General Chat

Hi Kim,
I too was brought up in the country and have used a gun on numerous occasions when I lived on a farm. I think as you do, responsability will do your son no harm, using a gun correctly and understanding the dangers can't be a bad thing for a 16 year old to learn.
My youngest lad has always been interested in guns, we do have air rifles in the house here as well as a harpoon, but my lads always knew that the guns were only ever used under supervision.

I personally see no harm in a youngster learning and understanding about guns and the responsability that goes hand in hand with owning one.
Your son obviously knew what your husbands response would be when buying an air rifle behind your backs, but thats kids for you, they all do things that not all parents agree to, but we usually find out in the end.
I think you have done the right thing completely by accepting his choice in what he wants but also he accepts your choice that he has to use a gun responsably by going to a range and learning the correct way to be an owner and of its use.

Gillie XX

No way would I have allowed our son to have any kind of gun. I don't understand why anyone would want to own one, frankly.

I was brought up in the country, so I'm not a townie by any means, but I fail to understand why people get pleasure from killing animals for sport. This isn't the 19th century, no one is starving and thus forced to kill animals or birds, civilisation has moved on.

Some years ago a child near us got hold of his father's shotgun and killed his sister in a game, not realising his father had left it loaded.

Not worth the risk, I'd say.

Gwynne

I don't think it is necessarily a phobia not to want weapons at home, more like tempting fate.

It is actually illegal for persons under 18 to possess or acquire an air gun.

Try Googling something like

possessing air gun

and lots of useful information will come up.

Peter, it is not illegal for someone under 18 to possess and air rifle. It is illegal for anyone under 17 to acquire one, or to sell or give one to anyone under 17.

An under 17 may use one supervised by an adult over 21.

As Mick points out, a person is the one that does the damage, not the item. An air rifle is pretty innocuous in the the scale of things - maximum 12 ft lbs energy for a rifle, 6ft lbs for a pistol. Less than a decent catapult.

Air rifle shooting is an olympic sport - why do people automatically think that anyone who possesses a gun is a homicidal maniac, lol

As for those who cannot think of a good reason for possessing one - what about a bow and arrow? Far more deadly than an air rifle, anyone can buy one and why would anyone want to have one? (I have 4 - 2 compound and 2 recurve).

Why would anyone want golf clubs? A cricket bat? A knife with a blade more than 3" long? A nail gun?

Kim, I haven't read this all through.. I'm in a rush!!

I would allow my 16 year olds to join a properly monitored rifle club, where they were taught responsible use and care for the lethal weapon.... and where they would not be allowed to remove the weapon from the club.

They would not be allowed to use it in the *the big wide world*.

I am a rather good shot myself.... markswoman, actually. *blushes modestly*

My boys weren't interested at all.

Love

Daff xxx

Guns have to be registered and licensed and be locked away when not in use.

We had a gun cabinet that was locked and the cartridges kept away from the guns.

We were taught never to touch any of the shotguns, even if they were unloaded and being cleaned...........we had a very healthy respect for them and the damage they can do if not used properly.

Gwynne your post is desperately sad, but if the adult had locked the gun away, this tragedy would not have happened.

I speak as the daughter of a gamekeeper who earned his living around people who's hobby is shooting.

Not air rifles, kitty.

S1 firearms do, as do shotguns.

In answer to your question, Eldrick, I don't know why anyone would want to own a bow and arrow either.

The other items you mention have uses other than for killing. They don't need to be locked away from children, either, except the knives.

Kitty, I agree the adult should have locked the gun away but he didn't and his daughter died. It wouldn't have happened had he not owned a gun.

Like I said, times have moved on.

Gwynne

I thought they were Eldrick................Dad told us they did, maybe to make sure we were supervised.

This was over 40 years ago mind you. lol

ahh, so you think they are purely for killing!

Well, I have killed many thousands of targets in my time, lol

I have also killed many thousands of animals, and eaten most of them as well. But is that not a different debate - the ethics and morality of eating meat has nothing to do with the ownership of air rifles, surely...?

But if thats what you think, then there is no reasoning and you will never change your mind regardless of what is pointed out, so we will honourably agree to disagree :-)

No kitty, air rifles dont need to be licensed (unless over a certain power) and there is no need to keep them locked away in a gun cabinet. It would be sensible to do so, but its not a legal requirement,

You're right, Eldrick, we aren't going to agree. I was glad to see the back of fox-hunting and look forward to the time when shooting animals for sport is also illegal.

Badger baiting, cock fighting etc have disappeared as we become more civilised. It's only a matter of time, I think.

Gwynne

I must admit I felt sorry for the pheasants on shoot days, but still loved eating them.

I couldn't kill anything either, but I do understand that some people do and respect their rights to do so as long as the law allows it.

Clay pigeon shooting is gaining popularity locally..............noisy, but harmless enough.

Well, I think you may be disappointed,sadly.

Fox hunting is more popular than ever! More foxes are being killed now than ever before....the hunting ban had nothing at all to do with saving foxes, lol - it was purely a 'class' thing.

Our estate shoots around 5,000 pheasants each year, not to mention partridges, ducks, woodcock, etc. I personally shoot in the region of 50 deer a year off this one estate.

But, as you say, we will agree to disagree. I cant see why anyone would want yet another ban and restriction on life in this country, you cant see why not.

But as this thread is about using and owning an air rifle, none of this is relevant, is it ?

:-)

Well, Eldrick, I'm not sure where you live but around here more foxes aren't being killed by the hunt. I doubt they are anywhere, to be honest. They are being watched very carefully to make sure the law isn't being broken in most areas.

I think it's part of the same debate, to a certain extent. But shall retire from the debate as you think that's appropriate.

Gwynne

No

The most medals ever won by a commonwealth games competitor is 15, by Mick Gault, OBE.

If a sprinter had won that many, they would be household names.

Why is Mick not? Because he is a politically incorrect pistol shooter.

And a master at what he does.

And people would have this banned? Oh, pistol shooting IS banned in the UK. Our own athletes have to travel abroad to practise. Yet the government allow foreign competitors to enter the UK with their pistols.........

Is there something not quite right here?

I know, someone will say it should be banned altogether. To which I respond by saying ban the javelin, ban sword fencing, ban all contact sports like boxing, ban motor racing (cars kill more people than any other thing), ban everything.

lol

It gets me stone mad when I see the hypocrtitical double standards of this despicable government :-)

Why not Kim,

It may not last anyway.but at least he will learn the responsibility of using one,,,

How many have had a thrill at the fair on the rifle shots,,

Both my boys had air rifles.
One bought by my OH, the younger one bought by his uncle.

NEITHER were allowed out unsupervised, and accidents never happened.

My younger one sold his back to the shop where his uncle bought it, when he was at uni and needed the money.

Deanna X

guinevere,

as i mentioned in an earlier post my dad had a rifle and a bow and arrow, well he more than one.

when my dad gave up judo he took up archery and he competed quite a few times, it was his sport, and he really enjoyed it. you hardly hear about this sport which is a shame.