Just had the police turn up while I was shooting

[njc110381]

I took a mate of mine out today to have a play with the air rifle on one of my shoots. I had my .22lr and he was carrying the airgun. We walked around for some time and then decided to climb up on some silage bales because I had a couple of ricochets and decided the ground was just too baked to shoot as I normally would.

We'd been up there for about ten minutes when a policeman walked across the field. Already my brain was assuming the worst as I'd left my wallet at home (no ID) and my FAC is in for variation so didn't have that either. He seemed pretty cheerful so I relaxed a bit, but then he ruined it for me completely! "hi, how you doing" I said as he walked over. "not bad thanks lads, yourselves" was his reply. At this point I'm feeling fairly happy that he's just coming over for a chat so not too tense at all. "So what brings you all the way out here then?" I asked. "Well we've had a report that someone's been shooting at the trains" he said! "Oh great" I said, "and there was me thinking I was going to have a nice relaxing evening! Who told you that?"

Well after a pause that felt like an eternity he smiled and said "just kidding, I don't suppose you've seen any kids on a mini moto come this way have you?" Well **** me! Since when have coppers had a sense of humour? All I can say is he had me there, we were sat right next to the railway line and I was just picturing me and my mate getting carted off to the nick accused of all sorts of terrible things and this guy obviously just felt like having a bit of a laugh at our expense! In the end I went home with nothing having a good chuckle to myself, but at that moment I just wanted to curl up and die. He didn't even ask for my FAC, just wanted to know how we were getting on?!

If we have any police officers on here, make a mental note on this one chaps..... You're not funny, not even slightly. My life has just been considerably shortened by the stress your colleague put me through for that brief moment! Lets just stick to being poker faced and to the point shall we? I can cope with that!

 

[tika.308]

that made me chuckle buddy

 

[AndrewT059]

i was getting tense reading that, made me laugh tho

 

[Hornet 6]

I'm just glad it was you, and not me

Neil.

 

[Brithunter]

Who's a lucky boy then?

My FAC has been in for one for one variations for just over two months now and they are being stupid about it as per usual. So I won't go shooting without my FAC. Cannot book any stalking as I won't travel with a gun with out it. if something should a happen accident routine stop and they found a firearm with no licence no matter the the licensing office says it's OK. I don't believe them. You would be arrested banged up in a cell and your home raided. Simples.

Am nearly out of .22 L/R so cannot shoot the bunnies out back amongst our new trees but cannot get any more............. no licence. Missed the Pheonix show, will miss the one on the 10th at Bisley then she the Licensing officer says I don't shoot enough??????????????? daft cow you still got my licence!

 

[BuckarooUK]

Well speaking as an ex-copper, i'd say you were just tested and passed. He basically accused you of something an idiot causing mischief may do and rather than act evasive or furtive, you stood your ground by demanding to know who made the accussation. I'm willing to bet there wasn't any kids with motos either - that was his way of backing off without you feeling that he's walked over to check you out, which he had.

 

[cyberstag]

Lots and lots of years ago when we still had a village bobby who knew everybody I was on the pavement on my way round to a neighbours farm to shoot bunnies. Spotted one in his field, leaned over hedge, shot said bunny and was just about to climb over and get it when hand descended on shoulder. He had done the super silent bicycle approach from behind. "Nice shot John" says he "although you do realise you shouldn't be shooting from the public highway don't you?" While I was working out a suitable excuse he said "Well off you go and get it then"
On returning with rabbit, he quickly grabs it and hangs it on his handlebars. "Right, you won't do that again will you" he said and off he went. He was an excellent guy but he did have 11 kids to feed

 

[JC275]

Our village Policeman was a keen stalker and allround shooting man, He was always around when I was growing up. When I got my first stalkers job he gave me a roesack, which, as it turns out, was made by Poppins who has just reconditioned it after 20 years! He still drops in to see my Mother and leaves the odd shooting magazine for me. Its blokes like this who who should be getting OBE's. JC

 

[njc110381]

Cyber. That sounds exactly how my father speaks of the village bobby when he was a lad. In some ways I wish they had that much freedom to do as they see fit these days as I'm sure it would make their lives easier!

