Society wants to see couch potatoes watching Jeremy Kyle as far as I can figure out. Tell "normal" people that you like going up the woods and eating wild food and they think you're nuts. Of course, a carot grown in the ground is different though, or a pack of peanuts!
air rifles in public?
- Thread starter Siberianfury
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Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
My neighbour is a police firearms officer, and if a well meaning yet ultimately incorrect person reports a 'firearm' being brandished in public, they have to respond as if Postman Pat's had a really bad day at work, irrespective of the actual offence commited (if any). That means lots of fired up tooled up coppers coming along to really make a mess of your day. At best.
I definitely wouldn't try it if you're a brazillian electrician, and bear in mind that the present UK security level is 'heightened'
I definitely wouldn't try it if you're a brazillian electrician, and bear in mind that the present UK security level is 'heightened'
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Nor can I recall the last time I saw a rifle bag in a town centre. Probably for very good reason. You willing to be the guy in the headlines saying 'I'm right'?
Tell plod before we go shooting? Last time I told them someone was vandalising the cars in my street was August year before last and they turned up in April - they don't have the time to 'link up'.
It's the same with people on pedestrian crossings, they have the right to be there, but they had better consider momentum. It's not what's right, it is what is best.
Just out of interest, could you provide a link to said by-law please? It's one I wasn't aware of and would be interested to see if there are any similar restriction.
Scratch that, found it, they should re-design pdf's to make them google-able
Thanks
Nit
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I'm no expert just a member of the public. I have no knowledge of guns or air guns. I can't tell the difference between a replica and the real deal. I am sitting on a bus trying not to engage in direct eysight with my fellow passengers (we all do that these days as there are scumbags out there don't you know) when I clock someone carrying what looks like a gun case. Now I am a sensible person but I don't know the guy carrying the weapon or that the weapon is legal. That's not my place to know so I call the police to tell them there is someone carrying a gun a round town.
What's the best outcome? You get stopped by the police and questioned. What's the worst? Does anyone remember the case of a guy shot dead after leaving his local with a replacement chair leg spindle in a plastic shopping bag. Someone in his local called the police and he was shot dead less than 10 minutes later.
Now that's just a paranoid argument but we do live in a paranoid country when it comes to guns. I guess the very much few cases of people "going postal" such as the Wiltshiree incident has made us this way. If the cost of this is people who legally shoot have to take extra precautions then perhaps they should make them. Sad I know but legal and adviseable are not the same in this country, Personally I'm more afraid of the guy carrying a large rucksack on a bus than a gun in a slip! Especially if he has a big, black beard and is staring into space!
Is there someone who can give you a lift there and back? Perhaps circumventing the issue is best.
BTW I keep wondering about getting an air rifle for my Dad. He does have rabbit problems in his garden and veggie patch. I just thought an air rifle might be good and is not as strict as proper guns. What would you recommend and what are the legislations I need to know about? Can anyone just buy an airgun or do youu need a licence? What brands or models are worth considering. Bearing in mind not too expensive. Plenty of bag for your bucks if you follow.
What's the best outcome? You get stopped by the police and questioned. What's the worst? Does anyone remember the case of a guy shot dead after leaving his local with a replacement chair leg spindle in a plastic shopping bag. Someone in his local called the police and he was shot dead less than 10 minutes later.
Now that's just a paranoid argument but we do live in a paranoid country when it comes to guns. I guess the very much few cases of people "going postal" such as the Wiltshiree incident has made us this way. If the cost of this is people who legally shoot have to take extra precautions then perhaps they should make them. Sad I know but legal and adviseable are not the same in this country, Personally I'm more afraid of the guy carrying a large rucksack on a bus than a gun in a slip! Especially if he has a big, black beard and is staring into space!
Is there someone who can give you a lift there and back? Perhaps circumventing the issue is best.
BTW I keep wondering about getting an air rifle for my Dad. He does have rabbit problems in his garden and veggie patch. I just thought an air rifle might be good and is not as strict as proper guns. What would you recommend and what are the legislations I need to know about? Can anyone just buy an airgun or do youu need a licence? What brands or models are worth considering. Bearing in mind not too expensive. Plenty of bag for your bucks if you follow.
I have just acquired a fantastic BSA Hornet from a swap on this forum and am really happy with the performance of it. I have been around firearms all my working life and have fired everything from .22 LR up to 0.50" cal and consider myself a very sensible user of firearms. I would not, however, get onto a bus carrying a slip mate 
There are too many 'nut job' joe publics out there that will think you are a gun crazed maniac, like they read about in 'Get-a-Life','Hello Imbecile', etc, ad nauseum,.. magazine. They have no idea that some people like to shoot game to eat rather than get a plastic wrapped carcass from the supermarket!!
