Photos of the annual conference 2011:
FESAC Annual Conference 2011 – Belgium
FESAC Annual Conference 2010 – United Kingdom
Feel free to check the photos from the annual conference 2010 in Leeds, UK, below:
FESAC Annual Conference 2009 – Italy
The Foundation held its annual gathering of country delegates, observers and consultants in Terni, Italy from the 27th to the 31st of May. The conference was followed the day after by a seminar during which high-profile guests delivered a series of incisive reports on current arms legislation in Italy.
The event was hosted by the Italian affiliate, the “Amici del Museo delle Armi Terni” (AMAT) whose President General Guido Pesce and fellow council members were responsible for the entire organisation of the programme spread over four days.
The delegates’ conference was held on Thursday 28 May and was presided over by FESAC Chairman Stephen Petroni. Delegates from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and new member Romania were also present for the conference. The meeting was concluded with the election of the Board officials. Stephen Petroni (Malta), Albrecht Simon (Germany) and Pit Kaiser (Luxembourg) were re-appointed President, Vice President and Treasurer respectively while Hanny Papendorp-Spruijt (Netherlands) was appointed Secretary.
The following day delegates and distinguished guests attended the FESAC Seminar entitled “The European Directive on Firearms and its relevance to Italian Law”. Representatives of political, administrative, military, law enforcement and cultural institutions presented their views on the transposition of the EU Arms Directive amendments into Italian law and the difficulties created by the archaic nature of the latter. The guest speakers included the Deputy Mayor of Terni Feliciano Polli, the Hon. Luciano Rossi – MEP and President of the a Parliamentary Intergroup, Dr. Luigina Di Mattia – Director of the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo, Dr. Pierluigi Borgioni – Police Vice Superintendent and representative of the Ministry of the Interior, Dr. Nicola Miriano – former Prosecutor of Perugia and expert in the field of arms. Dr. Biagio Mazzeo – Judge in Genoa and legal adviser of the “Arms and Ammunition” journal and Mrs. Catiuscia Marini – MEP on the EU Directive and Italy’s role in arms commerce. Guest Eng. Obrist Ernfried, President of the Italian Target Shooting Federation, was presented with a plaque commemorating the anniversary of the historical Carcano Model 1891 rifle that was first produced in Terni.
The Seminar tackled the complexity of Italy’s many laws and circulars that affect its arms collectors. While the EU Arms Directive grants collectors a special status by exempting them from its provisions, Italian law severely restricts them and imposes unnecessary and irreversible damage on collector arms. Thus the Seminar highlighted the need for change in legislation in order to recognise collectors’ important role in Society.
During the Seminar the FESAC Chairman re-affirmed the commitment with which serious enthusiasts pursue arms collecting and research, making them in effect curators of our common historical heritage on a par with curators of national collections.
The successful programme was concluded with a treat for delegates and guests as they were taken on visits to sites of interest in Terni. On Saturday 30 May they visited the magnificent arms collection at the Italian Army’s “Polo di Manutenzione Armi Leggeri” (formerly the state Fabrica d’Armi di Terni) where they were greeted by commander Col. Morlino in the presence of Lieutenant General Antonio Gucciardino, Director of the Land Armaments General Directorate. Mr. Petroni expressed FESAC support for AMAT’s efforts to open up the collection as a public museum.
In the afternoon participants visited a 100m range, located in the captivating scenery of the Marmore, where they had the opportunity to shoot WWI and WWII military rifles from the personal collections of Eng. Aldo Chiapparino, Gen. Aldebrano Micheli, Dr Mario Gasbarri and AMAT CEO Adriano Simoni. They were later presented with a “Certificate of Participation”.
Commemorative postcards with special cancellation stamps were issued for the occasion, which came to an end with the traditional gala dinner.
FESAC Annual Conference 2008 – Malta
On 6th June, a significant date for Europe, FESAC, the Foundation for European Societies of Arms Collectors, hosted a seminar as part of their annual conference which took place at the Hotel Le Meridien in St. Julians, Malta.
Guest speakers were Mrs Gisela Kallenbach, Member of the European Parliament for the German Green Party, who discussed the European Arms Directive, Joseph St. John, Director at the Maltese Ministry of Justice & Home Affairs and Peter Paul Zammit, Superintendent of the Malta Police, who both described the introduction and administration of the Malta Arms Act 2005, Mr. Josef Formosa Gauci, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, who outlined Malta’s cultural attractions which were now enhanced by historical re-enactment and finally the Hon. Mr. Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth & Sports, who stressed the contribution shooting sports can make thanks to the new arms law.
FESAC’s OBJECTIVES
Chairman Mr. Stephen A. Petroni in his opening remarks stressed that the aim of regulating the possession and use of firearms should always be to protect the bona fide enthusiast and the general public from those who abuse the law.
It is FESAC’s duty to oppose attempts by uninformed legislators to introduce repressive laws which, as experience has shown, has little or no effect on organised crime which has its own resources. To this end the Foundation encourages its member organisation to work closely with the authorities, especially the Police.
He reiterated FESAC’s belief that rights do not come without responsibilities. Member organisations must act as a filter when proposing aspirant collectors for a licence.
At EU level, FESAC was successful in attaining due recognition of the arms collector’s role in society as a dedicated person who is in effect a curator of our common heritage.
EUROPEAN ARMS DIRECTIVE
Mrs. Kallenbach, the Rapporteur responsible for overseeing the Amendments to the EU Arms Directive, praised the help and advice she had received from FESAC. She described the Foundation as one of the most effective and sensible lobbying organisations. Initially concerned by the need to control and restrict public access to arms, she had come to realise the invaluable work done by arms collectors across Europe. Collectors are in effect the curators of an important part of our common European heritage, preserving and passing on to future generations our historical artefacts, together with the results of our research.
