Legal gun owners claim to be responsible, highly trained, disciplined individuals who can be trusted to behave responsibly at all times with their guns.

Legal gun owners, gun enthusiasts, gun collectors, gun dealers and members of shooting clubs and teams, including those selected to represent their country at national and international shooting events, resort to their guns to threaten, kill and injure wives, partners, children, neighbours, work colleagues and random victims when faced with stressful situations.

Relationship breakdown, family arguments, employment issues, financial problems, deteriorating mental and physical health, alcohol/ substance abuse, depression, property repossessions, impending prosecutions, separation and divorce are all known catalysts which prompt these tragic acts of violent desperation.

Firearms Licensing Departments make decisions about who can and cannot have licensed guns, these decisions are crucial to public safety.

The failure of the licensing system to protect innocent victims from known gun owners and enthusiasts has raised concerns about the licensing procedure and lack of 'follow-up' checks on the health, well-being and circumstances of those who have instant access to legally held 'weapons of mass destruction' in their homes.

All the gun massacres in UK in recent decades have involved licensed gun owners and/or legally held guns apart from one about which further information is awaited*.

All the gun massacres in UK in recent decades, apart from one, have involved victims known to the perpetrator (domestic violence.)

NB A police statement confirms that the perpetrator did not hold a gun licence at the time of the shooting. However press reports from a former neighbour indicate that the perpetrator apparently did own a shotgun sometime before the shooting.

2009 Maesbrook, Shropshire, 2 dead + family pets + suicide, Christopher Foster.

In September 2015 Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabularies published a critical Report regarding Firearms Licensing procedures and practices and made a number of recommendations and concluded:-

“We cannot make our position any clearer: it is now for others to accept the need for change. If they do, perhaps the life of the next victim of firearms misuse might be saved. What is highly likely is that, if change is not effected, there will be another tragedy.”

A shotgun certificate costs £79.50 in Great Britain. It lasts for five years and any number of shotguns can be held on one certificate. The Association of Chief Police Officers calculates that the actual cost of administering each certificate is £200. Taxpayers make up the difference.

There is evidence that many legal gun owners, and others claiming to be collectors, military historians and enthusiasts become obsessed with guns, they behave irresponsibly with their guns, treat guns casually, flout gun law, compromise public safety, keep illegal guns in addition to licensed ones, and become involved in armed criminality.

Legal gun owners also indirectly add to gun crime by storing guns irresponsibly in contravention of the requirements of their licences, leading to theft and misappropriation.

Experienced and frequent shooters, and members of official shooting parties also fall victim to gun injuries during shooting activities.

At times of stress, physical and/or mental illness suffering from depression, financial worries, home repossession, relationship problems, marriage breakdown, difficulties at work, legal gun owners use their guns to take their own lives. Family members who have access to legal guns in the home also use them to take their own lives.

Young men are particularly at risk from suicide and a gun stored in the home and easily accessible increases the risk.

Military and ex military personnel are known to be at risk from debilitating Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and it is of great concern that military and ex military personnel known to be suffering from mental health issues are still able to access weapons.

In addition to the subsidy provided by taxpayers to those applying for a gun licence, shooting activities, incidents involving legally held guns, and loss, theft, accidents and incidents involving legal owners and gun enthusiasts can have consequences which cause members of the public to be inconvenienced and endangered. Such incidents have cost implications which are ultimately borne by the taxpaying public.

Shooters and shooting organisations claim that the activities of responsible organised licensed shooters benefits the countryside, wildlife and conservation. However there is evidence to suggest that licensed shooters do not always respect the law regarding the conservation of rare and protected species.

There are incidents of protected species being found shot on 'shoots' and occasionally gamekeepers have been prosecuted for incidents in which raptors which prey on birds raised for commercial shooting parties, have been found dead on shooting estates.

In 2016 The National Trust effectively banned driven grouse shooting on its Peak District moorland by imposing stringent new lease conditions designed to exclude tenants that persecute wildlife and intensively manage the land. The Trust’s tightened-up rental conditions will make it impossible for any driven game shooting business to operate profitably.　