Also it will give the police ART a trip out as they WILL respond to any reported firearm. Give yourself a break mate and try and get a lift or a taxi. Not worth the hassle buddy.
Craeg
There are too many 'nut job' joe publics out there that will think you are a gun crazed maniac, like they read about in 'Get-a-Life','Hello Imbecile', etc, ad nauseum,.. magazine. They have no idea that some people like to shoot game to eat rather than get a plastic wrapped carcass from the supermarket!!
Also it will give the police ART a trip out as they WILL respond to any reported firearm. Give yourself a break mate and try and get a lift or a taxi. Not worth the hassle buddy.
Craeg
Sounds like a good idea. No license needed.
Go for .22, it's a bigger pellet and less fiddly than .177 for older fingers. Quite aside from the fact that I hunted with .22 up until a few years ago, it'll take care of the bunnies.
I moved onto .177 for competition work and find that it over penetrates.
A decent backstop or wall at the garden/veg patch to prevent misses from leaving his area is a good idea.
Simple, effective and not too expensive is an HW80 or 97.
Paranoia
Definition
Paranoia is an unfounded or exaggerated distrust of others, sometimes reaching delusional proportions. Paranoid individuals constantly suspect the motives of those around them, and believe that certain individuals, or people in general, are "out to get them."
I don't see that on this thread.
I do see reasonable people giving the legal guidelines *and* the socially acceptable ones.
Josh, hope you have a good days shooting
cheers,
Toddy
Definition
Paranoia is an unfounded or exaggerated distrust of others, sometimes reaching delusional proportions. Paranoid individuals constantly suspect the motives of those around them, and believe that certain individuals, or people in general, are "out to get them."
I don't see that on this thread.
I do see reasonable people giving the legal guidelines *and* the socially acceptable ones.
Josh, hope you have a good days shooting
cheers,
Toddy
Can we really afford not to be Paranoid,my friend that everyone else reckons they cant see(damn liars) urges me to not trust anyone and he's been a great help.
Toddy, I honestly believe your definition of paranoia accurately describes a lot of the posts that have been made about this issue. Unless your slip is made of clear plastic no-one can even see what you have inside it and I just don't think the general public cares enough about what everyone else is up to to even try and find out.
Camoflage.
Get a gunslip that doesn't look like a gunslip.
you don't need to do that its perfectly legal to carry an air rifle in a public place as long as its in a slip/case (not hidden away in an inflatable dinosaur or anything in a slip), uncocked, unloaded and the ammunition is carried separately. thats the law. you don't need to hide what your doing because your not doing an illegal activity
Bet you had a cracking day while we were all arguing on here 
If ever you need a giant inflatable dinosaur to cover it, just gimme a shout. It does attract attention though.
If ever you need a giant inflatable dinosaur to cover it, just gimme a shout. It does attract attention though.I was thinking more along the lines of one of those slips that look like a multi rod fishing holdall...Though, i'm sure an inflatable dinosaur might work too!
I agree with you entirely. If you're not breaking any laws, you shouldn't have to hide it. But, in real life, do you need the aggravation?
I wasn't so lucky a while ago: not to extent of meeting specialist policemen, but in having to make the involved, and ultimately futile, explanation to someone unfamiliar with the equipment.
Pity.
But I now choose (even more) discretion.
Pity.
But I now choose (even more) discretion.
I was thinking more along the lines of one of those slips that look like a multi rod fishing holdall...Though, i'm sure an inflatable dinosaur might work too!
I agree with you entirely. If you're not breaking any laws, you shouldn't have to hide it. But, in real life, do you need the aggravation?
I believe that the aggro, if it ever happens, is indeed worth it. We have a right, and we must stand up for it or it will be taken away by the small minded minority.
The reality is folk shoot every single day of the year, all accross the country. Aggro happens very rarely. Call it 10,000 - 1 odds. Its not worth worrying about. If it happens all that "will" happen is , they look at your rifle, apologise and leave. Simple as There is nothing else they can do. If you are funny with them they may get funny back and send your rifle for a chrono check. Nothing worse can happen. Words like Seized and confiscated are words designed to inflict fear. All it means is,"were gonna send your rifle for a chrono check, if its below legal limit you can have it back, and then we wont touch you again as you will have proof that your rifle is legal"
But if we hide from it, then its over.
That was unlucky, but ultimately beneficial as said uneducated person, just gained one.
