shoot and be safe Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 As we all know, at the end of a shoot most if not all end up back at a watering hold for a cheek pint or two. My question to the PW massive is, what's the rules for being in position of a firearm under the influence of alcohol? Most of the time I end up back at my local village pub, then it's a short walk home ( 1 mile). The shotgun is safely locked up out of site in the boot of the car. At the end of the afternoon/night, if I leave the car in the pub, can I carry my gun in its slip home? Any advice appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 You certainly can carry the gun in public in its slip, and I would have thought that if you were walking home slightly over the top then that's being responsible. Not sure where you'd stand if you were hammered and walking home with a shotgun though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 (edited) I think if you are leaving it in the car boot overnight in a pub car park then your licence is going to be gone if someone nicks it , surely if the pub is only a mile walk then it can only be a minutes drive ,the sensible thing to do would be to pop the gun home and stick it in the cabinet and then return to the pub , then have a few and walk home leaving the car minus the gun ?? Edited May 25, 2013 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 I think if you are leaving it in the car boot overnight in a pub car park then your licence is going to be gone if someone nicks it , surely if the pub is only a mile walk then it can only be a minutes drive ,the sensible thing to do would be to pop the gun home and stick it in the cabinet and then return to the pub , then have a few and walk home leaving the car minus the gun ?? Aye, good call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imissalot Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 Don't drink so not a prob for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted May 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 Thanks for the replies. I think if you are leaving it in the car boot overnight in a pub car park then your licence is going to be gone if someone nicks it , surely if the pub is only a mile walk then it can only be a minutes drive ,the sensible thing to do would be to pop the gun home and stick it in the cabinet and then return to the pub , then have a few and walk home leaving the car minus the gun ?? Although it's only a mile walk, it's a 10 minute drive each way (the walk is more direct over a few fields. Only 500 yards on public highway). This is just a curiosity as when we finish shooting and call at the pub, usually I only have one and drive home, as do most of the others, but on occasions when you get involved in conversations (and you get the taste) usually the good lady will come and pick me up (I know I'm lucky) But there is always the chance I will have to walk. I would not be paralytic, but would most definitely be over the limit for driving. Adding to the original question, how would I stand if the good lady got stopped on the way home with myself a little inebriated and my 12 bore stowed in the boot? Only myself with a SGC Once again thank you for responding to my curiosity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 Adding to the original question, how would I stand if the good lady got stopped on the way home with myself a little inebriated and my 12 bore stowed in the boot? Only myself with a SGC Once again thank you for responding to my curiosity Not a problem there I can see. You are in the vehicle with the gun and certificated to have it in your possession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 Ok simply the alcohol isn't an issue but leaving the gun in the car while you are a mile from home is. Though very rare if it were to be stolen odds are you would loose your ticket, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Ok simply the alcohol isn't an issue but leaving the gun in the car while you are a mile from home is. Though very rare if it were to be stolen odds are you would loose your ticket, And I would imagine, should the car you were a passenger in be stopped and the police found a shotgun locked in the boot and whilst questioning you regarding ownership, happened to notice you stank of drink and appeared to be under the influence they may decide, quite rightly, to confiscate your gun and report the matter to your firearms licensing manager. It would not be unreasonable for your licensing manager to question your suitability to hold a SGC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 (edited) And I would imagine, should the car you were a passenger in be stopped and the police found a shotgun locked in the boot and whilst questioning you regarding ownership, happened to notice you stank of drink and appeared to be under the influence they may decide, quite rightly, to confiscate your gun and report the matter to your firearms licensing manager. It would not be unreasonable for your licensing manager to question your suitability to hold a SGC. Why? It's not illegal to have a drink or two? In fact, I can't think of a charge that basically reads 'Drunk in charge of a shotgun'. It may exist but how do you then determine the legal level of alcohol in the blood when in charge of a gun? To put another angle on it, I had a few last night, certainly too many to drive and I have guns in the same house I was drinking in, does that make me irresponsible? Edited May 27, 2013 by -Mongrel- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Why? It's not illegal to have a drink or two? In fact, I can't think of a charge that basically reads 'Drunk in charge of a shotgun'. It may exist but how do you then determine the legal level of alcohol in the blood when in charge of a gun? To put another angle on it, I had a few last night, certainly too many to drive and I have guns in the same house I was drinking in, does that make me irresponsible? Had you read my post you would have noticed that I said "appeared under the influence". I did not suggest there is a specific offense relating to being in charge of a shotgun whilst drunk. Rather, I said that if you were stopped on your way home drunk with a shotgun, you may find that the officer stopping you confiscated your shotgun and your firearms licensing manager took a dim view and would question your suitability to hold a SGC. A bit different to having a drink or two at home or in a pub for that matter when your guns are locked away in your cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 dont do it, just take the gun home and go