High Desert Hunter Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 I have been reading a number of posts here, and I must say, I am pleasantly shocked to see the number of people posting about shooting in the U.K.. I would like to ask, what is a FAC, and an SGC? Is it mandatory for you to belong to a shooting club? I store all of my firearms in a gun safe, even though it is not a requirement, i want to protect myself and my family in the event of a break-in. Are you then required to store your firearms in a safe or can you use say a lockable trunk of some sort? I possess one firearms license, and that is to carry a concealed handgun, I don't carry very often, as i live in a relatively small town without much crime, but I do carry when travelling to some of the bigger cities, or on long trips. I hope to continue to learn a bit more about your shooting culture, would love to return to England or Scotland for a driven shoot some day, I married my wife, also an American in Woodbridge, while I was assigned to RAF Bentwaters in 1990, have fond memories of the countryside. Cheers Dave Beeman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Hello FAC is(fire arm's certificate) & SGC is(shotgun certificate) & it is law/compulsory to keep them in a secure safe checked by local police.Insureance is your own perfrance but without it you dont get to go any where realy so a must have.In Britian a robber could break into your house fall on say a kid toy break a leg or some thing & sue you for money for injury pretty much to be honest.Our law's are crazy here & no justice done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sick Old Man Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Hi Dave, glad you enjoyed your stay in Suffolk, we do have quite firm laws regarding friearms over here, but not as bad as other EEC countries. Holland is the bad one, you need a licence to **** over there!! But we can have moderators where a lot of states ban them, funny eh?? Take care mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegeta Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Ireland is also pretty strict Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Hi Dave, Welcome to the forum. Gun laws here in the UK have been tightened considerably over recent years, following a couple of incidents where deranged individuals have gone on a rampage, and generally speaking, it's not possible for people in the UK to possess any serious handgun or semi automatic rifle above .22 calibre. Unfortunately it has done nothing to reduce gun crime, which has been steadily increasing over recent years due largely to our immigration laws and border controls being very loose, and us allowing in all sorts of undesirables from many countries in Eastern Europe where armed robbery is simply another way of earning a living. As others have said, the notion that a law abiding gun owner in the UK might actually use his guns to defend himself and family is frowned upon as our laws are biased in favour of the criminal and you would go to prison for a very long time if you shot a burglar here in the UK, notwithstanding the fact that he may have been trying to rape or murder your wife or daughter at the time. Police in the UK don't generally carry guns, many choose not to, because should they shoot a bank robber during the heat of an armed bank raid, they are automatically suspended from duty, whilst the "Police Complaints Authority" do their utmost to see that the unfortunate policeman is brought before the courts on a charge of either murder or manslaughter. England has changed quite a bit since you were here in 1990, many decent folk are leaving this country to seek a better quality of life elsewhere in the World, I'm sure you would notice very little that has changed for the better. I've worked on a number of USAF bases as a Contractor during the 80's & 90's, I know Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Upper Heyford, Croughton, Chicksands & Uxbridge very well, I never went to Bentwaters, didn't they fly the A10 Warthog out of there..?? I must say that got on very with with the USAF guys, (and gals) I met, but I could never figure out the American way of doing things, there was always the logical way, and then there was the USAF way..!!! All the best, Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Permit to carry a concealed handgun? Blimey. That just does not happen over here unless you are in the service of the diplomatic or royal protection squad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 81st TFW perhaps? I remember those guys... A10s they were, great planes. Never forget the time I looked down the barrel of their gatling gun and thought I could put a milk bottle up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlacknTan Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Hi Dave, Welcome to the forum. Gun laws here in the UK have been tightened considerably over recent years, following a couple of incidents where deranged individuals have gone on a rampage, and generally speaking, it's not possible for people in the UK to possess any serious handgun or semi automatic rifle above .22 calibre. Unfortunately it has done nothing to reduce gun crime, which has been steadily increasing over recent years due largely to our immigration laws and border controls being very loose, and us allowing in all sorts of undesirables from many countries in Eastern Europe where armed robbery is simply another way of earning a living. As others have said, the notion that a law abiding gun owner in the UK might actually use his guns to defend himself and family is frowned upon as our laws are biased in favour of the criminal and you would go to prison for a very long time if you shot a burglar here in the UK, notwithstanding the fact that he may have been trying to rape or murder your wife or daughter at the time. Police in the UK don't generally carry guns, many choose not to, because should they shoot a bank robber during the heat of an armed bank raid, they are automatically suspended from duty, whilst the "Police Complaints Authority" do their utmost to see that the unfortunate policeman is brought before the courts on a charge of either murder or manslaughter. England has changed quite a bit since you were here in 1990, many decent folk are leaving this country to seek a better quality of life elsewhere in the World, I'm sure you would notice very little that has changed for the better. I've worked on a number of USAF bases as a Contractor during the 80's & 90's, I know Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Upper Heyford, Croughton, Chicksands & Uxbridge very well, I never went to Bentwaters, didn't they fly the A10 Warthog out of there..?? I must say that got on very with with the USAF guys, (and gals) I met, but I could never figure out the American way of doing things, there was always the logical way, and then there was the USAF way..!!! All the best, Cat. Deranged individuals?? Werte it not for "deranged individuals" the U.S, population would be reduced by 75%... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Desert Hunter Posted June 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Thank you for the excellent replies, I certainly thank God that we still have some freedoms here in the USA. If I could import one thing, I think it would be some of the traditions involving hunting, here it seems more and more about the almighty dollar, and more and more rude people. I do look forward to the day when I can move somewhere with 4 seasons again, and more water for the ducks. Cheers Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 81st TFW perhaps? I remember those guys... A10s they were, great planes. Never forget the time I looked down the barrel of their gatling gun and thought I could put a milk bottle up there. Lol thats could you would be able to fit a milk bottle up there, thats roughly the size of the "bullet". Crazy stuff, when I was younger I never could understand how bullets could destroy a tank, then when I saw a clip of an A10 in action and the size of the "bullet", nuf said. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Desert Hunter Posted June 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 The A-10 is one nasty customer, a big cannon, and the maneuverability to keep it on target. I was in the 81st Aircraft Generation Squadron, but I worked the F-16s for the very brief period they were there, the 527th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, "Aggressors" as we were called, still have my patches from that expedition. My assignment there was indeed very enjoyable, loved the liquid refreshment, and we took frequent temporary duty trips to Sardinia to recharge the batteries. Thanks again for all of the answers. Dave Beeman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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