spence Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Out riding (mountain bikes) with mates yesterday in the woods above Princess Risborough I came across a guy standing on the bridleway with an open side-by-side. I stopped a few yards away - waiting for others to catch up - and asked what’s going on. He says training and they are only firing blanks, then another chap comes out behind him carrying a green training dummy and apparently there are others in the trees. Now this is a late Sunday morning in a fairly busy area for walkers, families and horses (there are a couple of footpaths that intersect with the BW here), as we had just passed a couple of family groups and knew there was a rather skitterish horse heading their way. Not seen this before and it didn’t seem appropriate for the area. There were no signs and casting no dispersions, the guys I saw didn’t exactly look professional. What’s the score on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderdude Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 I'm sure it is a breach of firearms laws... Something in the back of my mind tells me that you cannot discharge a weapon with blanks in public unless taking part in those role playing events. I stand to be corrected though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 they may have commoners rights, which is plausible could be wrong though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Did they have permission from the land owner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 i also believe it to be an offence, if not its extreamly stupid to do this as anyone might see it as a real handgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 (edited) As Garyb says, did they have permission from the landowner. If the woods are privately owned with a bridal way running through and the chaps had permission to train their dogs there they are perfectly within their rights to be there. Edited April 11, 2011 by CharlieT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Indeed.. I do similar all the time on one of my farms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stokie Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 It's only an offence when harm or fear of harm is caused . It's the same as shooting over a public right of way there is no law against it , it's just not common sense to do it when there are people around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnykiller Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Out riding (mountain bikes) with mates yesterday in the woods above Princess Risborough I came across a guy standing on the bridleway with an open side-by-side. I stopped a few yards away - waiting for others to catch up - and asked what’s going on. He says training and they are only firing blanks, then another chap comes out behind him carrying a green training dummy and apparently there are others in the trees. Now this is a late Sunday morning in a fairly busy area for walkers, families and horses (there are a couple of footpaths that intersect with the BW here), as we had just passed a couple of family groups and knew there was a rather skitterish horse heading their way. Not seen this before and it didn’t seem appropriate for the area. There were no signs and casting no dispersions, the guys I saw didn’t exactly look professional. What’s the score on this? The open side by side might be a diferent matter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 The open side by side might be a diferent matter? In what way. How else would you carry one in a safe and proper manner on ground one mut presume he has authority to shoot and train his dogs?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Pretty sure I've read on here that you can take an OPEN and UNLOADED shotgun anywhere with you in the street/common land providing you have good reason. I've been shooting in woods wearing trainers and Bermuda shorts, it may not look right but it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to be there doing what I'm doing. Had some funny looks from dog walkers though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingercoxy Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 i would not admit i shoot blanks coxy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 (edited) It sounds as if they were training dogs to retrieve in which case doing it by a public footpath is bordering on criminal for a number of reasons. Firearm law regarding a public place and a loaded gun doesn't actually stipulate loaded with live ammo it just says loaded. Similar interpretations could be placed on the word "discharging". Public order offences are similarly very loosly worded when it comes to causing fear and/or distress to the public. Also the question of armed trespass comes to mind. But the big word that comes to mind is stupid. If you want to do something like that find somewhere where there is nobody else about. Why attract attention to yourself? Edited April 11, 2011 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spence Posted April 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Interesting comments. Didn't enquire about their permissions etc. it just seemed the wrong place and time to be "training" given the amount of people about. Been riding through these woods for a dozen years or so and not seen anything before, I know that doesn’t mean there's no shooting. Also understand about shooting across rights of ways but I thought you had to put up some form of notification; signage, red flags etc. We certainly do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 It does seem a bit strange that there were "a lot of people" involved in the "training" and you mention a green dummy, but no dogs, which is also odd. Probably innocent, but intriguing. You may have discovered the Princes Risborough Militia on maneuvers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnykiller Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 In what way. How else would you carry one in a safe and proper manner on ground one mut presume he has authority to shoot and train his dogs?. Presume nothing, Thats when mistakes are made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 Presume nothing, Thats when mistakes are made. Which is exactly what you are doing by presuming he was doing something wrong, is it not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 ok so they were on private land with a gun dog training. Assuming they have a right to be there then whats illegal, the gun was open while on a bridleway they didn't cause distress or alarm so I can't see what the problem is. I regularly shoot near bridleways and footpaths whats the difference? As far as the law goes the distress etc has to be withing 50 feet of the centre of a carriageway which doesn't include bridleways. If they didn't have permission on the land then of course its an offence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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