Educating The Public About Airgunning

[Dr B 186]

Apologies for the length of this, but here goes;

 

The other day I was chatting to a friend and recounting an experience I'd had with a neighbour some time ago when I lived in another place - who was not happy about me shooting airguns in my garden and threatened me with the Rozzers. What was interesting was his utter lack of understanding for airguns and the law.

 

If I shoot in the garden, its target practice and zero checking only, with backstops and pellet catchers. I can ensure that my pellets do not leave my boundary (as I also shoot downwards, and if i miss, it just hits the backstop or goes into my lawn, I own the land, and I'm more than 50ft from a public highway. My understanding is, therefore, that it was legal (no quarry in the garden - just targets). Anyway, he basically tried to argue, as my gun was a .22 its 'more powerful' and therefore illegal in the garden, that my gun has a scope on it, therefore its more powerful or comes under different laws, and that I need a license. At one point he even thought I fired bullets, because of the noise he could hear when I fired the gun (he basically refused to accept it was an airgun).

 

I explained to him he was quite wrong on these points and asked him how a scope makes a gun more powerful and pointed out that the legal limit for airguns is the same, irrespective of calibre. I also told him that the noise he heard was not the gun (its silenced) but the pellet hitting a spring-loaded pellet catcher to ensure no ricochets' - which does give off a noise. Anyway, it all ended fine, but the first 10mins of the conversation were him just spouting nonsense about airguns and the law. He basically just didn't like guns and there are alot of those around. I told him he could call the fuzz if he wanted, but I was legally OK to shoot in my garden assuming those proviso's had been met so he would just be wasting their time. I also told him I'd take his concerns on board and make sure any zeroing took place when it is unlikely people will be about (early morning / later evening) - but that, with respect, I could shoot when I wanted.

 

It struck me that the general public are clearly worried about what they do not understand. I suppose our airguns do look like the 'real thing' if you know what I mean and I think some people have trouble believing it's an airgun. Is there anything we can do to educate people about the law? In my current residence I have talked to my neighbours on both sides of my house and explained I may do short stints of zeroing, and for them not to be worried about that. I've explained that out of respect for them, I will not shoot if children are in their gardens and I've alleviated any fears they may have about legality. They are fine with it and respect the fact I took the trouble to come see them. However, you can't legislate for imbeciles. The problem is the ill informed will just pick the phone up and report you. Even when you've done absolutely nothing wrong, you still have to go through the process.

 

The moral of the story is - buy a quiet pellet catcher!!!!

 

Any stories here of when you've encountered silly understandings from the ill-informed? Did it end well? Any encounters with the public or neighbours? Good, bad, or ugly? Do you shoot in your garden or have you given up because of neighbours?

[neil82 1,080]

its not just the general public that wants educating on air gun law, plod is, for the majority, just as ignorant

[The one 8,479]

Be better hitting twats like that with the butt of the gun mate you cant educate pork and hitting your head off a brick wall hurts in the end ,

I zero mine at the side of the house from one garage to another and using sandbags as a back stop there's no noise and the neighbours are none the wiser

[mackem 26,550]

Long gone are the days when you could walk around town without a sleeve carrying your airgun under your arm

[The one 8,479]

Being honest thats feck all ive a great story but its long but ive been threating to post it for ages and just becauce a antis views where diffrent from mine

[pianoman 3,587]

Oh I've had a right ding-dong shouting match with the pillock opposite my house whose garden is seperated from mine by a large thick hedge. And we've had the police pay us a visit which turned out to be a blessing!

 

I'm lucky to have a huge garden, of three large lawns, borders and orchards covering over an acre. I set up a safe range to practice shooting within my boundaries of up to 45 metres distance. More than enough zeroing range for me!. I have taken every possibly account and precaution of where my shots will go. Over 50ft from the center of the main road behind my cottage, I built a target range with a backstop of concrete slabs holding up sand banks to absorb pellets. There are decent size grass earth banks that act as "Last Resort" backstops around the shooting area.

 

After the first run in with "Colin" who informed me that "Pellet Guns shoot in all directions because I had one once. So I'm calling the police!" I tried all reason to explain what was going on. He said he would call the police anyway.....