New tenants will be required to increase raptor populations on the land – a practice unsuited to maintaining the unnaturally high numbers of grouse required for profitable shoots. The tenant would also have to demonstrate how "moorland management and shooting can deliver great nature conservation in a way that is compatible with public access" – an objective the driven grouse shooting industry would struggle to achieve.

A senior official has been suspended from the gun licensing unit in the police force in Greater Manchester over concerns about the appropriateness of a some decisions to grant firearms licences arose when a small sample of 100 was analysed. A full internal review of the gun licensing department has begun, and all 11,000 firearms licences issued by the force will assessed in detail, and certificates revoked and guns confiscated from unsuitable licensed owners. The force have said officials will also receive additional training to make sure license applications are correctly assessed.

Four gun massacres occurring in the UK, Hungerford l987, Dunblane 1996 Cumbria 2010, Horden 2012, were all committed by men who were licensed gun owners using legally held guns and ammunition held in the home.

Paul White has been found dead and his 33 year old partner Shani Cockrell has been found seriously injured in a suspected murder-suicide attempt at their home in Bircotes, Nottinghamshire. They were found in their bedroom shortly after returning from family Boxing Day celebrations. The couple's two and four-year-old sons were taken to safety by police while their mother was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she was later said to be in stable condition. The 37-year-old, who was believed to be a licensed gun owner, is thought to have used his own licensed shotgun to shoot his partner and then himself. White was a clay pigeon enthusiast who often went shooting with his partner's father.

The bodies of Keith and Andrea Johnson were found near their home in Cromer, Norfolk. Keith Johnson was a former Mayor and Conservative Leader of Norfolk District Council. An inquest revealed that Andrea Johnson, who had been the victim of domestic violence for many years which went 'unreported' and unnoticed by a variety of health professionals who treated her for 'marital problems' including attempted suicide, was killed by her husband who then took his own life. Both victims died as a result of shotgun wounds from one of four legally owned shotguns registered to Andrea Johnson stored in the home.

The body of 46 year old Christine Parry, the estranged wife of 49 year old Christopher Parry, was discovered on a street in Newport, South Wales. Christopher Parry was discovered nearby with apparently self-inflicted gun shot wounds which did not prove fatal. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, they had been called to the house previously and and the IPCC are investigating Police contact with the couple. Despite the earlier issues Christopher Parry continued to have access to his licensed firearms stored in the home

The bodies of Donald and Margaret Knight have been found at their home in Northamptonshire following what is believed to have been a domestic murder/suicide. Donald had been chairman of 'Knights of Old' until his retirement. He was known to be a keen shooter and is believed to have been a licensed gun owner. The couple died from gunshot wounds to the head.

The bodies of Bill Dowling and Victoria Rose have been found in Devizes in Wiltshire. Dowling was a retired Police Inspector who is believed to have shot his partner dead before taking his own life. Dowling was known to have an interest in pheasant shooting. His family are said to have had concerns about his emotional and mental wellbeing in the weeks leading up to the tragedy. Dowling was a licensed firearms owner and despite family concerns he continued to have access to licensed firearms stored in his home.

The bodies of Susan McGoldrick, Alison Turnbull and Tanya Turnbull were found along with that of Michael Atherton a 42 year old man with a history of arrests for domestic violence and a caution for common assault. Atherton was found to have killed his partner, Susan McGoldrick, her sister Alison Turnbull and her niece Tanya Turnbull in Horden Co. Durham in January 2012 before taking his own life. Atherton had a history of alcohol issues and relationship problems, despite which he continued to be a licensed gun owner with legally held guns stored in the home.

If you or someone you know is worried about the behaviour or state of mind of a gun owner or someone with access to a gun, please contact us on 0771 9696 279 (anonymously if you wish) or the police.

We are aware of several incidents involving Police Firearms Officers. Despite their training, expertise and assessment, officers are involved in gun incidents, including suicide, fatal and non fatal armed domestic violence, accidental discharge of their weapons and unprofessional behaviour.

