At what age can young persons use a firearm when supervised?

That’s how it should be done, start young under close supervision and they’ll become a safe and competent shot.
Fully agree, they love being a member of a club too. I left being in a rifle club when I no longer competed, but their excitement brings the joy back to me (in what is effectively long distance paper punching).
 
One club did seem happy to have him....but it was a bit far away. I'll go see them again. The nearer ones said no
Idiocy from our community to cut off the future sportsmen. My club are in dispute with the MOD who have banned under 18s (such as my three sons) from military ranges. However, rimfire, .410” shotguns and air rifles are plenty enough to get going with. I am a member of a syndicate and so the boys get plenty of time with the .410”.
 
The slightly vague part is that it doesn’t clarify that the borrower is authorised to zero/check zero - it’s fair to say we’d all insist on a zero check if lending a rifle but it’s curious that some aspects are so vigorously stuck to and yet this point is left vague 🤷🏼‍♂️
From the Act, my bold:

"(2)The first condition is that the borrowing and possession of the rifle or shot gun are for either or both of the following purposes—

(a)hunting animals or shooting game or vermin;

(b)shooting at artificial targets."

So a zero check is covered
 
Wasn't it a new labour thing? Did they not say that they hope to discourage shooting by limiting access to youngsters??
It'll still happen, just not legally.
There will always be rebels.
 
Anyone age 17 or older can fire a rifle legally in this country under the presence of a legal S2 license owner that has offered there rifles to use & has the proper authority on the land to do so, whilst attended by them (attended isn't clarified by law but lets say within sight/able to control said rifle If needed) The 17 year old or older must not have any convictions or legal obligations that dont allow them to use firearms.

About as broken down as It gets to my understanding, There's no legal clarification on the distance or what 'attended' means but within eye-sight and able to grab said rifle if required is probably sensible enough.

But yes SD Is already pretty strict you can apply at 14 for your FAC but cant shoot with the estate rifles until 17.... bit weird in my opinion lmo.
 
The law is really all over the place on this. However, gradual introduction is the thing. Start off on air rifles, then progress to shotguns with lighter loads on clays and so on. All the time being not just supervised or "attended" but nurtured and developed.

Frankly, people's abilities to shoot and be responsible develop at different times. There's some 12 year olds I would trust with a gun and there's some 30 year olds I'd run a mile from.
 
Anyone age 17 or older can fire a rifle legally in this country under the presence of a legal S2 license owner that has offered there rifles to use & has the proper authority on the land to do so, whilst attended by them (attended isn't clarified by law but lets say within sight/able to control said rifle If needed) The 17 year old or older must not have any convictions or legal obligations that dont allow them to use firearms.

About as broken down as It gets to my understanding, There's no legal clarification on the distance or what 'attended' means but within eye-sight and able to grab said rifle if required is probably sensible enough.

But yes SD Is already pretty strict you can apply at 14 for your FAC but cant shoot with the estate rifles until 17.... bit weird in my opinion lmo.

You mean section 1.
 
Ah yes apologies I'm not a holder so I forget what one Is what occasionally, If I could edit it I would.

All the wording there is correct regardless minus mentioning S2 (irrelevant anyways) as If your using the estate rifles the person Is going to have to have a S1 License regardless to have them in the first place. 😅

Now if they dont.... not the folks you want to be associated with regardless 🤣 maybe phone the police whilst your at it lol.
 
I have had to do some research into this area recently. It may be worth me typing up what I understand as a simple, plain English guide with references for people to review. I did not find it straightforward to access the relevant information and that the solicitors above made errors in their press release on this highlights the confusion.

I will issue in draft form on another thread, invite comments then update.
 
Nonsense. My son had his FAC at 15
My son had is FAC and passed his DSC 1 at the age of 14 , the original post asked at what age can he supervise his 7 to18 years of age .
You cannot use a firearm even when supervised under the age of 18 UNLESS you have your own FAC or supervised on a Home office approved range is what i was told by my firearms licencing department .
 
My son had is FAC and passed his DSC 1 at the age of 14 , the original post asked at what age can he supervise his 7 to18 years of age .
You cannot use a firearm even when supervised under the age of 18 UNLESS you have your own FAC or supervised on a Home office approved range is what i was told by my firearms licencing department .
It's 17, not 18, to be allowed to use an estate rifle I believe, so maybe whoever you spoke to at your FLD was mistaken?

It's also worth pointing out that under 17s (ie, 14-16 inclusive) not only have to have their own FAC, they also have to have their own rifle. They cannot borrow one, even if supervised.

(The situation for club members using approved ranges is different, and I'm not sure exactly how that works).
 
Age 17 (borrowing age as set out in law) without certificate (not talking about club terms, talking about a firearm on someone elses certificate) and only under the exemption under the 1988 firearms amendment, which was further amended and very much expanded upon and simplified in wording by the 2017 policing and crime act, which makes it very consise and clear. The person must use the firearm within sight/earshot I.e. supervised and must obey the same certificate conditions. That person must also have written authority to be able to lend the firearms on that land, if they are not the owner of the land or owner of the rights. The lender must also be aged 18 or older.
As it states the borrower must follow the conditions of the lenders certificate, if the conditions state any lawful quarry and zeroing and target, that person can do indeed just that under supervision. Needless to say, the person borrowing said firearms from said lender are also required to permission to shoot that land, as you are, if you get that authority from the land owner and are not the land owner or rights owner yourself.

Law below


14 is the age if the person has their own certificate with conditions that allow shooting quarry in the field of course. At that age they will most likely have a mentor condition and be supervised anyway, even if the firearm is on their own certificate or shared ownership with the mentor. They cannot buy their own firearms or ammunition until 18, it must be gifted.

Always follow direct law extracts from official government sources, not heresy on social media or magazine articles.

Hope that answers your question.

Screenshot of law below.

For more information if confused, talk to BASC/ your firearms dept but the 2017 rehash makes it very clear. Be sure to keep a paper trail of wording provided to you I.e. in email form if you do talk to someone about it.
 

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It's 17, not 18, to be allowed to use an estate rifle I believe, so maybe whoever you spoke to at your FLD was mistaken?

It's also worth pointing out that under 17s (ie, 14-16 inclusive) not only have to have their own FAC, they also have to have their own rifle. They cannot borrow one, even if supervised.

(The situation for club members using approved ranges is different, and I'm not sure exactly how that works).
My son had is FAC and passed his DSC 1 at the age of 14 , the original post asked at what age can he supervise his 7 to18 years of age .
You cannot use a firearm even when supervised under the age of 18 UNLESS you have your own FAC or supervised on a Home office approved range is what i was told by my firearms licencing department .

It's not approved ranges it's Home office approved clubs.

There are other exceptions also such as;
In conjunction with schools, cadet organisations, miniature rifle clubs and some other youth organisations.
 
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Yes Quite right John it's miniature rifle range not club in that example. Though we already Know that exemption will soon disappear or at least be greatly amended.
 
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