Walking in to a hotel with visible firearm - acceptable?

t. If walking down the middle of a street with the rifle out of its slip and over your should that is a big NO and from what I gather is illegal.
I don't think that would be illegal at all.
It might not be entirely sensible, and you may have some trouble justifying it if questioned, but if you have a justifiable reason for doing so you wouldn't be doing anything illegal as far as I know.
I have often walked along or across public roads with my unslipped rifle to get from one bit of ground to another while out stalking.

As for the hotel in the original post, presumably it's a private premises, so it matters not a jot.
 
Walking down the street with an uncovered Firearm is not illegal
You’d need a reason to be carrying it but that’s rarely an issue
I’ve walked along a busy street in Edinburgh with uncovered guns on more than a few occasions. It’s perfectly legally and should be normalised and acceptable.

Oh, written period not required to shoot deer, or anything else actually
 
Walking down the street with an uncovered Firearm is not illegal
You’d need a reason to be carrying it but that’s rarely an issue
I’ve walked along a busy street in Edinburgh with uncovered guns on more than a few occasions. It’s perfectly legally and should be normalised and acceptable.

Oh, written period not required to shoot deer, or anything else actually
He's still posting utter crap.

I'm still waiting for his response from BASC regarding written permission.
 
I don't think that would be illegal at all.
It might not be entirely sensible, and you may have some trouble justifying it if questioned, but if you have a justifiable reason for doing so you wouldn't be doing anything illegal as far as I know.
I have often walked along or across public roads with my unslipped rifle to get from one bit of ground to another while out stalking.

As for the hotel in the original post, presumably it's a private premises, so it matters not a jot.
As I said it be down to the individual officer .

Actually, without going into detail, I have experience in this and thankfully the sergeant was on my side over it as I did not cause alarm or reckless endangerment and the officer who was involved was on loan from Glasgow so did not have experience in the matter.

Going from one part of your ground to another crossing a public road or path would be justification, as long as the rifle was unloaded, walking down the high street with open carry going from the gun shot to the car might be harder to explain if it was not in a gun slip .

I personally dont take the chance . There is a public road that runs right down the centre of the estate if I am on the quad then I have my guns in the slip even if I am shooting not far from the road, if I have to travel all the way from one end of the road to the other which is normal I have it in the slip and even sometimes when I driving on the quad about the estate I do the same only time I dont is when at night. Even when I going through the woods for the syndicates I have my rifle in the slip if I am on the quad but obviously if walking either on the estate or in the woods I manage I sling it over my should.

Its all down to whether you were causing alarm or reckless endangerment .

Hey I have even been stopped with the rifle in its slip walking along the road and unknown to me and people have complained and the cops have been called and its their duty to attend.

All depends on the officer .
 
I don't have a problem with it except for if the handling was bad practice and firearm condition unknown. If that was the case I'd approach and applause what ever I could find to applause but ask if they would confirm the rifles are empty and thank them for doing so.
 
I don't have a problem with it except for if the handling was bad practice and firearm condition unknown. If that was the case I'd approach and applause what ever I could find to applause but ask if they would confirm the rifles are empty and thank them for doing so.
Absolutely and we just have to trust they were keeping everything legal as have no reason to doubt they are.
People making up all different scenarios to attempt to put a different spin on it and where do you stop?Had he a license,was he poaching,was he ****ed or worse was it a Creedmoor?!
 
Carrying an open rifle may not be classed as a secure manner.

Hey each to their own in the end . If your on the next episode of seized guns Britain go for it.

I keep myself right I comply with everything thats asked of me no matter how unreasonable . I have way more deer stalking and land than most and thats because I work bloody hard to keep it and I have to say Police Scotland have been very good to me over the years with absolutely no complaints to how they work, they ask me to put better security in I do it , the ask to see my gun cabinets anytime they need to I go out my way to allow them no matter what I have got on, if my FEO says I am asking for something unreasonable I take his or her advice. They have a job to do why make it harder for some sense of privilege or entitlement. Thats how I feel. They are understaffed and over worked and many officers have no idea about firearms and why should they as firearms holders are minority not a majority. If you feel your entitlement is to walk down the street with a rifle on your shoulder without it being in a slip causing alarm to people going about their shopping is worth all that attention then go for it have at it, but dont be surprised if the cops are ****ed at you and you lose your guns for 6 months.

You do you and I will do me .

I would always err on the side of caution .

The OP had concerns about seeing what he saw and he is a firearms holder and he was in the right to question it. My original statement in reply I will stand to it, in some circumstances yes it is legal but that is down to the individual officer who deals with it and thats fact. Laziness to not use a slip is not an excuse and if I was the cop attending I would probably take that into account. If your just too lazy to cover the rifle or shotgun in public then thats on you.
 
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Except when you are actually stalking or otherwise using a rifle, why would you have it out of its slip? Apart from to scare ladies and young children (I jest) I can’t see a reason to do that. And the main reason to have a rifle in its slip is to protect the rifle.

I wonder if those people walking into the hotel were from foreign parts where things might be slightly different. Who knows?
 
Stalking accommodation in the Highlands? Personally I see no problem if this is accepted practice.

Premier Inn in Manchester city centre? Probably not the best idea 🤔
 
I have told this before, a few years ago two of us standing by the road in a village, 3 dogs handful of birds and a shotgun crooked over an arm each, waiting for the shoot transport,
the local bus stopped and asked if we were getting on, no one on the bus batted an eye,

its been known for a local to stop the car rather than drive down the road we are driving birds over, then ask if they can have a brace, always given a few if they want,
this is a rural area, Im sure they expect it,
 
After an 18 K seven hour walk one will arrive at the Welcome Flat Hut on NZ`s south island in among the mountains and glaciers.
It is a 30 odd "bed" dormitory hut and is used as a stop off point for Tahr and Chamois hunters besides the hot pool trekkers. We camped over and moved further up valley to the Douglas Rock Hut a few hours walk upstream. It s a very famous walk and at times with a 30KG pack plus rifle it had its moments.
Of a full house only three of us had rifles and the rules are "no rifles inside" So they are hung by slings on hooks outside the front entrance with bolts removed. Not one **** even mentioned the fact that there were firearms in house. I neglected to take a pic of my old 7mm mag hanging up.
No one took offence,not even one snide or sarcastic remark was made and we as oft viewed throat cutting,cold blooded murdering, weapon toting bastards were just another lot enjoying the mountains. I fondly remember the six naked US Uni geology students at the hot springs but that`s another tale lol.

kea 7mm.webp
 
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I think it's more important when in the company of others, general public or not to show the bolt is removed, whether the rifle is covered or not.
 
Let’s see, according to the OP 2 stalkers and 2 guides pull up after a day out on the hill and one of them walks into his accommodation, said accommodation is a well known venue regularly hosting stalkers and shooters, openly carrying an uncovered firearm presumably enroute to secure storage and maybe a pint before a shower and dinner.
Frankly I don’t see the problem.
 
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