gun man on killing spree

[WILF 46,870]

I dont think gun owners need to do a dam thing, in fact they should resist ANY attempt to change the law.

 

This is a tragic occurance, but no matter what laws you pass you will never be able to legislate for a phsyco or a criminal.

[Matt 160]

I've read somewhere that he went to hospital with mental health problems, and was turned away.

 

In my opinion, all medical records should show if a patient has gun licenses, and medical staff should be duty bound to inform the police if a patient has stress/anxiety or is suffering from depression.

 

You cannot legislate for people who suffer from mental health problems from time to time; at some point most people suffer, and the suspension of licenses for a period of time would be a good idea.

 

Some license holders have criminal records for minor non-violent offences. I don't think a twenty year old conviction for theft is a good reason to deny anyone a licence.

[scothunter 12,609]

I dont think gun owners need to do a dam thing, in fact they should resist ANY attempt to change the law.

 

This is a tragic occurance, but no matter what laws you pass you will never be able to legislate for a phsyco or a criminal.

 

I dont think gun owners need to do a dam thing, in fact they should resist ANY attempt to change the law.

Yea and that worked well for gunowners in the wake of dunblane.

[RicW 67]

I haven't had time to think this one through yet but what I have noticed is that Bird held a SGC and FAC for 20 years. Once he got them first time, he probably got them renewed "On the nod". There may well be a case to be made that every renewal of a licence should be vetted; not just passed because there has been no problem, but checked by a FEO.

 

RicW

[ratattack 111]

I did hear he used a .22 semi auto rifle and a shotgun, the laws may well get changed in regards to semi auto rifles and shotgun licences may require the same checks as rifles but there's not a lot more that can be done really.

 

Knee jerk laws will no doubt be pushed through by those who have no idea about firearms.

 

Guns don't kill people.......people kill people

[Attack Fell Terrier 864]

I dont think gun owners need to do a dam thing, in fact they should resist ANY attempt to change the law.

 

This is a tragic occurance, but no matter what laws you pass you will never be able to legislate for a phsyco or a criminal.

 

I think this is the sort of attitude that'll spell the end of gun ownership as it is today. You've got to be willing to adjust and be responsible if you want to keep the things that mean so much to you IMO.

 

I'm not on about banning any guns, especially shotguns and Rifles as they're tools that are needed, I'm not even talking about changing what you have to do to get them, but a vetting every year wouldn't hurt anyone would it? It would only work in favour of shooting community as it'd show the general public that you're willing to show some responsibility to at least try and stop this sort of thing happening again.

 

It's just a suggestion mate.

 

I'd like to see those who know what they're talking about (The gun owners) make rational suggestions and take control of the situation before you get div's who don't know what they're doing enforcing knee jerk laws! The last thing I want to see is the shooters having their guns taken from them.

 

The hunters and those into their field sports have lost enough already, I just hope they don't lose any more.

[allydog 4]

Speaking as someone from whitehaven and knowing at least three of the victims personally for most of my life,the way forward in my mind is that it should be on your medical records that you hold a shotgun/firearms certificate and any consultation with gp regarding mental health issues should be reported to firearms asap.

I am gutted for all the victims and familys that have been affected by the actions of this coward,may he rot in hell.

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

Speaking as someone from whitehaven and knowing at least three of the victims personally for most of my life,

.

I am gutted for all the victims and familys that have been affected by the actions of this coward,may he rot in hell.

me to mate i knew birdy to speak to but not as a freind he was like every other cabby. my good freind and mole trapping mentor spike from egremont was one of the victims. as was purdams lad from gosforth i used to shoot on his dads farm and got a lab pup off the a couple of years ago its a small place every one know every one. i will be atending spikes funeral to show my respect.

 

birdy was not a bad man, something or some one just pushed him too far but i guess we will neer know.

[Attack Fell Terrier 864]

Speaking as someone from whitehaven and knowing at least three of the victims personally for most of my life,

.

I am gutted for all the victims and familys that have been affected by the actions of this coward,may he rot in hell.

me to mate i knew birdy to speak to but not as a freind he was like every other cabby. my good freind and mole trapping mentor spike from egremont was one of the victims. as was purdams lad from gosforth i used to shoot on his dads farm and got a lab pup off the a couple of years ago its a small place every one know every one. i will be atending spikes funeral to show my respect.

 

birdy was not a bad man, something or some one just pushed him too far but i guess we will neer know.

 

Sorry to hear you've lost friends mate.

 

R.I.P.

