badger.22cal Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Well heres what happend to a young friend of mine today, thoughts on the matter please... A young lad that i know 18 years of age, little bit yellow but very keen on learning about shooting, bought him self an air rifle a couple of weeks ago. After much practice at targets on his own garden he thought he would have a stroll on to a nearby field and set up a longer target ( gun in slip by the way. ) So there he is plinking away and the farmer/landowner appears, none to happy gives him a brief talking to and confiscates the rifle telling him that he will take it to the police station. So the lad rings me for advice, i gave him my tuppence worth and said the best thing to do was be honest and go to the police station and explain the situation. So after putting his hand up that he should not have been on the land without permission off he trots. True to his word the gentleman had indeed handed in the weapon but made no complaint ( still not sure who he actually was. )Next thing that happens is 2 police officers escort my friend into an interview room and tell him he is under arrest for possession of a firearm... ****S HIS PANTS :o :o :o After a brief explanation they also informed him that the silencer fitted to the gun was highly illegal ( this was a shop bought standed gun with silencer and under the legal limit ) and that he must get rid of the gun. Let him go in the end with out even a caution and returned his rifle. Now i agree with some parts of the story and not sure on others, ive given him my rant and he has taken a knock knowing that he has dropped himself in it and will not be shooting anywhere without permission again. I would be interested what other people think off this story and will show the lad the comments, thanks for reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Well I don't think it could be classed as a firearm if it is a sub 12ftlbs air rifle and there is no control of silencers on air weapons...but, this only applies to the possession part. Clearly illustrated by the fact that they let him go. He is still guilty of armed trespass onto the land and this could be taken very seriously. But I am no expert. Anthony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 (edited) HE was: A: An Idiot B: Very lucky Suggest he join a reputable FT/HFT club and BASC/BASA. Wonder if they will/have chronographed the gun? As until proven to be under 12ft/lb i can see the point of the arrest. Especially after the recent swan incidents etc.... Edited March 14, 2011 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Unless facts have been twisted somewhere down the line-moderators are perfectly legal on airguns and the Police have got it wrong.I know that in the eyes of the law airguns are still classed as firearms,but sub 12lb ones arent licenced along with moderators and anyone 18 and over can buy. Agreed,he should not have been on someone elses land without their permission and i think this is what they could come down on him for as strictly speaking its called armed tresspass.The Police might be trying to frighten him into flogging the rifle??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderdude Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 There is no general way of proving by just looking at the air rifle that it is below legal limit. In the past I have known kids be dragged in and the gun seized until it has been shown to be below legal limit. In the meantime,said kid has been on police bail. I have known for the guns to never be returned and disclaimed on the grounds that they had committed an offence of one sort or another and therefore to avoid a charge, gun is hand over and destroyed / auctioned off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Ok my bit. Yes the kid knows he's done wrong now but if I was sed kid I would demand a copy of the interview or transcript whatever it is the names of the police who interviewed him and would make an official complaint about them spouting bull **** I would also tell basc so they could educate these police. If this boy lives anywhere near me he's more then welcome to come plink away on my land (E.Yorkshire) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Also I would be round the farmers house with a bottle of something and explain that I was very sorry for the hassle I had caused and I wa sent aware I would be causing a nuisance and that I should of seeked permission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 . Let him go in the end with out even a caution and returned his rifle. Result for him then. whats to complain about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker3 Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Also I would be round the farmers house with a bottle of something and explain that I was very sorry for the hassle I had caused and I wa sent aware I would be causing a nuisance and that I should of seeked permission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 I think that an air rifle becomes a firearm when some offences have been committed. Its only classed as not when buying it. Could be wrong tho. They were definitely trying to put the frighteners on the lad tho and talking rubbish to do it!! Gh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COACH Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Sounds to me that the police were unsure and spouted Bul**** then got some legal advice on the phone and let him go with a flea in his ear. It`ll wake him up and keep him on track from now on. No real harm done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineshooter Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 (edited) Perhaps the farmer asked them to come down hard on him to teach him a