FFS and it turns out he'd only recently got his gun license reinstated after having it suspended by police

[DelicateFuckingFlower]

Unfuckingbelievable

Along with reports that his family had asked police to do a welfare check on him due to concerns about his mental health, it looks like opportunities to prevent this appalling outcome were missed

Erm, I qualify for pip due to asd and anxiety. I’m perfectly able to be responsible and don’t shoot people.

I don’t think this person should have had a gun licence. But you can’t go round making sweeping and discriminatory assumptions.

My DS gets PIP due to autism and anxiety, he would be as safe as anyone around guns as he is kind, gentle and very cautious and sensible. It makes me angry that people think he might be anything like this individual on the basis of his health and care needs.

@NinaBallerinaShoes

What do you think will stop a person getting hold of an illegal firearm and going on the rampage?

Good gun control laws help prevent this. Good gun control laws mean that there are fewer weapons in the community, and those that are, are more likely to be kept in secure locations by responsible people.

Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates is worth a read.

I think the concern was more about the anger management course, and not autism.

Ridiculous that someone with anger management issues is allowed a gun licence. I don’t agree with the point about qualifying for PIP meaning you shouldn’t be able to get one, my FIL gets PIP for a physical disability.

I do think mental health should be taken into consideration though. It may seem discriminatory but people with mental health issues are more likely to commit or attempt suicide. So allowing someone a gun licence knowing they have mental health issues is increasing the risk or them harming themselves more than anything.

Why does anyone need a gun? I really don't get it 😔

@Meltinthemiddle

Why does anyone need a gun? I really don't get it 😔

Some people genuinely need them for work, but I don’t get why anyone needs one for sport. Or if people want to shoot for sport it should be through a registered gun club with all guns kept on their premises IMO.

I agree. I really can't understand why he would be allowed to have a gun and for what purpose. Its just so sad.

The PIP comment wasn’t great tbh but agree with your OP generally, there’s no way this guy should have had a gun licence.

@wheresmymojo

I mean...if we're going to stop people with MH problems or autism having gun licences, can I suggest we stop men having gun licences?

The amount of discrimination is roughly the same but at least it would actually be successful.

Fantastic idea.

OP meant if you qualify for PIP due to a mental health issue. Not in general.

The thing to focus on is this IT-driven incel movement, and why it even exists. Also that another mass-shooter has killed his mother first, incel or not, it seems a common theme.

Seeing as we're on Mumsnet, thought it might be a good place to mention this, being a DM of a DS19 myself, my concerns are based in reality.

OP meant if you qualify for PIP due to a mental health issue. Not in general.

And she included asd in that. It’s also a huge generalisation ‘mental health issue’ is such a broad term with no indication of how it affects someone.

His mum tried to get him help and tried to get his gun license taken away and got nowhere.

If mental health services are anything like my area theyre useless. In fact theyre getting away with murder due to the sheer amount of suicides. It's horrific. And most of them have been turned away...... One family resorted to putting an appeal out for people to go fishing with their family member to stop him from killing himself. He'd already tried that day and was sent home a few hours later.

I don't know what people have to do to be taken seriously but time and again we see extreme cases that have been badly let down and ignored.

I thought YouTube had taken down all his videos? Disgraceful to be sharing any part of them.

Personally I don't see why any civilian except a vet and a farmer need a gun at all. For any reason.

I'm autistic, I'm a member of the Sealed Knot and hold a shotgun licence so I can use a musket for reenactment.

@MobyDicksTinyCanoe

His mum tried to get him help and tried to get his gun license taken away and got nowhere.

If mental health services are anything like my area theyre useless. In fact theyre getting away with murder due to the sheer amount of suicides. It's horrific. And most of them have been turned away...... One family resorted to putting an appeal out for people to go fishing with their family member to stop him from killing himself. He'd already tried that day and was sent home a few hours later.

I don't know what people have to do to be taken seriously but time and again we see extreme cases that have been badly let down and ignored.

If the government would give them more funding, restructure training for mental health nurses and give fair pay to other HCPs within that realm, perhaps they would be able to help the people that need it. I don't know if people think there's someone somewhere that takes calls for helps and just says nah for fun. The reality is that all MH services are at absolute breaking point, even if millions was thrown at it now there isn't the qualified staff (and you need them in this environment) to widen services. Its very challenging to access care because there is zero give in the system, those already receiving it do so with reduced staff- which is dangerous for everyone involved.

The NHS will be blamed, no doubt the trust will be asked many questioned and a witch hunt will ensue, but sure as hell we won't see any further investment or policies which help to effect change.

@Menstrualcycledisplayteam

He had a fight with a couple of "youths" and was reported to police. They suspended his gun license and then the guy "agreed to anger management if he could get the gun license back".Totally ridiculous. Was a box ticking exercise.

’Personally I don't see why any civilian except a vet and a farmer need a gun at all. For any reason.’

Agree

@TheLovelinessOfDemons

I'm autistic, I'm a member of the Sealed Knot and hold a shotgun licence so I can use a musket for reenactment.

Not because of the autism but in general - do you store yourself own musket or are they stored securely on an organisation level?

@TheLovelinessOfDemons

I'm autistic, I'm a member of the Sealed Knot and hold a shotgun licence so I can use a musket for reenactment.

And I would hope you would be prepared to give up that privilege so we can all live in a safer society where gun licences are not issued for anything but essential purposes - eg vet/farmer.

"I can use a musket for re-enactment". Which is absurd. You and your colleagues are playing at being Civil War soldiers and you should be using appropriate toys. There is no rational reason for any of you to hold a firearms licence for this purpose. Just more male posturing.