Don't anyone dare mess with my daughter

Originally Posted by speedplay

Nice shooting.

Great seeing that its only been 4 weeks too


I'm guessing its a number 8 target rifle at 25 metres?

Once she gets to grips with the breathing, she will be spot on.

I've got my training manuals in a pdf if she wants to look at it sometime, I'll mail it over.

Yes as to all - and thank you.

Sophie now wants a gun for her 12th birthday. She started shooting at the start of this school term, so that's more like 6 weeks I spose. I have no idea where it comes from. I was in the Army Cadet force and I was pretty dreadful with a rifle.

What should a responsible parent do??? I have no problem at all with her handling guns but whether I want her (or me) to own one - undecided. Would I get a gun licence? I don't know the first thing about them

Originally Posted by Ed

What should a responsible parent do??? I have no fproblem at all with her handling guns but whether I want her (or me) to own one - undecided. Would I get a gun licence? I don't know the first thing about them

As far as I see it, target shooting is a sport and the rifle is the tool used to play that sport. You can kill people with a cricket bat but it doesnt stop people buying one.

If you decide to get one, the best thing you can do is speak to the local police and they can guide you through the steps with regard to rules and regs. If you want to keep it at home you will need a safe that is bedded into something solid and immovable, such as a concrete pillar. Most rifle clubs however allow (sometimes for a fee) for you to keep the rifle on site in their armouries

[Bluepete]

Ed,

I'd be guided by the school.

Pete

[ophic]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

2p piece is about the size of a rabbits head for a clean kill.

Except I've seen rabbits still running with half their head missing. Only they go round in circles cos half their body doesn't work.

Originally Posted by Ed

Yes as to all - and thank you.

Sophie now wants a gun for her 12th birthday. She started shooting at the start of this school term, so that's more like 6 weeks I spose. I have no idea where it comes from. I was in the Army Cadet force and I was pretty dreadful with a rifle.

What should a responsible parent do??? I have no problem at all with her handling guns but whether I want her (or me) to own one - undecided. Would I get a gun licence? I don't know the first thing about them

Everything when used in its intended purpose is safe.

You Dont need a license for an air rifle, but She would not be able to own it due to her age.

A firearms license is difficult to get, although if you are a member of a club its not so difficult, Sophie couldn't have one because of her age.

[Bluepete]

Ed, there's lots of info out there, http://www.basc.org.uk/en/ for one, and you local constabulary's info page http://www.westmercia.police.uk/firearmslicensing/

As others have said, you could get an air rifle for her to use, but you would be the owner. As for a .22 "Rifle", the club surely have their own to be used. Maybe save buying one for a while until she is certain of the hobby.

Pete

Pete

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Ed

Yes as to all - and thank you.

Sophie now wants a gun for her 12th birthday. She started shooting at the start of this school term, so that's more like 6 weeks I spose. I have no idea where it comes from. I was in the Army Cadet force and I was pretty dreadful with a rifle.

What should a responsible parent do??? I have no problem at all with her handling guns but whether I want her (or me) to own one - undecided. Would I get a gun licence? I don't know the first thing about them

I wouldn't consider FAC myself for this*. But an air rifle would fit the bill and is a great learning tool.

I take it you have read up on relevant laws about different firearms licenses?

I'd definitely agree with Pete about giving it a couple more months before considering FAC and a .22LR BUT wouldn't worry about buying her a cheap air rifle/pistol.
(those CO2 capsule powered pistols are a good laugh for plinking cans and stuff in the garden)



*Because it's such a PITA here to find anywhere to shoot, you don't mention she has any interest in hunting, so you'd be taking the gun to a club. In which case there is no point keeping one at home.
Better bet if she is dead set on .22LR then join a club, my local club were happy for me to buy and sell my gun under their name. It was club "property" in that it was on their ticket and never removed from the club, so I didn't need a license, but it was my gun in that noone else used it and d*cked about with the sights/put 200 rounds through it and didn't clean it etc.

Well done Sophie... a fantastic achievement x

Thanks everyone - on Sophie's behalf. I'll do some research on the area.

Chris - yes she'd like to go hunting - she's not squeamish at all, for example quite likes it when the cats bring in a mouse or a bird. Another consideration that I hadn't thought of.

[yorkie_chris]

Good stuff, I'd definitely recommend BASC membership.

Hunting with .22LR is a right pain in the rse. Best hunting tool for around here (paranoid coppers and rsehole civs who go all faint at the sight of a gun!) is air rifle with suppressor. Shotgun is too noisy, we keep getting the coppers turning up in force because some bloody muppet thinks we're having WW3 every time we send a couple of clays up...

The best thing I can think of is for her to join a local shooting club, no club will mind if you go along and it is the best way to meet people who could supervise her on a shoot. There are quite a few small bore rifle clubs around, also sporting clay clubs tend to attract more sporting shooters than target shooters.

The other way is simply get her an air rifle and find some land where you can get written permission for her to shoot.


P.S the cats will make great hunting practice for her