Children holding firearms licenses

[TotorosCatBus]

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/19469149.100-children-hold-gun-licences-thames-valley-area/

Can someone educate me why children hold gun licenses in the UK?

There's a SEVEN year old somewhere in the UK with one

I understand a 17 yo with one but there's 247 under 13s with a shotgun certificate.

@TotorosCatBus

Do you mean teen as in 16/17 or 13/14? Why would a 13yo need a firearm ?

As well as the other examples people have given, if you are a starter for England Athletics you need a firearms licence once you get to a certain level. It's unlikely that you'd be under 18 and certainly not 13, but not impossible that you would eg be 17.

I've taught a 6 year old to shoot. Clay pigeon and DTL!

He also shot on a local pheasant shoot.

All supervised by his dad.

He's a bloody good shot and will probably be very competitive in a few years.

Most shoot schols say 12 years old

Many clubs have kids days when members take younger kids through gun safety and a round of clays. Youngest I have seen was 5 (sister of the boy I taught) , and she was bloody good too! Very steady and seemed to guage the flight of the clay very well. I hope she continues.

@NeonDreams

I thought for SURE this was going to be about America. I am shocked that children in the UK, of all places, can own a firearm. What must their parents be thinking/teaching them?

Sorry, I nearly choked on a malteser reading that

I'm a little surprised they're issued to under 10s considering under 10s can't be charged with a crime. But I guess otherwise the person who does have the relevant certificate could be breaking the law?

But yeah. Sports or helping with farm work, I would assume.

They shoot as a sport including clay pigeon shooting. Not my cup of tea but have a friend whose competed in Paralympics of rifle/shotgun

My family bred gun dogs and my cousins and I all held shotgun licences from about the age of 13, although a friend of mine had one at about 11, I think (farming family).

I don't really know the law these days, but I think it would be quite difficult to use a shotgun below that age - they're quite unwieldy and you have to be reasonably strong to manage the kickback.

You do have to jump through multiple hoops to get a licence, and we were never, EVER allowed to handle or be around guns unsupervised - my uncle was the keyholder to the gun cabinet and to this day, I have no idea where he kept the keys (no guns anymore, we're all townies now!).

We were also taught incredibly stringent gun safety from before we were even allowed to touch a gun, and if there was the slightest hint that you weren't keeping your nose clean, all privileges were revoked instantly - we knew from a very young age that these were potentially lethal weapons and to be handled with the utmost respect.

They tend to use a .410 or 28/20 bore.

And I learned early that a caring hand on the shoulder behind the gun kept them upright

You just have to set up the trap to make it an easy shot, cos hitting anything with a .410 takes skill!

I don’t see a problem with it personally. They’re likely to be kids who do shooting as a sport, not teenage gangsters!

Not RTFT

I'd imagine shooting as a sport. Our Olympic shooting team started young no doubt.

Thames valley isn't very countryside but elsewhere there are other types of shooting for sport.

The ones with the licences are very unlikely to be anything to do with guns on the streets in the hands of criminals.

My ds learned to shoot clays early. every lesson includes safety aspects. He knows how to clean, store and maintain his gun safely, the laws around licensing, usage and transport. Any sign of him taking short cuts or not acting responsibly and his coach would give him hell.
I'd far rather he knows how to deal with such things safely.

Topics like this always highlight to me how a number of those used to city life don't understand what goes on in rural settings. Shooting is not unusual where I live.

@namesnamesnamesnames

Topics like this always highlight to me how a number of those used to city life don't understand what goes on in rural settings. Shooting is not unusual where I live.

Me and DH both grew up in very rural communities & DH shot competitively for years at uni & stuff. This chat has brought back so many memories (nice ones). 16 yrs in the city and I am still annoyed we can’t shoot the muntjac that wreck our gardens

I have zero issues with young people having licences so that they can take part in competitive sports. I also don't have any issues with young people shooting animals, as long as said animals are eaten. I think UK gun laws are pretty good.

Pony club tetrathlon includes target shooting after a certain age. The younger ones throw a beanbag in a hoop which sounds pretty boring. My dad used to take me to a range when I was younger. I never knew where the keys to the gun safe were and never once saw the gun out of it at home. I guess he must have cleaned it but not with us about.

I'm shocked someone under 18 could have a firearms license but now it's been explained I can understand the need for SOME children to have them. However I don't think I was like any of my dc having one until they were older. At 7 ide be worried they wouldnt understand exactly what they were doing and how they differ from the toy guns they have.

@Caramellatteplease

Do historical re-enactors need them?

Yes, I hold both shotgun and black powder certificates as an English Civil War re-enactor, but you are not allowed on the field of battle under you are 16. And even then you are likely to be given a non- firing musket

The kids I know that shoot are, with a gun in their hand, the calmest and sensible you could meet. They know absolutely how to behave, and know absolutely they'll be benched if they tit about.

A shoot is a great day out whether you're a spectator or participant and we aren't particularly rural.

I had a shotgun from about age 9. Used to make my own cartridges from younger.

Not a mass murderer- dont own one now

Was a pretty good shot at clays. Its a sport.

@pinkyredrose

Sorry clueless here

Probably best not to offer opinions on something you know nothing about.

This is Mumsnet. I though it was the rule ?

@horseymum

Pony club tetrathlon includes target shooting after a certain age. The younger ones throw a beanbag in a hoop which sounds pretty boring. My dad used to take me to a range when I was younger. I never knew where the keys to the gun safe were and never once saw the gun out of it at home. I guess he must have cleaned it but not with us about.

Both my kids did pony club Tetrathlon and shot since the age of 8. They totally respect and understand gun safety. DS 13 is starting clay pigeon shooting in the new year and also goes beating with His dad. DS also owns a small gun for target practice. DP has a gun license too