Following the rejection of the initial draft Amendments, consultations with FESAC and other interested parties had helped her arrive at a compromise which received overwhelming support from the majority of members of the political groups in Parliament. The Amendments will now have to be transposed into national legislation.
Mrs Kallenbach stressed the need for general recognition of the European Firearms Pass, as the only document required by collectors and shooters to pass freely between the countries of the EU, when carrying firearms for sport or cultural activities and when buying and selling.
MALTA ARMS ACT 2005
Mr Joseph St. John and Superintendent Zammit described how the Act had come about in response to the UN Protocol, the EU Arms Directive, but also to meet the needs of a changing social scene. Meaningful discussions with the various shooter and collector organisations had produced a workable law which met the needs of enthusiasts while offering a high degree of security for all citizens. As a result, sports shooting is on the increase.
One key feature of the legislation reflects the authorities’ confidence in genuine enthusiasts, who sit alongside their official counterparts on the Weapons Board, advising the Home Affairs and Justice Minister on firearm related matters.
CULTURAL AND SPORTS TOURISM
Mr. Gauci spoke of Malta’s rich cultural heritage in the context of the general world trend of a shift towards cultural tourism. The new Arms Act contributed to the enhancement of the country’s historical attractions by allowing the use of firearms in historical re-enactment. These re-enactments are an integral part of the ‘living history’ cultural experience. The Ministry of Tourism and the Malta Tourist Authority would continue to support initiatives by organisations which promote the Islands’ historical heritage through exhibitions and re-enactment.
The Hon. Clyde Puli stressed the Administration’s determination to build on the success of Maltese Clay Pigeon shooters by ensuring that as many shooting disciplines as possible are practised by local shooters, now that the Arms Act makes this possible. He thanked the Association of Maltese Arms Collector and Shooters (AMACS) for their perseverance over the years to push for a new law.
Malta was in a position to establish itself as a Mediterranean centre for sports shooting. However this would only be possible through the setting up of a National Shooting Sports Complex once all local organisations work together and with the Maltese Government to achieve this aim.
FESAC Annual Conference 2007 – Netherlands
The Foundation held its 2007 Annual General Meeting in the Netherlands. The Board Members and country delegates gathered in Nunspeet on Thursday 31st May for the opening dinner. The following day they transferred to the meeting hall at the “De Berkenhorst” range in Elspeet where the meeting commenced at 09:00 hours. This was the first annual meeting chaired by Mr. Petroni.
The organization was impeccable and the meeting ended on schedule at 17:00 hours in spite of the many speakers. Each country delegate gave an update on the situation in his/her country. FESAC advisor Jan van Driel briefed the Board on the latest news from Brussels and FESAC’s involvement in the negotiation process.
Mr. Petroni received a vote of confidence for the way in which he has transformed FESAC over the past months. FESAC is now regularly reported in the international media. Its juridical sub-committee is constantly in touch with the EU institutions. Mr. Petroni was unanimously re-elected Chairman and all Board members and delegates were re-confirmed in their posts. Two new sub-committees were set up (Public Relations and Think-Tank) and several new policies were discussed and approved.
At the end of the meeting the Board members unanimously voted to organize the next FESAC AGM in Malta during the month of June 2008 which also marked the Association’s 22nd anniversary.
On Saturday the Dutch hosts treated delegates to a visit to two museums located nearby – the Artillery and Cavalry museums of the Netherlands’ Army.
The following morning delegates visited a joint exhibition/fair organized for the occasion by members of the two Dutch clubs which are represented in FESAC – NVBIW – ‘Edouard de Beaumont’ (modern firearms) and VNW – Vereniging van Nederlandse Wapenverzamelaars (antique firearms).
FESAC Annual Conference 2006 – Austria
The Foundation for European Societies of Arms Collectors held its fourteenth annual meeting in Vienna between the 19th and 21st May 2006 with Malta as its newest member.
On Friday the delegates from the EU member states’ collector organisations met to hear each country’s gun legislation status report and then elect the Board members. Reports from most countries were quite dismal with the respective governments tackling crime by hitting back at legal gun ownership. There were some exceptions. The Netherlands are working on new legislation that has similarities to the new Arms Act in Malta and which came forth as an example of a good balance between legal gun ownership and security considerations.
At the end of the meeting Mr. R.H.G. ‘Kick’ Koster (Netherlands) was reconfirmed as Chairman, Ms. Hanny Papendorp-Spruijt (Netherlands) as Vice-Chairman and Mr. Roger Cook (UK) as Secretary. Mr. Pit Kaiser was voted in as the new Treasurer. Mr. Stephen Petroni was elected to the Board and to a newly-set up subcommittee together with consultant Ing. Jas van Driel and fellow Board member Roger Cook. The subcommittee’s task is to establish contact with EU officials in Brussels and to lobby for positive changes and harmonization in EU states’ gun legislation.
On Saturday the delegates were invited to visit two important museums. First they were taken to the Military Museum (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum im Arsenal) where they were welcomed by the Acting Director, Dr. Christian Ortner. They had the opportunity to handle some very rare early self-loading pistols which originated in Austria. The visit concluded with a re-enactment by the Mounted Artillery Division N°2 in historic uniforms from the 1st World-War.
The second museum visited was to the Hof-, Jagd- und Rüstkammer at the Heldenplatz. The director Mr. Matthias Pfaffbichler took the delegates through an in-depth tour of the superb arms and armour collection. The highlight of the visit was the opportunity to handle and examine two handguns from the personal property of the Emperor Franz-Josef. The day came to an end with the Dinner.
On Sunday morning some delegates opted to visit an Austrian Army rifle shooting range and shoot several types of rifles employed by the Austrian Army.
