POINT OR THE RANGE. Please remember that safety is the responsibility of ALL MEMBERS not just the RCO 

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