To not want to see somebody shooting a gun from my kitchen window?

[Staffielove23]

We back onto a field and the farmer is literally going round with his gun shooting at ‘I’ve no idea what’. Is this legal to do this so close to somebody’s house? We can see him so we are in the firing line. I mean, I know he wouldn’t intentionally shoot as us but what if he gets us while aiming for something else, I know the farm was here before us, etc but I feel slightly unnerved as my children play out in the garden in the evening times with the lighter night, and there’s loads of other fields behind this one that don’t directly back onto people’s houses.

Oh good lord. You either have friends that overreact or they live in the middle of a forest.

Yes if you go wandering in the woods during hunting season it’s a good idea not to wear the hat with antlers and to wear blaze orange.

Most cities have ordinances that prohibits gunfire within city limits. So if they live anywhere other than rural they are overreacting.

Is your house infested with ants/maggots/mice/cockroach etc?

I feel like it might be after reading this.

I agree it is not normal to be shooting close to houses.

Your ownership of the land does not mean you are above the law, or have the right to cause fear, alarm and distress to people. The link stated it’s an offence under common law if someone is inconvenienced or disturbed.

Oh ffs, yes YABU. We farm, people’s houses back onto our land, but predation control is required year round. You could always move to somewhere surrounded by houses if someone else’s livelihood is of such concern to you.

But that’s not what’s happened - he’s on his own land and not interfering with you in any way whatsoever, it’s no different to him objecting to your children making noise in the garden.

It’s likely the farmer is using a pellet gun. You live in the country now. Of course a farmer will shoot on their land if needed.

Ridiculous comparison.

What sort of gun?

How close is he? Go and have a chat with the farmer directly if you’re worried - I’m sure shooting a child is the last thing he wants.

I would hate this so don't think you're being unreasonable. My father in law has an air rifle for rat control and I have asked he doesn't get it out when we visit as it unnerves me so much. He hasn't now for years.

It does interfere with us when he’s shooting uncomfortably close to our home where our children and animals live

it isn’t. You don’t like what he’s doing, that’s it. He has done nothing from your post to even suggest he is of any threat to you, I suggest you either educate yourself on the countryside you live it and how it is managed or go live somewhere less rural.

Long thing 🤷🏼‍♀️

I live in the country and always have done. Two of my houses have been next to farm land and I’ve never experienced anything like this and it’d really worry me. Accidental shootings aren’t uncommon, a family member of mine got shot dead at the age of 16 in that way. So you’re definitely not being unreasonable, and I’d definitely have a word with the farmer.

No. I take no issue with him shooting away from my home. I regularly hear gunshots and pay little to no attention. Just don’t want it ending up in my garden, or uncomfortably close to.

He’s not dicking about with guns though, he’s in his field shooting vermin.

Yabu and yanbu.

You sound a bit ignorant of the reality of country life... farmers do shoot for practical reasons. I could hear shooting today, from nearby farms.

Yanbu to be concerned about safety. Everyone should be concerned about weapon safety.

Have you actually had a conversation with the farmer OP?

It might put your mind at rest.

Shooting is also a high skilled task - gun discipline will be far higher than you'll see on TV. They aren't going to shoot at your kids in your garden, they are professionals!

How do you possibly know this? You are saying that no one with a gun could possibly be dangerous or incompetent!

OP, depending on the lie of the land and the distances involved YANBU. It is not safe to shoot close to a boundary or to point the gun in the direction of people (or non-target species). This is true even for air rifles.

We're farmers, but most of our land isn't near anyone. But apart from very occasionally the rifle is not taken out. Are they crop farmers? They could be scaring off crows. Can you see his gun? It might be an automatic 'crow banger' it goes off to scare the crows and sounds like a gun.

Do you know who owns the land? I can totally understand not approaching a stranger with a gun. But maybe try and contact them and ask them to send a text if they are shooting near your house. I wouldn't have a problem with doing that. Just asked DH he said he would no issue with a person asking for a little bit of warning before he goes out with the rifle. (Diff story if they told him he couldn't)

Everything I have read seems to suggest that my right to feel safe in my home and garden trumps his right to shoot. I will wait until morning and phone non emergency police for advice. He probably just needs a reminder of his legal responsibilities not to cause alarm or inconvenience.

I will not approach someone whilst they are in possession of a firearm.

No one actually knows who is shooting or what they are shooting. There are lots of assumptions being made and a huge amounts of bosom hoiking.

i grew up on a farm and rarely ever saw anyone shooting. Silage was still grown and cattle fed. I now live on the edge of a farm and have once seen shooting. That was pigeons, not rabbits. The barley still grows and the silage still grows. Not all farms use firearms. It’s not “country life” it’s one way of living country life. Other ways are possible.

OP needs to have a chat with the person doing the shooting to work out frequency and reason. Then she can decide whether there is a case to be annoyed or not

Don't be an idiot 🙄

Or are you convinced he has it slung over his shoulder at all times, like a Wild West movie?