Brit. You should get out and shoot buddy. You can be pretty sure that your house isn't going to get raided, they know the score! You may just possibly have your gun confiscated and there's a very small chance you'll end up back at the station but if that happened to me I wouldn't be all that bothered. Just go along with it and keep it friendly and you'll likely be back out in an hour or so and pick your guns up after the FEO has been in touch. I'd just see that as a minor snag. So you waste a couple of hours of your free time, so what? It's better than not getting out shooting for months!

I was really pleasantly surprised by the experience. If all my encounters with the police go this way I'll be more than happy (although for a second I was quite a bit less than happy)!

 

[Boghossian]

Brithunter - I've been nabbed without my FAC or any ID, all it took was a quick call to the station with a description of me and the firearm and I was on my way. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[www.yorkshireroestalking.]

Who's a lucky boy then?

My FAC has been in for one for one variations for just over two months now and they are being stupid about it as per usual. So I won't go shooting without my FAC. Cannot book any stalking as I won't travel with a gun with out it. if something should a happen accident routine stop and they found a firearm with no licence no matter the the licensing office says it's OK. I don't believe them. You would be arrested banged up in a cell and your home raided. Simples.

Am nearly out of .22 L/R so cannot shoot the bunnies out back amongst our new trees but cannot get any more............. no licence. Missed the Pheonix show, will miss the one on the 10th at Bisley then she the Licensing officer says I don't shoot enough??????????????? daft cow you still got my licence!

You may be right It might not be worth the gamble,BUT I thought now they are the new cert no,s that it was 1 computer bank and if you were in your own vehicle travelling and your details check out they are quite aware of what guns you own and you dont have to produce your fac anyway.
I never carry mine out in the field and any bother I've had with the bobbies has been sorted out over their radios. I may be wrong but thats my experience.

Just an after thought me and a mate were coming back from stalking in Scotland in the wee hours and were stopped 3X by police in different counties, all checked our details NONE asked for cert detaials the car was mine and they knew the rifle was registered to me only 1 asked for my mates which he was carrying his.
The third time I was tired and getting a little grouchy with the copper wouldn't like to have been X4 LOL.

 

[shootingduckdog]

Brithunter

Why send your old one in? I sent a letter with my renewal saying that I needed the licence to continue my shooting and would return it when the new one was available, ie before they despatched it. They just sent me the new one and asked me to destroy the old one. Simples

 

[JAYB]

I took mine in for a variation yesterday, they were a bit busy so they will post it out to me, I will get it tomorrow or Thursday.

I never did like a copper with a sense of humour though

John

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Living in Germany and earlier the USA I am used to seeing cops armed as a matter of course but when I see how the armed UK police walk around looking as if they are doing house clearing roles all day and every day (it would make my arm go to sleep always carrying a HK at half position, don"t know the correct terminology) it still gives me the willies.
I wonder how the population without any gun experience feel seeing these TV images.
Martin

 

[Brithunter]

As Lincolnshire don't know how they are supposed to do things they insist on the current certificate being sent or taken in in person in this case. I even went through the whole thing with them there and then but it was obviously a wasted effort on my part. Lincs make their own rules up and ideas on the hoof it seems. as for them checking on the computer , John come on we are talking Lincs Police here. BASC are are on first name terms with them as they have to speak to them so often. not that is makes any difference as she will never change and work within the law as it does not suit her or the Chief Constables agenda.

They honestly haven't a clue. they sent a WPC on an enquiry about a domestic involving my nephew and his wife, he don't live here even but as it was Feb and cold them and the kids were here fro a warm up and a hot meal while the problem at their house was being investigated and she had no idea that any firearms were kept here. So much for their computer system.