 

A few days and another practice session later I had a young Policewoman at the door. I quote her exact words.

 

"Have you been shooting an air rifle in your garden? We've had a complaint...!"

 

So, I said yes and showed her the guns I have and everything around my land, all the precautions etc. Then, I asked her.

 

"Am I doing anything illegal here because if I am. I will pack up shooting here right now and take whatever charges there may be.

 

Her answer was. And I'm quoting her exact words.

 

"No. I'm satisfied that theres nothing wrong here. You can shoot all day here as long as you have taken every measure to do it safely and the pellets don't go out of bounds into your nieghbours land or property. I'm more than satisfied you have everything in hand here. We had a complaint and we have to investigate it. That's why I wanted to chat with you to see what's going on from your side, before we do something silly. Right. I'll go have a chat with your neighour...."

 

That was the first and last time I have dealt with the police on this matter. They've been reasonable and so have I.

 

Now. the prat next door can fart and bitch all he wants to but, I keep on shooting.

 

So should you and everyone else!

 

Simon.

[John Stott 202]

I agree with Simon. Same with me, I admit I am also lucky as I have two acres. I have a sixty yard range and use FT targets on grass. Backstop is soggy sleeper and nothing untoward or unsafe. My boundary is an old sea bank, I own it and its not a right of way. Folk walk their dogs and horse ride on it. When I see them I stop shooting, even though everything is fitted with a moderator.

Some have complained, usual idiotic remarks. I point out they are on private land and technically are trespassing. I also tell them I comply with said laws on air weapons. No police visit, ever. However I am not worried if there ever is.

We can educate by being polite but firm. We also have rights and the law is on our side, unless we are stupid of course.

You cannot legislate against ignorance. We must accept that Britain is anti gun and anti shooting.

Join BASC, comply with current law and carry on shooting. It is our right.

Ok, I am ex military, mega safe in my practices and older. Frankly some kids with air weapons scare me as well as Joe Public. They however, are not me. I will not give up any of my shooting because of ignorance and stupidity on Joe Publics part.

[Dr B 186]

Thanks to all for the replies, some interesting stories there and food for thought. In my instance in the OP I was pleased I managed to keep my fist out of his face and I was proud of the way I handled it, and him. I was firm, but fair. Respectful, but not having any of it. He was under no illusion i knew my law, but he was so full of shit.

 

I also said that if he continuued to be a problem, I'd contact one of the many associations I'm a member of, who have legal representation and look after law-abiding shooters (not sure how true that really was.....but hey, he was making it up as he went along ).

 

I was furious for days afterwards. To his credit, he accepted my views and backed down.

 

 

 

 

[Dr B 186]

its not just the general public that wants educating on air gun law, plod is, for the majority, just as ignorant

 

Hi Neil

Yeah, I've heard stories. One is that a guy is going to court soon because his empty magazine was in the gun when they stopped him in his car. Note to everyone who might not know. If you own a PCP, never leave the magazine in it when its in its sleeve and in transit, even though its empty.

 

In the BASC magazines it often promotes strong relations with the police....but I reckon it must vary around the country.

[Dr B 186]

Being honest thats feck all ive a great story but its long but ive been threating to post it for ages and just becauce a antis views where diffrent from mine

 

Do tell, I'll put the kettle on.....

[walshie 2,804]

Fair play to you for trying to educate him. I'd have told him to f**k off.

[walshie 2,804]

Being honest thats feck all ive a great story but its long but ive been threating to post it for ages and just becauce a antis views where diffrent from mine

 

Half a story Bob.

[Dr B 186]

Hi Simon

 

In my new place I'm thinking of improving my backstops to show the neighbours, a little more visually, that all saftey concerns are being catered for. I was thinking of building a 2-row wall of staw bails - say 3 bails high and 4 along, with a 5mm plyboard in the middle of the 2 rows, towards the bottom of my garden. Does this sound OK to you? Should be able to buy the straw from farmers and the wood from B&Q?

[Dr B 186]

Fair play to you for trying to educate him. I'd have told him to f**k off.

 

I've run out of likes, but love this man....

[barrywhite 282]

the public are regularly educated with media .guns are bad people who want one are mad .the sooner the only people with guns are the ruling class and there servants the better .