Making the news today....

[Johnsond]

47 minutes ago, Youngstu said:

I don't think I said at any point that I had no knowledge of the tragic events leading to tighter restrictions on firearms but my knowledge of those restrictions beyond not being allowed to have automatic weapons, having to have firearm licences and having to keep firearms in appropriate cabinets was pretty limited. All of my previous shooting was done through cadets a long time ago so my involvement with anything involving paperwork was very limited, and I didn't have to produce my birth certificate when I bought the second cheapest air rifle in the local agricultural store!! 

I had no idea that pretty much all handguns were illegal, I had just assumed that specialist target weapons were still permitted. 

As opposed to being excessively PC I was just trying to gain a bit more understanding of the issues that you and others have with the restrictions and what could be to come without appearing to have preconceived judgements on the issues. Like I said I have no issues with their use for sport, hunting or pest control, but it's not something that I do or have ever bothered looking into. 

You didn’t know pistols were illegal in the UK?? 
Shooters in the UK have never been allowed automatic weapons, pre Hungerford SEMI auto full bore were legal for certain competitive disciplines. 

[daveatdave]

6 hours ago, Jamespepperpot said:

I think the problem with the UK and its relationship with hunting is that its always been associated with the upper classes and something thats not available to everyone. I don't think the general public are entirely against things like deer stalking which put food on the table and from most of the conversations I've had with people they are easily convinced that its a perfectly acceptable thing to do if you're planning to eat it.

The idea that the shooting community stick together and be wary of things like fox hunting getting banned is a little bizarre. It doesn't relate to real hunting in the slightest. If we want to carry on being able to own firearms and go hunting the community needs to realise that the general public need to see the positive side to these things. The problem with fox hunting and pheasant shooting is that it puts the whole of 'hunting' in a bad light so clinging on to these isn't doing us any favours.

James you do not know the anti hunt lot if hound hunting goes all shooting and fishing is on there agender next and they will hammer it just like they are doing with the hounds now and they will not know what has hit them 

[Jamespepperpot]

7 hours ago, daveatdave said:

James you do not know the anti hunt lot if hound hunting goes all shooting and fishing is on there agender next and they will hammer it just like they are doing with the hounds now and they will not know what has hit them 

I dont agree, that's just the typical fieldsports britain/BASC mentality. There are enormous amounts of scientific backing and ecological reasons why deer are managed in the UK. Its something that's never been so important, especially in the south east.

Hound hunting has no backing or real purpose, its just a weird charade. The majority of non hunting types I've had discussions with understand the need to manage deer and foxes. They just don't like the pomp and nonsense that comes with certain types of fieldsports.

[Johnsond]

19 minutes ago, Jamespepperpot said:

I dont agree, that's just the typical fieldsports britain/BASC mentality. There are enormous amounts of scientific backing and ecological reasons why deer are managed in the UK. Its something that's never been so important, especially in the south east.

Hound hunting has no backing or real purpose, its just a weird charade. The majority of non hunting types I've had discussions with understand the need to manage deer and foxes. They just don't like the pomp and nonsense that comes with certain types of fieldsports.

Non hunting and anti hunting there is a huge huge difference !!. 
Anti hunt groups have made it clear it’s one thing at a time, start with the easy targets and work up to the likes of fishing. 

[Youngstu]

8 hours ago, Johnsond said:

You didn’t know pistols were illegal in the UK?? 
Shooters in the UK have never been allowed automatic weapons, pre Hungerford SEMI auto full bore were legal for certain competitive disciplines. 

I knew that standard pistols were illegal but had wrongly assumed that this didn't apply to specific target shooting models as I thought these were still used in competitive sports, but I suppose what I thought I'd seen must have all been air powered.  I guess that this was deemed necessary at the time as there would always be people arguing the toss over whether or not something fitted into a certain category. 

[eggsarascal]

Where the hunts fall down is the blocking of bolt holes, and terrier lads digging on earths to get foxes "up". In my eyes a fox should get the chance to go to ground.

 

 

[difflock]

Come and live in NI, and at least you can still own and shoot pistols, if not full bore semi auto rifles.

[MattyF]

Didn’t Tony Blaire ban hunting with dogs ! What has got the antis backs up and done no other Feild sports favours is most hunts have carried on and openly killed foxes regardless .. the terrier boys have been illegal for years but still carried on.
I’m in no way anti hunting with dogs and would completely turn a blind eye to any hunts in my area as I feel it’s the most effective way of controlling foxes and keeping there population healthy... but most of the hate for fox hunting in general is a class war thing and has nothing to do with animal welfare.

[Jamespepperpot]

30 minutes ago, Johnsond said:

Non hunting and anti hunting there is a huge huge difference !!. 
Anti hunt groups have made it clear it’s one thing at a time, start with the easy targets and work up to the likes of fishing. 

Obviously, there are usually 3 groups of people. Those that are convinced either way and those who are unsure in the middle. Personally I find that it's only the people in the middle that are worth having discussions with. My girlfriend who was a vegetarian has no problems eating venison. Neither do her family who were anti hunting previously. So far no one i have shared or cooked venison with hasn't failed to come round to it. 

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

36 minutes ago, Johnsond said:

Non hunting and anti hunting there is a huge huge difference !!. 
Anti hunt groups have made it clear it’s one thing at a time, start with the easy targets and work up to the likes of fishing. 

It seems to me, the only attempted justification for (actually its a stretch to call it a justification ‘for’, but perhaps better described as an irrational fear of it being (further) restricted since there could be implications for other aspects of field sports)

 

A bit like saying “better not increase the sentencing for rapists, just in case the cost of a FPN speeding ticket goes up. 
 

Anybody got ANYTHING constructive to offer in support of this illegal activity?