RAPID7LIAM 7 Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) As far as i'm aware a friend can use my rimfire on my permission with me there. What if i have 2 rifles and we take one each? where does the law stand on this? We normally lamp out of the 4x4 and he drives and i'll have a spell of driving later to give him a few shots or he'll lamp if we're on foot and he'll have the odd shot but what if i were to take my 2 rifles out? cheers, Liam.. Edited December 16, 2010 by RAPID7LIAM Quote Link to post
matt_hooks 188 Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 If the rifle's not on his ticket, then he would be using it under the "estate condition" which means that he can use it "under your supervision" which is usually taken to mean that he is within sight/sound of you. So if you were both hunting the same field, then it would probably be ok, as long as you can prove that you are effectively supervising the weapon. What you couldn't do legally would be to give him the gun and let him wander off on his own with it. Quote Link to post
RAPID7LIAM 7 Posted December 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Thats what i was hoping but were'nt so sure, he would'nt be out of my sight as i would'nt like anyone else shooting in the same area without knowing where he was shooting so we'd be more or less side by side, Thanks. Quote Link to post
Colster 1 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 I've done this a couple of times with a non-FAC holder and we're both using one of my guns and when we weren't in line of sight of each other we used walkie talkies. I tend to use the walkie talkies if I'm shooting with another FAC holder anyway, if we're not going to be together all the time so we know where the other is at all times. Quote Link to post
Deker 3,478 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Specific sections of the firearms Acts have been quoted on this several times historically, I'm sure a search will turn them up. The answers above are the precis versions and accurate. As always it's in the detail but go for it! Quote Link to post
matt_hooks 188 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Agreed Deker, in this case it's all about the definition of "supervision" for the estate condition. But if you're next to each other that's fine. Quote Link to post
red fell 0 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 i thought you had to be the land owner or his agent , gamekeeper or stalker to be able to give someone a gun while out in the field. but phone basc.nga . they will give you the correct answer Quote Link to post
matt_hooks 188 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 i thought you had to be the land owner or his agent , gamekeeper or stalker to be able to give someone a gun while out in the field. but phone basc.nga . they will give you the correct answer Again, this has been subject of no end of discussion. The general consensus is that the spirit of the law, where it states "land owner or his agent" refers to someone who has the right to shoot over the land, so someone that the holder of the shooting rights has given permission to shoot qualifies under that. It doesn't have to be an employee, as long as the holder has permission to shoot over the land. Quote Link to post
Deker 3,478 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 i thought you had to be the land owner or his agent , gamekeeper or stalker to be able to give someone a gun while out in the field. but phone basc.nga . they will give you the correct answer Again, this has been subject of no end of discussion. The general consensus is that the spirit of the law, where it states "land owner or his agent" refers to someone who has the right to shoot over the land, so someone that the holder of the shooting rights has given permission to shoot qualifies under that. It doesn't have to be an employee, as long as the holder has permission to shoot over the land. The term generally used for this is "Occupier" Quote Link to post
Tobias 0 Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 so does this mean i could legally let my nephew who is 16 have a go on my rimfire if i was sat next to him on land i have full permission on? at the moment he just uses one of my air rifles with me. Quote Link to post
Deker 3,478 Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 (edited) so does this mean i could legally let my nephew who is 16 have a go on my rimfire if i was sat next to him on land i have full permission on? at the moment he just uses one of my air rifles with me. Yes, when he gets to 17, as long as he is under your control and you are the occupier, my lad often used any and all of my tools right up to .308 before he had his own FAC/SGC! It's a bit of a read but worth it, Shotguns and Rifles. The LAW...... EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO HOLD A CERTIFICATE Shot guns Section 11(5) of the 1968 Act allows an individual, without holding a shot gun certificate, to borrow a shot gun from the occupier of private premises and use it on those premises in the occupier’s presence. The presence of the occupier is normally taken to mean within sight and earshot of the individual borrowing the firearm. The term “occupier” is not defined in the Firearms Acts, nor has a Court clarified its meaning. However, the Firearms Consultative Committee in their 5th Annual report recommended that the provisions of section 27 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 be adopted. This states that ‘“occupier” in relation to any land, other than the foreshore, includes any person having any right of hunting, shooting, fishing or taking game or fish’. In the absence of any firm definition for firearms purposes, it is suggested that each chief officer of police may wish to make use of this definition. On some occasions though, where the status of a certificate holder acting as an occupier is an issue, the chief officer may need to consider seeking the advice of counsel. Section 57(4) provides that “premises” shall include any land. The borrower may be of any age but an offence may be committed under section 22(3) if a minor under the age of 15 is not supervised by a person over 21 years of age. Similarly, section 11(6) of the 1968 Act allows an individual, without holding a shot gun certificate, to use a shot gun at a time and place approved for shooting at artificial targets by the chief officer of police for the area in which that place is situated. As the approval of such time and place is prescribed by law and there may be duty of care issues involved, chief officers may wish not only to satisfy themselves that such events are properly conducted and supervised, but also to establish that there are no public safety issues involved. When an exemption is granted, the chief officer should advise the organiser that they are responsible for ensuring, so far as is practicable, that adequate precautions are taken for the safety of the participants and any spectators. Shoots at which participants hold certificates do not require an exemption under section 11(6). Organisers operating in conjunction with business, such as corporate entertainment, will have additional responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Borrowed rifles on private premises Section 16(1) of the 1988 Act enables a person to borrow a rifle from the occupier of private premises and to use it on those premises in the presence of either the occupier or their servant without holding a firearm certificate in respect of that rifle. It should be noted that this gives slightly more flexibility in the use of a borrowed rifle than is permissible with the use of a shot gun as described in paragraph 6.14, in that the borrowed rifle can also be used in the presence of the servant of the occupier. However, the occupier and/or their servant must hold a firearm certificate in respect of the firearm being used, and the borrower, who must be accompanied by the certificate holder (whether it is the occupier or their servant), must comply with the conditions of the certificate. These may include a safekeeping requirement and, in some cases, territorial restrictions. Section 57(4) of the 1968 Act defines “premises” as including any land. The effect of the provision is to allow a person visiting a private estate to borrow and use a rifle without a certificate. The exemption does not extend to persons under the age of 17 or to other types of firearm. There is no notification required on the loan of a firearm under these circumstances. A borrowed rifle should not be specifically identified as such on a “keeper’s” or “landowner’s” firearm certificate. The term “in the presence of” is not defined in law but is generally interpreted as being within sight and earshot. Section 16(2) of the 1988 Act provides for a person borrowing a rifle in accordance with section 16(1) of the 1988 Act to purchase or acquire ammunition for use in the rifle, and to have it in their possession during the period for which the rifle is borrowed, without holding a certificate. The borrower’s possession of the ammunition must comply with the conditions on the certificate of the person in whose presence they are and the amount of ammunition borrowed must not exceed that which the certificate holder is authorised to have in their possession at that time. It should be noted that the borrower may only take possession of the ammunition during the period of the loan of the rifle at which time they will be in the presence of the certificate holder. If the persons selling or handing over the ammunition are not certificate holders, it may be necessary for them to see the certificate to satisfy themselves that the terms of this section have been met and that the amount of ammunition the borrower wishes to acquire is no greater than that which the certificate holder is authorised to possess. However, the details of the transaction need not be recorded on the certificate. Edited December 19, 2010 by Deker Quote Link to post
Tobias 0 Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Very good info there thanks deker,I will now let him have a go on my shotgun when out if he wants but only at targets until he gets confident with it. Quote Link to post
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