la bala Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 I dont know how to play this one. Got some new nieghbours moved in at bottom of my garden, chap, wife and two teenage boys, two airifles between them. They started off plinking with what sounded a good backstop, no problem with that, today my wife has seen them taking potshots at starlings on the rooves. I live on an estate, so any misses are going somewhere. what would you boys do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berettadevon Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Well the law states if im correct in what im saying is that plinking in your back garden is legal as long as ALL fired rounds are kept within the confines of said garden. Now, you say they are firing at birds that are NOT within the confines of said garden but on roof tops. So for me i think id have to make a call to the constabulary to pay them a visit to put them straight with regards to the laws and dangers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Have a word with the parents and go from there, my outlaws have similar and next doors child has put a hole in the back of their caravan. On hearing the father has made sure it wouldn't happen again and is getting the damage repaired. In this case you could even offer to take them out with you and educate them in safety. Or you go to the police who will over react and cause all manner of grief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malantone Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 no one has mentioned the Starlings, they are shooting at a protected birds. just contact the wildlife officer, he`ll sort it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Depending on what sort of people they are have a quiet word first and offer to teach them the safe way of shooting. Without shooting an airgun in the back garden I would never have started my shooting journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJW Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) If you do have a quiet word and they ignore it, it makes it harder for you to tell the police because they will know it was you. I know that sounds cowardly, but on TV at the mo theres a show about nightmare neighbours. Peoples lives have been made miseries! Not worth falling out with anyone, but especially some people. Its a judgment call on your part, hopefully they seem like a nice, normal and reasonable family. Best result would be having a quiet word as the chap above said. If you do choose to go direct to the police, at least you can tell yourself that its better you doing it before theres been an accident than someone going to them who's been injured; for all involved. If it was me I would report it, as someone could get hurt (including your wife if they stop aiming at rooftops and go for something in your garden) and they could get in a lot of trouble if that happened. More people will be outside at this time of year.Plus shooting starlings is not on. Edited May 3, 2014 by OJW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Hi have a chat take them down the local range there kids and need a mentor They will soon see its more fun being safe We need safe youngsters in the sport That would be my first option Police if it escalates into a safety issue Though they will proberably be doing it as a passing faze and it'll stop in a few weeks Not a easy thing to live with and hope the problem is soon resolved That's the way I'd go for what it's worth All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Have a word with the parents and go from there, my outlaws have similar and next doors child has put a hole in the back of their caravan. On hearing the father has made sure it wouldn't happen again and is getting the damage repaired. In this case you could even offer to take them out with you and educate them in safety. Or you go to the police who will over react and cause all manner of grief +1 I remember the excitement of having my first air rifle and having absolutely no idea about safety or what you could shoot, I made mistakes that, if done with today's gun paranoid world, could have caused real drama and put me off the sport for life. Edited May 3, 2014 by FalconFN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Thanks for all your comments guys. What i didnt make clear, the father is also one doing the shooting. The plinking goes on most days, so i dont think they do much work, if you get my meaning. I dont want to get into any confrontation as in this day and age the police are quick to relieve you of FAC and SGC. In the good old days i didnt mind confrontation, i would mix it with the best of them. Its also ok to introduce yourself and be the mentor figure, then you are telling them there are guns in your house, i wont be taking that option. I think i may let it ride for now, i have no problem whatsoever with plinking in the garden with backstop and pellet catcher, just getting a bit worried with pellets going away from their property. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJW Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 While many have posted saying the best thing to do is to talk to them if possible (me included), I don't think you would have posted up asking for advice on how to deal with this if having a quiet word seemed like a viable option to you; having seen the family. Perhaps the teenage kids are only 13 and 14 and naive, or perhaps they are 17 and 18 and don't give a ****. While some may say that our country is paranoid as it is about guns, its precisely because of reckless behaviour involving guns, whether toys, bb, air or shotguns that causes that opinion. If you think its a real risk, then better to act before something goes wrong and its in the papers giving responsible gun owners a bad name. And if you think the police would overreact before theres an incident, imagine what they will be like after. You just need to form an opinion, whether in the circumstances the two lads and their father are bored and dangerously shooting birds for something to do or making a concerted effort to get into shooting. Saying I would report it may seem harsh, but I adopted an objective cautious approach because I don't know your area, the likelihood of an accident occurring and can't make a well considered judgement on their behaviour. It will all come down to how you feel in the factual circumstances, rather than on our opinion on the morality of reporting people to the police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Have a quiet chat with parents to start with point out the error of their