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Social distancing rules

Q As the lockdown begins to ease, I am particularly looking forward to getting in some practice during what may be left of the decent weather. That said, I am a little concerned about visiting a gun shop to stock up on cartridges, or going to a ground to practise. I am a veteran shooter with a pre-existing medical condition and I want to stay safe. Can I be sure that staff and other customers will observe the rules, particularly in these early stages of release?

A Any shooter, veteran or not, should be cautious and sensible in these times of early release from lockdown. Precautions like wearing face masks, hand washing and social distancing are not law, they are guidance. However, the vast majority of traders in the shooting industry are complying with the current guidance as best they can, and shooters themselves generally are cooperating fully, as you’d expect for a responsible, law-abiding community.

Shooting grounds are managing to apply social distancing and have found ways to ensure shooters don’t touch anything but their own equipment on the way round a course. The guidance presents different challenges for shops, especially for smaller retail premises which may have only one entrance and exit.

There is no one size fits all solution to all this, however, and we will all need to ease back into normal life at a speed we feel comfortable with. If you are concerned it is advisable to speak to the venue before visiting. Even if they are unable to offer what you need immediately, they may be able to cater for your specific needs in a different way.