Police officers in Manchester were demoted after a photo emerged that they took playing around with a police shotgun. The officers were taken out of the Tactical Firearms Unit after the force admitted the behaviour did not measure up to its professional standards.

An inquest into the death of PC Colin Smelts has found that the police marksmen shot himself in the chest with his police issue semi-automatic pistol at his flat in Camden, north London. He had rowed with his former girlfriend on the night of his death during a discussion about getting back together after splitting because she had cheated on him twice, once with his colleague. Smelts had access to guns despite previously trying and threatening to kill himself after the breakdown of two past relationships, and had already taken home a gun once after his current break-up in order to practice pulling the trigger. He was found dead with the weapon after his ex became worried when he stopped replying to texts and sent some colleagues to check on him.

A 74-year-old man has been arrested and released on police bail after a stand-off with armed police following a domestic incident at his home in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire. Police were originally called to the property to reports of a domestic incident with his long-term female partner, and eventually enabled her to leave the home safely. When officers returned the following day with a firearms warrant, the licensed gun owner and Gun Club member barricaded himself inside armed with his guns. The stand-off continued from morning until after midnight, when the man finally left the house and police recovered a number of firearms from the property. No injuries were reported.

Andrew Knights, 47, has been handed a 15-month suspended sentence with a £1,000 fine and 200 hours of unpaid work for stealing and illegally storing thousands of rounds of ammunition and pesticide canisters which police recovered during searches of his home in Dereham, Norfolk. The former gamekeeper stole over 7,500 bullets and shotgun cartridges and kept another 5,200 rounds illegally, after his legally held firearms and ammunition had been confiscated because of a domestic incident and he was refused a new firearms certificate when his expired. As a gamekeeper, he was able to continue to obtain ammunition by lying to his employer about having had his firearms returned. He also stockpiled 36 canisters of rat and rabbit pesticide in his home, putting those in and around his home at serious risk of a fatal poisoning accident

Kevin Burgon, 53, has been jailed for 40 months for possessing a prohibited Beretta handgun and 49 rounds of nine-millimetre ammunition at his home in Hartlepool, County Durham. The licensed owner of a shotgun and rifles and military history enthusiast, had kept the gun illegally after the legal prohibition on handguns entered into force, and hid it from licensing officers each time they inspected his gun collection. The handgun and ammunition were found under a bed blanket while police were searching his new home for another person.

THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT MANY LEGAL GUN OWNERS AND OTHERS CLAIMING TO BE COLLECTORS, MILITARY HISTORIANS AND ENTHUSIASTS BECOME OBSESSED WITH GUNS. THEY BEHAVE IRRESPONSIBLY WITH THEIR GUNS, TREAT GUNS CASUALLY, FLOUT GUN LAW, COMPROMISE PUBLIC SAFETY AND BECOME INVOLVED IN ARMED CRIMINALITY

Kenneth Ward, 67, has successfully appealed to change the terms of a restraining order to allow him to return to his home in Chop Gate, North Yorkshire upon his release from jail. Ward was jailed for five years in 2011 after pleading guilty to 11 counts of exposure, three charges of possessing a prohibited firearm, and seven other firearms offences, after he carried out a nine-year campaign of harassment against his neighbour which included following her around her small-holding dressed only in his socks and boots; tapping on her windows and shouting at night; staring through her windows and climbing up a ladder to expose himself over the boundary wall; standing guard outside her property for hours dressed in army fatigues and armed with a rifle; leaving maggot-infested animal carcasses sourced from his brother's pest-control job on her land; and one incident in which he cornered the victim with a rifle and fired five shots as she fled. The harassment appeared to have begun after the victim erected a gate across a lane shared by their properties but Ward was not arrested until police searched his home after the victim showed them video footage of his behaviour and found a large arsenal of weapons including live ammunition; machine guns; a loaded Luger pistol from under his pillow; an aircraft cockpit with working, loaded guns; and grenades which had to be detonated by RAF explosives officers. The military historian, who ran a memorabilia museum from his home, was also been subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which prohibited him from coming with 200 metres of his neighbour but the order was amended in a recent hearing to enable him to go right up to the boundary of the victim's property. Due to the ruling the former police officer has felt compelled to leave her home and livestock despite investing large amounts of time and money into her small-holding.