Until they earn it, I don't trust them one bit.

As for our armed Police it is obvious that their training does not include muzzle awareness and it's only by luck more innocents are not shot by Police due to their complacency, incompetence and poor training.

 

[bambislayer]

As Lincolnshire don't know how they are supposed to do things they insist on the current certificate being sent or taken in in person in this case. I even went through the whole thing with them there and then but it was obviously a wasted effort on my part. Lincs make their own rules up and ideas on the hoof it seems. as for them checking on the computer , John come on we are talking Lincs Police here. BASC are are on first name terms with them as they have to speak to them so often. not that is makes any difference as she will never change and work within the law as it does not suit her or the Chief Constables agenda.

They honestly haven't a clue. they sent a WPC on an enquiry about a domestic involving my nephew and his wife, he don't live here even but as it was Feb and cold them and the kids were here fro a warm up and a hot meal while the problem at their house was being investigated and she had no idea that any firearms were kept here. So much for their computer system.

Until they earn it, I don't trust them one bit.

As for our armed Police it is obvious that their training does not include muzzle awareness and it's only by luck more innocents are not shot by Police due to their complacency, incompetence and poor training.

A friend of mine does the TAC training all over the country and assures me that they have probably one of the most stringent training programmes in the world, I'm only quoting him, and he is a good guy

 

[Brithunter]

A friend of mine does the TAC training all over the country and assures me that they have probably one of the most stringent training programmes in the world, I'm only quoting him, and he is a good guy

that don't say much for the rest of them then. I have some lapel pins here from the Neville Cup, this was shot at Lippets Hill the Mets Firearms units training facility (now closed and Moved) an shot against the Police and I am sorry to say it was frightening to see just how inept they were. Of course this was when we could own pistols but knowing the police attitude, they know best and don't make mistakes I doubt very much it's improved.

 

[Lakey]

Always make a photocopy

Who's a lucky boy then?

My FAC has been in for one for one variations for just over two months now and they are being stupid about it as per usual. So I won't go shooting without my FAC. Cannot book any stalking as I won't travel with a gun with out it. if something should a happen accident routine stop and they found a firearm with no licence no matter the the licensing office says it's OK. I don't believe them. You would be arrested banged up in a cell and your home raided. Simples.


Am nearly out of .22 L/R so cannot shoot the bunnies out back amongst our new trees but cannot get any more............. no licence. Missed the Pheonix show, will miss the one on the 10th at Bisley then she the Licensing officer says I don't shoot enough??????????????? daft cow you still got my licence!

Thats why I always always photocopy my FAC before returning it for renewal.

The FAC is still in date when you return it, so it is still valid, so I figure a photocopy in the next bexst thing to an original if you were to get stopped. Also I use the photocopy to compare my new certificate, so that I know if there are any mistakes or changes with the new certificate, I notice them straight away. I usually make three copies, so that if one gets destroyed I still have a back up copy.
I feel it makes common sense to have that back up copy.

Lakey

 

[csl]

Thats why I always always photocopy my FAC before returning it for renewal.

The FAC is still in date when you return it, so it is still valid, so I figure a photocopy in the next bexst thing to an original if you were to get stopped. Also I use the photocopy to compare my new certificate, so that I know if there are any mistakes or changes with the new certificate, I notice them straight away. I usually make three copies, so that if one gets destroyed I still have a back up copy.
I feel it makes common sense to have that back up copy.

Lakey

Same here. I have saved scans of all my former FAC/SGC's before I sent them in so if anything mysteriously changes between amendments (and it usually does! ) then I can prove it!

The last one was my expanding ammunition condition just disappearing . Stood out like a sore thumb comparing the two copies side by side!

Alex

 

[private fraser]

Ref. photocopies... same goes for driving licence if sending away for any reason. Swansea have been known to "lose" categories like motorbike or tractor etc. off a licence.

fraser