Shooting: The arresting gilt-edged form of Gault

British medal successes provide pistol enthusiasts with fresh ammunition for a review of firearms law

Competitors arriving at the National Shooting Centre here yesterday were greeted by protesters and banners, not from the anti-shooting lobby but the pro. The Sportsman's Association of Great Britain are up in small arms – at least, they would be but for the Firearms Act of 1997.

The association, who are based in Preston, want the restoration of target pistol shooting in Britain, after the sport was in effect outlawed by the Act. An association spokesman explained: "Handguns can only be owned by individuals with the consent of the Home Office. Consent is rarely given, so pistol shooting is banned.''

There is no prohibition in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, and target pistol shooting is on the schedule here for the Commonwealth Games. But British shooters have been forced to train in Switzerland and, as a result, had an embarrassing time when they tried to get their guns through HM Customs last Monday.

Tom Redhead, the England coach, said: "They threatened to arrest me and confiscate the pistols.'' The matter was not sorted out until Wednesday. "It cost us valuable practice time,'' Redhead added.

The association spokesman pointed out: "Britain is the only Commonwealth and European country where pistol shooting is prohibited. The Firearms Act was introduced to take handguns off the street, but there has been a year-on-year increase in gun-related crime.

In 1996, the number of homicides involving a handgun in England and Wales was 30. By 2000, it had risen to 47, a 57 per cent increase. Despite spending of £500m, legislation has failed to prevent the increasing criminal use of firearms. Why are British shooters treated so differently from those in the rest the world? What is so different about the UK?'' he asked. The events at Hungerford and Dunblane provide part of the answer.

England won its first gold medal in shooting yesterday when Michael Gault and his partner, Nicholas Baxter, took the 10m air-pistol pairs. These guns, which are a favourite of young boys targeting pigeons, are not to be confused with the type that is banned in Britain.

It was the gilt-edged Gault's sixth Commonwealth Games gold medal. Now aged 48, he won four in Kuala Lumpur four years ago. "It's not bad for an old man,'' Gault said, "but the score I put in was my lowest for two or three years. It was so hot. The last time I was that hot was during competition in Cuba.''

Over six series, Baxter scored 571 points and Gault 569 and England's total of 1,140 was three points better than India's. Samaresh Jung scored 572 and Jaspal Rana 565 to take the silver medal, three points in front of Namibia.

Gault may be approaching his half-century, but he is not about to head for the Shooters Bar in the Bisley pavilion. "In terms of medals, I would like to reach double figures before I retire,'' he said. "I'd like my son to go with me and create a little bit of Commonwealth Games history in Melbourne in 2006.''

The 20-year-old Robin Gault is the junior British air-pistol champion. "Every shooter in the country would like to see a common-sense relaxation of the cartridge pistol ban,'' Michael Gault said, "even if it's just allowing .22 pistols back for target shooting. We need to get them legal for people coming into the sport, like my son. Even if he could get a pistol tomorrow, it would be three or four years before Robin could get up to scratch.''

Today, Gault senior will compete in the 50m pistol event, with a piece that is almost as frowned upon in this country as a sawn-off shotgun.

In the men's trap pairs, Wales won its first medal of the Games through James Birkett-Evans and Michael Wixey. The competition was won by Australia's Michael Diamond and Adam Vella, who pipped England's Christopher Simon Dean and Ian Peel on a countback after both pairs had totalled 187, with Wales, a point adrift in taking bronze.

Birkett-Evans had particular cause for delight as, two years ago, he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and has made a remarkable recovery.

"I try not to think about it but every day is a bonus,'' Birkett-Evans said. "Having finished fourth in so many competitions, I am just so pleased to pick up a medal.''

England could well add to its medal haul today, as not only does Gault have his finger on the trigger but so does the Olympic double trap champion from Hampshire, Richard Faulds, even though he too has had his problems, a long-running dispute with his neighbours over the noise from the practice shooting range built by his father on the family farm.

There are signs at Bisley warning of noise hazard. Here it goes with the territory.