Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

my neighbour has applied for gun license what can i say

27 replies

ALWgreenwich · 05/07/2012 09:44

To set the scene, we live on the edge of a small town by the sea. We are in a property that was a farm but is now 2 semi detached houses each with an acre of land. We are not isolated, there is an estate of houses at the end of the drive.
Our neighbours are kind of hillbillies; static caravan on site now clad wood, extended family moving in and out,, 7 people living in 2 bed house, 4 dogs, 5 cars, no planning permission for changes to their house. kids up until all hours, eat 3 bags of crisps a day, don't wear seatbelts.....
The dad, who is a nice man, but told me the other day he is applying for a license to have a gun so he can shoot rabbits on his field. My problem is that our children go round to their house frequently and what is to stop his kids learning how to get in to their gun closet (assuming they have one), and then when left alone in the house for a minute (my kids are 5 and 6) showing my kids and the inevitable happens?
To me it is too risky and completely irresponsible to have te guns in the house with young kids around, just for fun. It is not necessary to shoot the rabbits for vermin poses as he uses the land just to keep horses on, he is doing it purely for sport. I am also not happy with the thought of guns being on the other side of the wall from us. He also has an alcohol problem by the wa, nice natured not worried about him going postal more that he is lackadaisical, just too haphazard to ensure his kids can never access his guns.
Any tips?

OP posts:
itsatiggerday · 05/07/2012 09:46

The police will come round to interview him (and on renewal if he is awarded one) so if you're really worried, I would contact your local police station and ask them if you can give a reference outlining your concerns and whether that will be taken into account.

bronze · 05/07/2012 09:48

We live on a main road and dh has a gun license. The police will assess him, they don't just give them out to anyone

paradisechick · 05/07/2012 09:50

Don't let your children play in their house and that solves that problem.

prettybird · 05/07/2012 09:50

As a requirement of the gun licence, he also has to provide evidence as to how the guns will be secured in a gun cabinet.

WheresVinick · 05/07/2012 09:53

If he's that lacksadaisical, he probably won't even get through the forms required! He'll need a character reference and all sorts.

Re: gun cabinet... The police will want to see it properly installed before he gets a licence. Of course they won't be on hand every minute to tell him to lock the rifle away, but he will lose his licence if he is careless and gets caught leaving his gun outside the cabinet unnecessarily.

On the other hand, if he wants to shoot rabbits, all he needs is an air rifle for which no licence is required. I would talk to your kids honestly about guns. It's the only way to keep them safe.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 05/07/2012 09:53

If you are worried, don't let your children go round there.

If you think he's irresponsible, then I don't understand why you let your dc go there so frequently anyway.

There's nothing wrong with him applying for a gun licence. I wouldnt want one in my house, but I can't say I know for a fact that my children have never been in houses where guns are present. How do I know if one of the parents of a school friend has a gun? I don't, all I know is that I trust the parent who is looking after my child.

SecretPlace · 05/07/2012 09:53

Im against guns anyway. We do not need them. And shooting rabbits for sport is disgusting.

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do.

Also, I eat 3 bags of crisp sometimes am I a hillbilly :o

Popoozle · 05/07/2012 09:54

Wow - 3 packets of crisps a day made me Grin. Not taking the piss OP, it just doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the info Grin.

On a more serious note, I don't think I would want my alcoholic next door neighbour keeping a gun in his house either. My next door neighbour also shoots rabbits Sad & keeps what I've been told is an air rifle (as opposed to a shotgun), but is an otherwise sensible type with teenage children, rather than little ones. I know there are no guarantees that he won't have a bad day and decide to go on a rampage - but I doubt it.

I would also make the Police aware of your concerns - anonymously if you prefer. I would think they'd have to take it into consideration surely?

Blueoctopus · 05/07/2012 09:55

I would say if he has applied for a licence then he can't be all that irresponsible as there are, I'm sure a few people who "get hold" of a gun without a licence.
I do however understand your concerns and I would stop my children visiting if I were you. You could still have the children round to you and allow yours to play in their garden where you can see them.

WorraLiberty · 05/07/2012 09:58

I must admit my coffee came out through my nose at the "3 packets of crisps a day"....the crisp eating bastards! Grin

But seriously, Google yourself up on the criteria and requirements regarding getting a gun licence in the UK.

It's really not that easy.

Original poster
ALWgreenwich · 05/07/2012 10:14

Ha! Yes in retrospect my crisp comment looks very irrelevant...! That's just a vent as my kids play out with them, eat unlimited crisps just before tea time then won't eat tea when they do come home. But that's just a minor pet peeve in comparison to the rather more serious issue at stake!
Thank you all for comments...

OP posts:
Queenofcake · 05/07/2012 10:20

My Dad inherited an ancient hunting type of gun (rifle looking) from his Dad and it was his grandfathers before that.

