DH has bought DS (15) an air rifle

[Fiendishlie]

They went to a 'gun club' for some sort of taster session. Of course they have come home with a £140 air rifle. I am furious on so many levels; guns, money, lack of consultation (pretty sure I've said no in the past).
What should I do? I've stormed off in disgust and taken to my bed. DH will no doubt do his usual trick of turning it round so that he's angry with me for daring to be upset.

I'm not discounting anyone's feelings, nor am I immature, but stomping off to one's room is the behaviour of a teen, not an adult.

Well tidydancer you must think me appalling then as we took ds1 (9) to be measured up for a shotgun recently. He'll have to grow a bit.

Yes, I'm afraid I do bronze. I do not agree with guns for children.

That is my opinion, and I fully accept that you have a different one. Life would be boring if we all agreed all the time.

What do you do then SoupDragon, should you find yourself pissed off with the DH? Glower at him from the other end of the settee? Bang around in the kitchen? I hardly think it's childish or immature to mumsnet from the bedroom.

Unless the person is so red hot with anger that it's best to remove themselves from the situation before they do something they might regret SoupDragon?

Teenagers might stamp off in a strop, but stamping off doesn't mean you're not doing it for mature/responsible reasons.

So long as no shooting of animals is involved, and the adult is always acting responsibly and there when the gun is being used, there shouldnt be any problem really.

I grew up in a rural area where guns were used to shoot vermin and protect livestock. But my god, people were bloody careful about storage and usage.

The area I come from has also produced competitors in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, in shooting. They all belonged to respected gun clubs and again were incredibly careful about storage and usage and the rules.

It is such a serious matter, and I think it's wrong to foist such a fait accompli on a family's mother given that this mother - the OP - is not happy about it for understandable reasons.

ilovesooty, you are right, it is for DS, it's just that if it were 'investigated' of course they would say that DH is the official owner. I'm not sure how much police interest there is in air rifle ownership, do people get prosecuted for this sort of thing?

I taught other people how to do Rifle shooting, with a permit, at 16.

I think YABU.

Linerunner I agree. I have no problem with Gun use if done properly but I would not be happy with the dh in case as he did It on a whim and without consulting his wife. Neither are good pointers towards responsible gun ownership.

Is your 'YABU' to the OP just confined to her concerns about her son having a gun Fleur, or does it also cover how her DH went behind her back to get it?

Have you been downstairs yet OP?

I'm sure there are a lot of MNs who'd give their right arm to MN in peace in their bedrooms instead of having their ankle biters tearing about disturbing them

"went behind her back"

Really? He cant make purchases without her express permission?

i would be enraged!

there is no way i would have a weapon in the house.

Just how is this acceptable without consultation?

Not if they're skint.

And not over something with so much significance.

Unless you're pretending guns aren't a significant item and there's no more to them than the materials they're made from?

Agrees with LineRunner. My grandmother taught me to shoot. She and my grandfather also taught me huge respect for guns, their care, their safety, and their proper use. Often they would leave the back door open - they never ever left the gun cupboard unpadlocked in three places. Guns are dangerous - very very dangerous. Used properly where respect for them is taught somewhere like a gun club is the only place to learn about them (unless you happend to be farmers). They should have consulted but they are doing it properly. It will also provide a sporting interest and a discipline for your son to follow which may be very good at keeping him off the streets and from mucking about with stuff he shouldn't be mucking about with. (Thinks of London gun and knife crime).

No-one should bring a gun into their home without their spouse's prior knowledge, no.

squeakytoy, imo, the most trouble can occur when an adult is not around,even if there is good storage.imo most trouble can occur if he chooses and wants to use it with other lads or girls his age.imo , if he is allowed to keep it, you need to have several conversations about safe usage quickly.Did it come with all sorts of instructions for example.

i would be enraged!

there is no way i would have a weapon in the house

Right no sharp knives in your house then? Totally depends on how you use a gun - shooting targets is no worse than darts.

And no I don't have to fuck off thanks!

I don't have ankle biters anymore, DS at 15 is the youngest . My time is my own now, for the most part.
No. I've not gone downstairs yet. He knows I am mad. He's watching motor sport on tv and I wouldn't normally go down until around 9pm.
I'm not skint, but DH is off to the USA next week, which will cost a fortune, and DD has just cost us £525 for a fine that we probably won't see again (massive whole other story, as you can imagine)

you don't have to fuck off, nothingoldcanstay; it's a free country and a free forum.
I just want you to

Do you know if your DH and DS are only intending to use it at the gun club?

actually no, there aren't any sharp knives in my house. Nothing sharper than a bread knife. i don't have a use for them.

and cooking knives at least have a purpose - there is no purpose in having a gun at home.

and i didn't tell you fuck off.

It's alright edless, I told her to fuck off when she said I should 'get a grip'

i know a good few lads who got into trouble (with school and police) with air rifles.

i wonder retrospectively at the sense of the parents that allowed them near such objects.

i was going to add 'mores the pity' .....