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

Maybe every tom, dick and harry carrying guns in there back pockets is not the answer but surely a few officers from the local cop shop could be trained to deal with any situations such as this? All it would take is 1 gun, locked securely in the police station. I think i read somewhere yesterday about the time it took for the armed response team to get there and it was quite a while, way to long to stop a mad gunman running around the place. Even if this way could save 1 life it would be well worth it!!

i 100% agree like i said i knew him but if i was on my way back from shooting( stalking) and seen him waltzing dawn the street shooting people i would have 100% shot him maybe just in the arm but i would hae to do something. hands up all them who would do the same

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

Speaking as someone from whitehaven and knowing at least three of the victims personally for most of my life,

.

I am gutted for all the victims and familys that have been affected by the actions of this coward,may he rot in hell.

me to mate i knew birdy to speak to but not as a freind he was like every other cabby. my good freind and mole trapping mentor spike from egremont was one of the victims. as was purdams lad from gosforth i used to shoot on his dads farm and got a lab pup off the a couple of years ago its a small place every one know every one. i will be atending spikes funeral to show my respect.

 

birdy was not a bad man, something or some one just pushed him too far but i guess we will neer know.

 

Sorry to hear you've lost friends mate.

 

R.I.P.

thanks my thorts are with the familes of those killed.

spike was one of a kind a man from anuther time

[BRYKAY 2]

THIS IS AN AWFULL TIME FOR EVERYONE IN WHITEHAVEN... FLOODS, THE SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT & NOW THIS.....NO-ONE DESERVES THIS

WE ARE ALL THINKING OF YOU UP THERE

[Alan Clark 7]

Not really the sort of subject I would have chosen for my first post, but I might as well get on with it.

 

Firstly i do not have an FAC or SGC, instead I use a sub 12'lb air gun for getting the bunnies & farm budgies but at some point in the future may well apply for one or both certificates (if they still exist by then).

 

It is clearly a tragic and senseless thing which has happened and maybe in time the politicians will push through some sort of changes, hopefully they are measured and appropriate as the Home Sec and PM have suggested. Certainly banning a particular type of firearm would be a daft thing for them to do, which means it is probably the most likely outcome from our elected representatives.

 

Instead I think the already debated idea of mental health checks with a chat with the shrink and allowing medical professionals to alert the Police of changes to a person which may affect their capacity to safely keep and use a firearm would be a good thing.

 

I could see another way of regulating a perceived problem, which would probably never see the light of day, mandatory club membership with 'your' guns kept in an individual safe at the club where access to them would be via a two man rule. ie you want to go out hunting rabbits or what ever, you phone up the club secretary or the club has pre-set hours, you turn up at the club and the secretary unlocks the armoury door and then you unlock your safe (that way in theory only you have access to your guns). If you turn up in a clearly unstable frame of mind then the club secretary could say, sorry mate but I can't let you in today and then inform the proper authorities. I can see the problem of if a person has really flipped and turns up with, say, a knife and takes the armoury keys by force then they still have access and may even add another victim. Another problem would be for farmers and land managers who from time to time need ready access to their SG or FA, say for destroying a dog / fox which is attacking livestock. But it's just an idea.

 

Other than that, I am one of the other people who is fed up with the media obsession with the telescopic sight fitted to his rifle as though it made it some sort of super cannon. No it was still a .22LR, just a deadly in the wrong hands as a bog standard iron sighted .22LR and at the close ranges he is reported to have killed people from it wasn't going to matter whether he used a scope or not.

[scothunter 12,609]

Maybe every tom, dick and harry carrying guns in there back pockets is not the answer but surely a few officers from the local cop shop could be trained to deal with any situations such as this? All it would take is 1 gun, locked securely in the police station. I think i read somewhere yesterday about the time it took for the armed response team to get there and it was quite a while, way to long to stop a mad gunman running around the place. Even if this way could save 1 life it would be well worth it!!

i 100% agree like i said i knew him but if i was on my way back from shooting( stalking) and seen him waltzing dawn the street shooting people i would have 100% shot him maybe just in the arm but i would hae to do something. hands up all them who would do the same

 

if i had access to a shotgun and i knew for certain he had killed people,and he was shooting at people in my street then i would have no hesitation in blasting his face off.but the thing is if you werent sure of what was happening i certainly woudnt armm myself and go looking for him.it would have to be in my street and i would need to witness him actually doing it.even without a gun i would certainly do my best to try and stop him.its a horrendous thing to happen and im pretty sure there will be a lot of people needing councilling after this tragedy.

[mcass123 6]

the guy must have had something going on to trigger this, no normal guy would do this sort of thing.

all the guys on here from the cumbria area should do there best to show support to the guys family and remember it was not their fault!!!!

r.i.p to the victims

atb mcass