mag-man Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Got a bloke at work who claims vets are permitted to use hand guns...........is it true? I think I smell a bit of a nessie............cause if vets where allowed, alot of members on here would be vets. I thought only the flying squad are allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I know that certain Deer stalkers carry them in the event a Deer needs to be put down on the roadside or as a means of putting down an injured but not killed Deer whilst out stalking. The rules are kept pretty secrete, and the people who actually have one (who convinced FLO they need a handgun) are pretty rare in this country. Working in the gunshop, I hear about it from time to time. Im sure certain forest/national park rangers have them for this. As for vets, I doubt it unless they are a specialist unit that takes care of dangerous animals such as zoo animals etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Yes in theory some vets could have either bolt guns or probably restricted handguns. A chap at our club has one for humane despatch and any rural vet is bound to be asked to put a cow or such down during his rounds.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I thought they could, certainly if the vet deals with horses. I'm guessing the type would be limited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Guy I saw putting a Bull down took 6 shots with a bolt gun to get through the skull Some humane killing THAT was. It would have been more humane to simply give it a needle Speaking of Hand guns there IS a 410 pistol i beleive that is still legal?? LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiiish1987 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 why would they need a handgun if they've got the injection? As for dangerous animals the toxin can always be fired from a dart gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I have a shooting friend who is a Vet and he said that he can only use a humane killer, and a FAC auto shotgun, for the purpose of despatching injured large animals, if an injection is not practical. If these methods are not appropriate, he has to contact the Police. I asume they send an armed response unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham M Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 If these methods are not appropriate, he has to contact the Police. I asume they send an armed response unit. Who then proceed to put 8 shots into the wrong animal……….. :blink: G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiiish1987 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I bet they still get suited up in body armour and are armed to the teeth with mp5's and tear gas. lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Vets and Knackermen can still have pistols of sorts. i'm not sure the regs but I know our vet does still have his, and the last horse we had that had to be put down I held and it was a hand gun. as for the bull with 6 shots thats total ineptness as its not difficult at all. the problem with injecting large animals is it takes a lot of injection to kill them and if the animal is distressed it can be horrendous to get them on the ground, and they can thrash arround etc i'd never have a horse of mine injected unless it was at deaths door anyway. I've also been out with my dad who is a vet to cows that had got out onto the motorway embankment and it was all we could do to stop the armed response guys shooting them they were pretty trigger happy, the idea of a wounded cow on the bank near a motorway scared the **** out of us and we were lucky we managed to tranquilise them and get them out of the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me and my lad Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 If these methods are not appropriate, he has to contact the Police. I asume they send an armed response unit. Who then proceed to put 8 shots into the wrong animal……….. :blink: G.M. at least if they do though they will only get prosecuted by the HSE.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velveteens Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I bet they still get suited up in body armour and are armed to the teeth with mp5's and tear gas. lol! Your local Huntsman will also carry a pistol on hunt days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixx Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 It's absolutely true, but the restrictions on the FAC specify that the handgun is only to be used for humane destruction of animals. Any breach of that condition (plinking, target shooting) would get you into more hot water than you'd care to contemplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 It's absolutely true, but the restrictions on the FAC specify that the handgun is only to be used for humane destruction of animals. Any breach of that condition (plinking, target shooting) would get you into more hot water than you'd care to contemplate. I think you will find that this is not true in all cases A friend of mine has a .38 special for humane dispatch, the pistol is not restricted in anyway. We have used it a few times when on the range and when foxing and he can do with it as he pleases (no specific restriction for just humane dispatch only ) When he was granted permission for the pistol he was actually granted permission for a .357 magnum /.38 special. he got shafted into buying the .38 special rather than the .357 by the firearms dealer who sold it him. He has just moved counties and it has caused a bit of an upset with the new firearms department so we will see what happens about that I know a couple of forest rangers that have pistols for humane dispatch and they are restricted to 2 shots. Some vets and recreational stalkers do have pistols and as far as i know they have to be restricted too ?? I posted pics of the pistol earlier this year after we had been zeroing with the rifles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeboy Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 why would they need a handgun if they've got the injection? As for dangerous animals the toxin can always be fired from a dart gun. The reason being that enough barbiturates to kill a horse will cost around the £100. A 32 caliber bullet is going to cost substantially less !! It can also be almost impossible to find a vein in which to inject some animals, or to even inject into the heart if the animal is not immobilised Ref the bloke who took 6 attempts to stun a bull - to use an incorrect charge 6 times is inexcusable and I would bet he was not a lisenced slaughterman. Should of put the bolt to his own head ! Vets can use a humane killer or pistol if they have the FAC I think the gun may only be limited to one round. A captive bolt gun does not require an FAC but the user must be a lisenced/qualified slaughterman. A dart gun I belive requires an FAC, but I could be wrong. Leeboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixx Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 It's absolutely true, but the restrictions on the FAC specify that the handgun is only to be used for humane destruction of animals. Any breach of that condition (plinking, target shooting) would get you into more hot water than you'd care to contemplate. I think you will find that this is not true in all cases OK, I'll try to be more specific. As a vet (or a slaughterman etc) there is an exemption from the general restriction on ownership of handguns which allows them to be held on a FAC for the humane destruction of animals. This is a specific exemption, and the conditions on the FAC reflect that. There is no general restriction on what sort of handgun can be used, or any capacity limitation - but the test is, as always, reasonableness in the eyes of the issuing authority. That will vary depending on what police force you are dealing with. There is no charge for issue or variation of an FAC to hold a handgun for this reason. It is also possible, but difficult and often resisted by issuing authorities, to have a handgun on your FAC for humane destruction of animals even if you are NOT a member of the specifically exempt group. You need to show good reason, and this is the way that recreational stalkers are occasionally allowed handguns. This is a chargeable variation and conditions on the FAC will differ in each case, and there will undoubtedly be differences of policy between issuing authorities. If you held a handgun as a vet, in the first case, you would in all likelihood be breaking the conditions of the FAC to use it for any other purpose - ie. target shooting. If you held one for the second reason, it would depend on the conditions on your FAC. That's my understanding, based on personal experience. As ever, I think there are big regional variations in how this is viewed by issuing authorities, and I simply don't think it's possible to state a policy that's true in all cases - there's no such thing. The initial question was "Are vets allowed handguns?" and the answer is that there is indeed a specific exemption to allow that - but it's not carte blanche, and still involves a FAC application, a good reason, and conditions on use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 >We have used it a few times when on the range I think that pistols can only be used by the person who's ticket they are on. No one else can use it legally I dont think. >If you held a handgun as a vet, in the first case, you would in all likelihood be breaking the conditions of the FAC to use it for any other purpose - ie. target shooting I would imagine if the vet pushed for it they could get 'use at home office approved ranges' added as they need somewhere to actually practise and become comfortable with the weapon?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiiish1987 Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 cheers for that leeboy. You learn something new every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixx Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 I would imagine if the vet pushed for it they could get 'use at home office approved ranges' added as they need somewhere to actually practise and become comfortable with the weapon?? How much training do you need to hit a target that's a few inches away? Don't see much need for it myself, but I guess you could always ask for that variation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sussexboy Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 How much training do you need to hit a target that's a few inches away? Don't see much need for it myself, but I guess you could always ask for that variation. I guess you would need to ask the policeman who managed to miss the young chap on the tube several times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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