Frank Wright, 67, has been handed a 16-week suspended sentence with one year of supervision and been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to contravening the terms of his firearms licence. Police firearms licensing officers found that the gun club director was storing ammunition in his bedroom rather than in a locked box in the loft of his home in Ashton-under-Lyme, Greater Manchester. Officers also discovered that the licensed gun owner had prohibited ammunition designed to expand on impact.

Joanne Morris, a former soldier and nurse, has been jailed for seven years for having an extremely large stash of ammunition and explosives at her home in Bloxwich, West Midlands. Police searched her property over three-and-a-half days and discovered seven sticks of plastic explosives, with 16 metres of safety fuse and a firing device; a home-made bomb; 1,990 rounds of live ammunition including 476 cartridges designed to explode upon impact; parts of a 12-bore shotgun; 15 detonators; chemical warfare protection suits and ration packs; two samurai swords; a harpoon; and several air pistols. Army bomb experts had to be called in to explode detonators found buried in the garden. The raid was carried out after border agency staff intercepted a package of gun parts sent from the USA to her address. Morris was said to have a long-standing obsession with weapons and to have collected the cache over the last 20 years, both when a soldier and a member of gun club, but also after she lost her firearms licence when she accidentally shot someone in the leg whilst cleaning a revolver in her bedroom.

Hugh Hunter, 58, has been jailed for five years for keep an arsenal of guns and ammunition at his home in Libberton, South Lanarkshire. Police were called after two hunters saw Hunter with what appeared to be a pistol, and officers recovered a number of illegal weapons including a loaded pistol, a banned air-cartridge revolver, a bolt-action rifle, a silencer and 3,500 bullets. The former army sniper and firearms instructor and legal shotgun owner claimed to have bought the weaponry in order to prevent others committing crimes and was planning to safely dispose of the guns.

James Graham has been handed a six-month suspended sentence, ordered to pay a £1,000 fine and £200 court costs after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in a public place and breaching the terms of his firearms and shotgun certificates in Bibury, Gloucestershire. The hotel chef was found to have a hunting rifle loaded with four bullets, another rifle and a 12-bore shotgun in the boot of his car when police searched him as he was leaving work, and a box of ammunition was found under the stairs in his house. He claimed that recent house moves, the illness of his wife, and the loss of his business had led him to store the weapons unsafely in his car. The judge left the decision of whether to confiscate the guns to the local Chief Constable.

A fatal accident inquiry has found that the the death of Gavin Donaldson, 37, who died after his bolt action rifle discharged on moorland near Oxton, Berwickshire, could have been avoided if the gun had been unloaded before it was put inside his vehicle. The gamekeeper suffered a fatal head wound when the gun went off as he went to get into the vehicle.

Ian Catley has been jailed for seven years and has had his gun destroyed for fatally shooting his friend with a shotgun at close range in a field in Cambridgeshire after the victim asked him to help him test a protective vest that he had recently bought from an army surplus store in the belief that it was bullet-proof. The plastic in the vest in fact pushed the pellets further into the victim's chest, severing an artery. The licensed gun owner tried to help the victim but he could not be resuscitated.

We know there is a direct correlation between the number of guns in society and the number of gun 'accidents'. In the United States where gun legislation is far less stringent than in the United Kingdom there are many fatal and many more non fatal 'accidental' shootings each year involving legal gun owners and gun enthusiasts. A memorial website exists to remember those Americans who have been killed 'accidentally' making it clear that while true 'accidents' are unavoidable many of the recurring incidents resulting in the deaths of innocent victims could have been avoided with more stringent gun legislation. For more information visit http://ohhshoot.blogspot.com

Military weapons are involved in incidents in non military situations when individuals are able to access them with criminal intent. These incidents raise public safety concerns regarding the storage, authorisation and administration processes which enable personnel to acquire military weapons. Military and ex military personnel are known to be at risk from debilitating Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and it is of great concern that military and ex military personnel known to be suffering from mental health issues are still able to access weapons.