lesson, he probably does`nt want any Tom, **** or Harry shooting on his land. Without a complaint there`s not much I think they could do to him, as said best he joins a club and shows he`s a responsible airgunner. Edited March 14, 2011 by lineshooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 Also I would be round the farmers house with a bottle of something and explain that I was very sorry for the hassle I had caused and I wa sent aware I would be causing a nuisance and that I should of seeked permission +1 ,simular thing happened to me at his age,lesson learned as above go and say sorry to the farmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 An airgun is classed as a firearm at all times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnykiller Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 An airgun is classed as a firearm at all times. This is true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollydog Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 he's lucky not to have been charged with armed trespas . the lad got off lightly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Yup - it's a firearm that doesn't need a licence if its power level is below 12ftlb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 my lad was on our back garden with a safe back stop that capcured the pelets and a new neighbour phoned the polce we had a visit and thay was satisfide that it was safe but we was told that a silencer on a air rifle was agansed the law by the police officer i wish they d lern about what there telling people or is it what there being told?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 The thing is these days, anyone can pick up a cheap air rifle from a shop, and be given no advice whatsoever on its use. ignorance is no defence, but for someone who hasnt been brought up with any education on shooting but would like to get into it mistakes can be made. Some shops will offer lots of adive, and a simple question, is this your first aair rifle can go a long way. As you dont need a license, some people are under the impression air rifles are only a small step above bb guns and arent as careful as they should be. The sort of shops that are bad are usually the ones that sell fishing tackle a selection of knives and a couple of cheap air rifles. When I was younger I wanted an air rifle capable of shooting rabbits, went in and asked and was flogged a 90 quid plinker they assured me would be fine. thankfully i did some zeroing with it and tested the power at different ranges and found out it wasnt good enough before i went after any rabbits. but i just think that to sell air rifles you should have some responsibility in making sure people know a bit. give them a basc leaflet or something at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Hi, Posts # 12 and 13 make sense for my money. Get the lad around there with a bottle AND a bunch of flowers in case the farmer's wife answers the door. You never know, a sincere (grovelling) apology may just end up doing him a favour. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 I would take him around to the farmer with a written apology and grovel. Without a complaint from the farmer/landowner it is unlikely that charges will follow,however the landowner can make the complaint at a later date etc.I would suspect it is still recorded as an incident. If I was the landowner this is what I woud want and I would also be impressed as a proper apology is manning up to his daft act.Don't dwell on it go and sort. If it had been on my land I would have done exactly the same as th landowner did here,especially if I had no idea who the lad was. If I then saw the lad coming to apologise accompanied by an experienced shooting relative I would make him sweat but accept the apology..if I thought the lad was actually a decent sort who was contrite I would probably end up giving him permission!! Until however you prove he is a decent lad/comes to see the landowner I would suspect the landowner still has a pretty poor opinion of him..and who can blame him at this point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian750 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Personally I agree with HDAV, he was an idiot and also very lucky. I also think it was a good thing the police scared the **** out of him, what he did was wrong and he had a firearm with him to boot, maybe if more people were put in your young friends position at an early age we wouldn't have people 'getting away with it' and progressing into idiots like Ashley Cole taking air rifles in to his place of work for gods sake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowboy1403 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 as dougall has said but add on if he`s willing to lend a hand around the farm to make amends,thus the farmer gets to know the lad and sees what hes like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 The police did exactly what they should have done, laid it on a bit thick, exaggerated somewhat and scared the pants of the chap then sent him home with a flea in his ear. Good old fashioned policing of which we need to see more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masterzone2 Posted March 15, 2011 Report Share Posted March 15, 2011 Fact he shouldn't have been on someone else's land with ANY firearm 1. Farmer could have handled it better really. 2. police really need stop quoting laws which do not exist-it coppers like that who make the "decent" coppers look bad surely all they need to do is call their own firearms unit and get the full details. Best advice JOIN A CLUB and go from there even if its just for Air guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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