to the pub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Had you read my post you would have noticed that I said "appeared under the influence". I did not suggest there is a specific offense relating to being in charge of a shotgun whilst drunk. Rather, I said that if you were stopped on your way home drunk with a shotgun, you may find that the officer stopping you confiscated your shotgun and your firearms licensing manager took a dim view and would question your suitability to hold a SGC. A bit different to having a drink or two at home or in a pub for that matter when your guns are locked away in your cabinet. Had I not read your post, I wouldn't have quoted and commented on it. I appreciate what you are saying, but how are you going to establish drunkeness? One man may well have had 5 pints and a couple of malts and still be steady as a rock, someone else has a two on an empty stomach and it hits him like a hammer and gives him a good old sway on. So who is the least responsible one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayDT10 Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Guns , drink, public places, best off in the cabinet surely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Guns , drink, public places, best off in the cabinet surely. Sounds like some of the big shoots,where the odd tipple is consumed to stay warm. I bet if you stopped some of the large 4x4 coming off shoots around the country the driver may be sober but the owner is probably lets say happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertan_J Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Sounds like some of the big shoots,where the odd tipple is consumed to stay warm. I bet if you stopped some of the large 4x4 coming off shoots around the country the driver may be sober but the owner is probably lets say happy. Without a doubt. Most driven days involve an element of drink to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Only my opinion but don't. Do not know the law exactly but it's not exactly responsible behaviour and in my opinion that's all the police would need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted May 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Thanks again for all the replies, as you can see there are differing opinions. As I have said in earlier posts, this is just a curiosity of mine, and though I don't intend to chance my hand with the law on this one, after shooting and a slight libation of the foaming ale, with the other shooters, we all go our separate ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabarm gamma boy Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 I think if you are leaving it in the car boot overnight in a pub car park then your licence is going to be gone if someone nicks it , surely if the pub is only a mile walk then it can only be a minutes drive ,the sensible thing to do would be to pop the gun home and stick it in the cabinet and then return to the pub , then have a few and walk home leaving the car minus the gun ?? +1 this has my vote! best to safe than sorry as they say! at the end of the day why risk any hassle when ur house is a stone throw away! regards FGB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 I appreciate what you are saying, but how are you going to establish drunkeness? Eyes glazed, speech slurred, unsteady on his feet, smelt of intoxicating liquor ,I formed the opinion he was drunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 My view and only my view is I'm not able to drive I not able to be in charge of a gun so they are in a cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 It has been known for police to target the watering holes of certain shoots checking for 'over the limit' drivers. Often this results in an SGC review/revoke. As for walking with a gun after a few, I feel that its just not worth it, as its how anyone, including the police, 'feel' at the time. (Threatened/etc) It doesnt matter how big, small, capable you are thats why a limit was set for drink driving, irrespective of the individual. I go with the concensus and would leave it in the cabinet and then go to the pub, or go to the pub and dont have more than a pint and drive home carefully. If you risk someone else's life by drinking to excess, ( the only measure to impairment is 80mg/100 mlts) then you deserve to be revoked - its simply unsafe, and careless - IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 Eyes glazed, speech slurred, unsteady on his feet, smelt of intoxicating liquor ,I formed the opinion he was drunk. Is it illegal to be drunk then? How would it work if there was a drunk (in the officers opinion) SGC holder in a car as a passenger with a secured shotgun in a slip, covered in the rear of the car. I'm not advocating being drunk in charge of a shotgun, but I can't really see where the offence lies? How would you then go on to provide proof of his drunken state? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 Is it illegal to be drunk then? How would it work if there was a drunk (in the officers opinion) SGC holder in a car as a passenger with a secured shotgun in a slip, covered in the rear of the car. I'm not advocating being drunk in charge of a shotgun, but I can't really see where the offence lies? How would you then go on to provide proof of his drunken state? If you really are so thick that you can't understand that, should a police officer report you to your FEO for being ****** in a public place in charge of your shotgun would not raise questions as to your suitability to have a SGC then I despair and will say no more on the subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted May 29, 2013 Report Share Posted May 29, 2013 Is it illegal to be drunk then? How would it work if there was a drunk (in the officers opinion) SGC holder in a car as a passenger with a secured shotgun in a slip, covered in the rear of the car. I'm not advocating being drunk in charge of a shotgun, but I can't really see where the offence lies? How would you then go on to provide proof of his drunken state? Yes it's an offence to be drunk in a public place. In reality you need to be drunk and incapable or drunk and disorderly before the police are interested. If you were either of the above then I would expect to have your guns taken away if they are with you and you would likely be arrested. If the driver of the car held a SGC then no problem. If not and you were really drunk your in trouble. A lot would depend on the officer dealing. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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