An inquest into the death of Colonel Robert Shaw, 52, found that he shot himself dead in his car in Quenington, Gloucestershire due to the pressures he faced as deputy commander of his garrison. He was found dead with a rifle at his side by his wife after telling her he was going out to sell his weapons at a gun traders. He shot himself in the chest after becoming overwhelmed in the face of cuts that increased his responsibilities and worries about his career and financial prospects after his imminent retirement. He was on mild anti-depressants at the time of his suicide and was known to be anxious about a number of things, including the state of his relationship with his mother and children.

LEGAL GUN OWNERS - SUICIDES

Young men are particularly at risk from suicide and a gun stored in the home and easily accessible increases the risk.

For example:-

CHARLIE BOOTH A 16 year old boy attending Gad’s Hill School, and an NCO in the school’s Combined Cadet Force was found dead at his home in Cobham, Kent on 8th March 2013 shortly after being visited by Police regarding 'sexting'. An inquest concluded that Charlie took his own life. The gun used by Charlie to take his own life was a fifteenth birthday present from members of his family and was stored in his home.

Source: The Telegraph, 14 June 2013

JAMES LYON A young farmer 'in turmoil' shot himself dead on New Year's day following a car accident in which his girlfriend was injured. James received a text from the girl's ex-boyfriend saying her injuries were very serious (which was untrue) and a text from his girlfriend saying her father had banned them from seeing each other just before he took his own life.

Source, Daily Mail 4 August 2010

ALEXANDER CODRINGTON A 16-year-old shot himself while on the phone to Police after breaking up with his girlfriend. Alexander was the son of Sir Christopher Codrington, known to be involved in shooting activities and Alexander had access to guns.

Source: Daily Mail 3 August 2010

JOSHUA MAHER A 19-year-old suspected of stealing a few pounds from his grandparents used a shotgun from the farm he shared with them to kill himself. In February 2010 he drove from his home in Bristol to a lay-by in Cornwall where his body was found in a van. A verdict of suicide was recorded at the inquest.

Source: Daily Mail 12 August 2010

If you or someone you know has concerns about the behaviour or state of mind of a gun owner, or someone with access to a gun, please contact us (you can do this anonymously if you wish on 0771 9696 279) or call the police

Daily Mail, 9 April 2015

An inquest has found that John Knott, 71, unlawfully killed his wife Anne Knott, 70, before committing suicide with a legally held single-barrelled shotgun in the garage workshop of their home in Bosbury, Herefordshire. Police discovered their bodies inside the locked room after their daughter called at the house and could not locate them. John Knott had apparently been struggling to cope with his wife's worsening Alzheimer's disease and had brought her home after she spent just four days in a care home when he felt he was no longer able to care for her. He had also become increasingly concerned with attempting to oppose proposals to convert nearby agricultural land into a caravan site for travellers. Mr. Knott was a licensed shotgun owner. ( news.sky.com/story/1317682/elderly-couple-found-shot-dead-in-herefordshire )

Stephen Brown a 52 year old Norfolk farmer from East Harling, who had recently been under investigation regarding allegations of cruelty to pigs, has been found dead. Mr. Brown's injuries were said to have been caused by a shotgun wound to the head. Mr. Brown was believed to have been a licensed shotgun owner.

Source: EDP24, 14 February 2012

An unnamed 67 year old man from Gorsley, Herefordshire died as a result of firearms injuries in Gorsley on Christmas Eve. Police were called to a property on Linton Road after a firearm was discharged. They confirmed that no other people were involved and there were no suspicious circumstances. The man was known to be a legal gun owner.

