At we like to look at both sides of a story and this is certainly so when it comes to the issue of the phasing out of lead shot.

We still receive many emails telling us that you are against the blanket ban of all lead shot for game shooting and I always like to give the signatories to the transition a right to reply. I have had some organisations say that they would prefer not to comment as they fear a response would be “antagonistic”. This saddens me as, in my experience, silence often does more to antagonise.

People are becoming entrenched and this is unhelpful. We need to keep the dialogue going.

We are facing a challenge that is unprecedented in British shooting and we would do better to work together.

There is ingnorance on both sides of the debate and that is why Richard Atkins has written an article on the truth about steel shot. It makes sobering reading.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

EDITOR