He used it once 20 years ago to shooting pheasants somehwere but he by law has to removed the pins (whatever they are) and ammo. Not only does it need to be locked up it alco has to be chained.

These are conditions of his gun licence.

I know there is no guarantee that a gun will be kept like this 100% of the time but this man does have his own kids and the police are entitled to pop in at any time and check the conditions of the gun licence are being adhered to.

eurochick · 05/07/2012 10:22

Gun licences are not given out willy nilly. If you have serious concerns (I mean the alcoholism rather than the crisp eating...) then inform the police.

The guns will have to be kept in a locked cabinet secured to a masonry wall. The police will want to see this before the licence is granted and will take other considerations (criminal records check, reports of alcoholism) into account.

Stop your children visiting if you are concerned.

GrahamTribe · 05/07/2012 10:23

Don't let the children play in the house of someone with an alcohol problem and a penchant for killing creatures would be my way of dealing with it. I'd also call the local bobby round and have a chat with him about what I could do to forewarn the police/voice my concerns.

Toughasoldboots · 05/07/2012 10:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eurochick · 05/07/2012 10:27

"intemperate habits" is one of the reasons listed here for refusing a licence:

www.met.police.uk/firearms_licensing/faqs.html

Pixieonthemoor · 05/07/2012 11:56

They are pretty strict about granting licences and will even contact this man's GP so they may well become aware if alcohol is an issue. If you are still worried, however, contact your local firearms officer at the police station and have a chat with them. They will be able to allay your fears and you can also mention your concerns.

Petsinmypudenda · 05/07/2012 11:59

You clearly don't like him and his family and think he is irresponsible so why do you let your kids go round?

Gun licenses are very tightly controlled. All sorts of checks will be done first

WorraLiberty · 05/07/2012 12:00

That's just a vent as my kids play out with them, eat unlimited crisps just before tea time then won't eat tea when they do come home

Then that's your issue as a parent to teach your children they're not allowed to do that.

Seriously though, I wouldn't worry too much about this guy getting his licence.

If he passes the stringent tests, he'll have to adhere to the same rules as everyone else.

Sallyingforth · 05/07/2012 12:03

Certainly tell the police about his crisp alcohol problem. No-one like that should be allowed near Walkers shotguns.

Viviennemary · 05/07/2012 12:10

Can't see how them eating three bags of crisps a day affects you. Still. But I can see that you'd be worried about the gun licence. I'd hate it. Even if you don't let your kids go to their house it's still not safe if he is as careless as you say he is. I would ring up the local police station and have a word about your concerns. And if you're kids or anybody's kids for that matte play in the woods or the land round your house and he's busy shooting rabbits. No. It's not on.

Birdsgottafly · 05/07/2012 12:11

"And shooting rabbits for sport is disgusting."

Not as bad as releasing Mixy into the rabbit population and if he eats them,or feeds them to his dogs then not a probllem.

I would rather give a rabbit a sporting chance then see an animal go through our meat trade.

I have a shot gun licence so does my DP, we stick to air rifles these days, though. Personallyi would rather use working JR's and ferrets to cull the population of rodents, than poisons and traps.

Rabbits do a lot of damage when left with no predators.

quoteunquote · 05/07/2012 12:38

You can have a gun license, if you have a static caravan, the gun cabinet must be bolted to the caravan chassis,usually goes under the bed,

each person on the property who has a licence, must keep their own guns in their own cabinet , no one can know where you keep your key for your gun cabinet key,

you need a doctor's note to get a licence, which is why people who have social lives that are based around gun sports, are reluctant to access doctors help for depression, and other mental health problems, as they would lose their doctor support note, a rather unfortunate catch 22 situation.

topbannana · 05/07/2012 12:46

He will not get a licence to have a shotgun in a caravan (we are in a temporary mobile home and our guns are on permanent lIan to a friend) though I take it he also lives in a house from OP's info?
He would not need a licence for an air rifle and can keep it quite happily propped up in the kitchen or wherever he chooses. A shotgun will have to be locked in an approved cabinet that has been inspected by the police.
If you are concerned then contact your forces firearms department and have a chat (I have done it myself and they are very understanding) Talk to your kids about guns, forewarned is forearmed. DS is 8 and NEVER "plays" guns. He also helps DH clean the guns and comes to the shoot with us so has great respect for guns.
And if you are still concerned then stop your kids visiting. You may come across as overly protective or a "townie" but better that than the worry of what could be happening.

anyadvice01 · 05/07/2012 12:49

I would contact the local police and speak to them, tell them he has an alcohol problem and that children do go on that field. If they give a gun license to someone with an alcohol problem and someone gets hurt they are for the high jump as well so will take your concern seriously.
I remember near us there were a couple of hicks who had a gun license and had permission to shoot rabbits, but they used to shoot over the cycle paths and walkways. Complained to police and they got them removed.