Source:The Ross Gazette, 5 January 2012

Stephen Armstrong a 45 year old Managing Director from Mortimer took his own life with a shotgun in July 2011. Mr. Armstrong, who had previously attempted suicide following family bereavements and had recently had relationship difficulties with his partner, was found to have a level of alcohol in his blood just over twice the drink/drive limit. He had been a member of Happy Valley Gun Club and, despite suffering from depression, he continued to have access to two legally owned guns.
Source: www.getreading.co.uk/news 19 December 2011

Mark French a building contractor whose business failed in 2009, resulting in the loss of the family's home and cars, took his own life with a shotgun on May 27th 2011. The family initially took the keys to his gun cabinet out of the house, but later returned them. Despite having suffered from depression and unpredictable moods Mr. French continued to have access to a legally owned shotgun.
Source: Lynn News, l4 October 2011

Neil Wilkinson a 42 year old man from Chesterfield who was said to have become 'controlling and jealous' used a shotgun from a cabinet in his father's home to take his own life following the breakdown of a seven year relationship. Earlier Mr. Wilkinson set fire to his car and wrecked his house with a sledgehammer. He was found to have taken a significant amount of cocaine. Despite expressing suicidal thoughts Mr. Wilkinson continued to have access to a legally owned shotgun.

Source: The Star, 22 October 2011

Mike Gard a 37 year old Policeman took his own life with a licensed shotgun he used to shoot pheasants after his partner, the mother of his two children, confronted him about a text message on his phone which led her to believed he had formed a friendship with another person. His body was discovered on Blofield Heath on l9th April 2011 and the shotgun was found close by. Mike Gard was a licensed shotgun owner.
Source: Mail Online, 21 September 2011

Anthony Donnellan a 51 year old man who had drunk the equivalent of four times the drink driving limit took his own life by a fishing lake at Godmanchester in June 2011 using a shotgun from his gun safe. Mr. Donnellan left a note indicating he had been contemplating suicide for two years and expressing his love for his family. Mr. Donnellan was believed to have been a licensed gun owner.
Source News and Crier, 22 September 2011

Peter Noel Wentworth a 92-year-old retired farmer from Easingwold shot and killed himself in June. Reports indicate that the man, who was suffering from leukaemia, shot himself with a shotgun in poor but working condition.
Source: Gazette & Herald, 8 September 2011

Matthew Taffs a 41 year old roofing contractor from Dersingham, Norfolk, was found dead in his home on 29th April 2011. The Norfolk Coroner has called for a review of the firearm licence application process following revelations that Mr. Taffs still held a shotgun licence despite suffering from longstanding anxiety and depression and known to have a long history of alcohol abuse.
Source: Lynn News 23 August 2011

Andrew White, a 45 year old kitchen and bathroom fitter and father of two, took his own life after a drink fueled argument with his wife at their home on 29th July 2011. The inquest heard that the marriage had broken down, divorce proceedings had begun and Mr. White was about to move out of the marital home. His wife feared for her own life when Mr. White opened his gun cabinet. Mr. White was a licensed shotgun owner.
Source: Yorkshire Evening Post, 23 February 2011

David Le Cluse a 44 year old, Chairman of Croydon Athletic Football Club, and owner of a pest control business is thought to have taken his own life on 2nd October 2010 with a licenced small bore rifle. Mr. Le Cluse was said to have been distressed regarding financial issues.
Source: This is Local London, l4 February 2011

Alexander Berry a pensioner facing child sex abuse charges was found dead near his home in Holywood, Dumfries. A shotgun was lying next to him. Mr. Berry was known to be a former shotgun licence holder and past President of Cameronian Scottish rifles.

Source: Dumfries Standard 9 June 2010

Matthew Webster, a 23 year old Seaman on HMS Hurworth at Faslane Nuclear Submarine Base was required by his job to be armed. Matthew took his own life and no reason was given. The shooting was the second incident on the base within a few days. Earlier in the month two members of staff were detained and handed over to Royal Naval Police following reports of shots and an air gun was found in an accommodation block. Matthew is believed to have taken his own life with a legally held weapon.

Source: Argyll News, 23 February 2010

LEGAL GUN OWNERS CONTRIBUTE INDIRECTLY TO GUN CRIME

Legal Gun Owners contribute indirectly to gun crime when their guns are stolen and later used in crime. The more legal guns there are in communities the more frequent such events become.

