Section 8 - Policy for Individual Membership

Background

1. The UKPSA Constitution describes the overall eligibility of individuals to apply for membership of the Association. This policy supports the constitution by setting out the detailed requirements individuals must meet in order that their membership application may be approved by the Council.

Application to join the Association

2. All applications to join the Association are managed via our online membership platform, GoMembership.
3. Persons who are prohibited by section 21 of the Firearms Act (as amended) from possession of firearms under the act are not eligible to join the UKPSA. Section 21 applies to anyone who has been sentenced to imprisonment or to youth custody or detention in a young offenders’ institution for three months or more. The period for which they are prohibited depends on the length of their sentence, if the sentence was longer than three years the prohibition is for life. If the sentence was three months or more but less than three years, the prohibition lasts for five years from the date of their release.
4. Applicants must declare honestly all relevant information on their application, particularly regarding the above point with respect to spent convictions. Applications where it is identified that prospective members have submitted misleading information, on any topics, will be rejected.
5. Applicants consent to club memberships and references being verified.
6. In order to have an application submitted to council for consideration to be approved as a member of the UKPSA, applicants must provide references as follows, either:
   1. Copy of the cover page of a Firearms Certificate; or
   2. Copy of the cover page of a Shotgun Certificate; or
   3. Copy of passport/driving license or other recognized photo ID and a Reference from the Secretary of a Home Office Approved Shooting Club to which they are a full member. Any referee must include their contact details to verify the reference. References must include the statement that: (name) is a full member of (club name) since (give date) and I do not know of any reason as to why they should not be a member of your organisation and involved with lawful shooting sports; or
   4. Copy of passport/driving license or other recognized photo ID and a Reference from either:
      1. The Secretary of another type of shooting club e.g. UKPSA affiliated club, Clay shooting, air gun etc.
      2. A full member of the UKPSA who is in ‘good standing’ with the Association.
      Any referee must include their contact details to verify the reference. References must include the statement that: (name) is a full member of (club name) since (give date) and I do not know of any reason as to why they should not be a member of your organisation and involved with lawful shooting sports; or
   5. Copy of passport/driving license or other recognized photo ID and two Character references from non-related professional persons – e.g. doctor, solicitor, accountant, company director, dentist, optician etc. Referee’s must include their contact details to verify the reference and state the relationship to which they know the applicant. References must include the statement that: (name)has been known to me since (give date) and I do not know of any reason as to why the applicant should not be a member of your organisation and involved with lawful shooting sports.

Action Air only Membership

7. Only persons who do not hold a FAC, SGC, or intend to use firearms as part of their shooting as a UKPSA member are eligible for membership in this category.
8. In the event that an Action Air only Member acquires either a FAC, SGC or intends to shoot firearms as part of their shooting as a UKPSA member, they must upgrade their membership status to full member prior to doing so.
9. Individuals who are Action Air only Members are not insured for firearms use (except on UKPSA approved training programs) nor are they covered by the additional benefit of revocation insurance.