children's ways as where all young and dumb once if that get no leverage then there's the other options of police or wildlife officer but that may cause you other issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rst1990 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 So they are firing a weapon in a residential area where it could damage others property or more importantly seriously injure a young child by possibly blinding them by a falling pellet? Why have you not notified the authorities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Why not post a letter You can explain the safety issues in that without putting yourself in the spotlight, just end the letter with a note mentioning the possible consequence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) So they are firing a weapon in a residential area where it could damage others property or more importantly seriously injure a young child by possibly blinding them by a falling pellet? Well said that man Well said that man. Why have you not notified the authorities? Edited May 4, 2014 by RED BEARD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wurzle Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Get the Basc leaflet on air guns, attach it to the leaflet on bird protection and post it through normal Royal Mail. Totally untraceable. Hopefully they will read it. Good luck, I know how you feel about the possibility of repercussions from teenage neighbours with weak parents. ( not that they are, I don't know them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Get the Basc leaflet on air guns, attach it to the leaflet on bird protection and post it through normal Royal Mail. Totally untraceable. Hopefully they will read it. Good luck, I know how you feel about the possibility of repercussions from teenage neighbours with weak parents. ( not that they are, I don't know them) That sounds like a great idea, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 So they are firing a weapon in a residential area where it could damage others property or more importantly seriously injure a young child by possibly blinding them by a falling pellet? Well said that man Well said that man. Why have you not notified the authorities? The answer to the last question is... I dont want confrontations as i dont want to loose my tickets thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 The answer to the last question is... I dont want confrontations as i dont want to loose my tickets thank you thats fine then,but when your mrs or someone down the street loses an eye you can feel smug knowing that your tickets are safe and sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rst1990 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 You won't lose your tickets by placing an anonymous call to the police, do the right thing. Atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted May 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 You won't lose your tickets by placing an anonymous call to the police, do the right thing. Atb Crime stoppers it is then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 I did this as a kid and had the cops round, it was very different then though. Your neighbours sound a bit like pond life so take care but I should have a chat and without criticising or mentioning their errors say you have noticed their interest and wondered if............. some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Depending on what sort of people they are have a quiet word first and offer to teach them the safe way of shooting. Without shooting an airgun in the back garden I would never have started my shooting journey. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriBsa Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 (edited) Your neighbours sound a bit like pond life so take care but I should have a chat and without criticising or mentioning their errors say you have noticed their interest and wondered if............. some time. Yep, softly softly would be the approach I'd use. Popping your head over the fence (if possible) when they're in their garden saying hi and taking it from there. Some people take a knock on the door as intrusion and any dialogue goes downhill from there. It's all very laudable saying the OP should think of others and the possible injuries their actions might cause to neighbours etc (public duty) but the stark reality is that rub them up the wrong way and you can create a bigger problem and have to live daily with the consequences. So for me step one,like (pigeon shooting) would be reconnaissance. Find out what they're like. Tom Edited May 6, 2014 by TriBsa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 (edited) Why not post a letter You can explain the safety issues in that without putting yourself in the spotlight, just end the letter with a note mentioning the possible consequence. I'd wondered about a letter but it would be quite difficult to get the tone right. It is so easy to be misinterpreted in the written word - think how many emails (or posts on here) get taken the wrong way. You either have to identify yourself in the letter or be anonymous. If the letter is taken the wrong way and anonymous it could potentially be seen as a poison pen letter which I understand are illegal. Perhaps the thing to do is to have a quiet word, but to put yourself in a neutral position....'hey guys, not sure if you know but.....' and make the comment be helpful to them rather than confrontational. Then if they don't take note you can take things further. Wurzles idea of the BASC literature (code's etc) gone through with a highlighter to show the key bits is a good idea too (if you prefer the anonymous route). At worst they'll think it's junk mail. Edited May 6, 2014 by LeadWasp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Yep, softly softly would be the approach I'd use. Popping your head over the fence (if possible) when they're in their garden saying hi and taking it from there. Some people take a knock on the door as intrusion and any dialogue goes downhill from there. It's all very laudable saying the OP should think of others and the possible injuries their actions might cause to neighbours etc (public duty) but the stark reality is that rub them up the wrong way and you can create a bigger problem and have to live daily with the consequences. So for me step one,like (pigeon shooting) would be reconnaissance. Find out what they're like. Tom Not sure on "popping your head over the fence" under the circumstances it might be a bit dangerous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.