For example:-

A five-figure sum of money, two shotguns, and ammunition have been taken from a house in Rochford, Essex. The gun cabinet was forced off of a wall in the property in order to gain access to the firearms. Police have appealed for information.

BBC News, 29 June 2013

There are particular concerns regarding the motives, levels of security and safe storage provided by dealers etc. involved in the gun trade.

For Example:-

The Bolton News, 9 September 2014

Cyrus Shahabi-Shack, 58, has been jailed for three years for possessing a Ruger .38 revolver, which had been illegally modified so it did not match the licence agreement, in Bolton, Lancashire. The former gun shop owner purchased the weapon legally, but police found it had been altered when they searched his business. Shahabi-Shack claimed that he had the gun in order to shoot deer humanely, but as a licensed firearms dealer he would have been aware of the need to keep firearms in their original condition due to the safety risks of using a weapon for a purpose for which it was not designed. Louis Larsson was also jailed for 20 months, to run concurrently with an existing jail sentence for fleeing to Cyprus whilst on licence from prison, for two charges of possessing ammunition, but was found not guilty of three counts of conspiracy to possess firearms.

LEGAL GUN OWNERS AT RISK FROM THEIR OWN GUNS

Herts & Essex Observer, 9 March 2015

A man in his 60's is reported to have accidentally shot himself in the thigh while out shooting pigeons with a shotgun in Saffron Walden, Essex. He was taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment of a suspected fracture.

INFER TRUST IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE GRANTING AND RENEWAL OF SHOTGUN CERTIFICATES TO INDIVIDUALS KNOWN TO HAVE SUBSTANCE AND ALCHOHOL ABUSE ISSUES.

Experienced and frequent shooters, and members of official shooting parties also fall victim to gun injuries during shooting activities.

Two men were recovering from leg wounds after being shot with a shotgun during an organised shoot near Dunning, Perthshire. The police stated that one member of the group accidentally discharged his gun. A man has been charged under the Firearms Act but has been cleared of failing to ensure his shotgun was safe. All those involved were members of a hunting party shooting geese

Source: BBC, 18 May 2010.

A man has survived after being blasted in the face with a shotgun as his home in Eastbourne, East Sussex. His injuries are said to be serious but not life threatening. The police are satisfied that nobody else was involved in the incident but have not established in the injuries were accidental or not. The man did have a licence for the shotgun.

Source: The Argus, 22 May 2010

Those storing guns in their homes find themselves at risk from their own guns in cases of robbery.

For example:-

Georghita Iordache has been jailed for nine years after admitting robbery. He and two other men threatened a farmer in Overseal, Derbyshire, with a knife and his own shotgun during the attack in February 2009. The men stole £10,000. The victim suffered a number of injuries and spent six days in hospital.

Source; BBC 2 February 2010

COST OF LEGAL SHOOTING TO THE PUBLIC

Legal shooting activities and activities of gun enthusiasts can have consequences which cause members of the public to be inconvenienced and endangered. Such incidents have cost implications which are ultimately borne by members of the public.

For example:-

Police launched a search for a man believed to be armed with a pistol near Portesham, Dorset. Officers said the man is a licensed firearms holder but went missing the morning of 21 September. A team of 40 individuals was deployed to search, with the primary fear reportedly for the man's own safety as opposed to that of the public.

Source: Dorset Echo 23 September 2011

LEGAL GUN OWNERS KILL RARE AND PROTECTED SPECIES

Sports shooters and their organisations claim that the activities of responsible organised licensed shooters benefits the countryside, wildlife and conservation. However there is evidence to suggest that licensed shooters do not always respect the law regarding the conservation of rare and protected species.

For example:

The RSPB has reported that a young hobby was shot and killed in Enfield, North London, last year. Hobbies are quite rare and the bird was shot by licensed gun holders who were in the area specifically to hunt the breed. It was the only case of a protected bird being shot in London last year.

Source: North London Today, 22 September 2010

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