Anger over school shooting range (UK)

[davepc]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7215298.stm

The Merchant Venturers is the main sponsor of the new academy, planned for the site of the old Withywood School.

It said the range would be part of a cadet force for out-of-hours activities, and would help discipline.

Dennis Burn, from the Venturers, said: "Parents and young people want an exciting programme of activity outside school hours."

He added: "The cadet force is well placed to do this. We will also be doing lots of other things.

"Being involved in such a rich programme of activities will help these young people to be the sort who do not get involved in gun crime."

...

But one parent, spoken to by the BBC near the school, said: "It would be teaching them to use firearms and encouraging them to go around shooting people."

Another added: "It's not a good idea. I don't trust them with guns, especially in this area."

I never knew Olympic style target shooting encouraged one to go around shooting people.

[benEzra]

1. It's because of all those mass shootings at the Olympic target and biathlon ranges...

oh, wait...

[sir pball]

2. But they're EEEEVIL rifles!

They have PISTOL GRIPS ZOMG HIP FIRED BULLET HOSE!!!!

[dairydog91]

3. Strange...

...I've been shooting since I was 11 or 12, and I don't recall ever being tempted to "go around shooting people".

"Films, TV and video games all glamorise shooting. By having a person properly introduced to it, taught and controlled, it demystifies the gun." - A pretty truthful statement, in my opinion. From what I recall of my more youthful days, the boys who were the most obsessed with firearms had never seen one, let alone been instructed in proper and safe usage.

[gorfle]

4. Perversion!

Another added: "It's not a good idea. I don't trust them with guns, especially in this area."

It is, in my opinion, a vulgar perversion when The People no longer trust themselves with guns but do trust Their Government with them.

[Plague]

9. Especially when the main difference...

Especially when the main difference between "The People" and "Their Government" is a few suits and large sums of money. Humans are humans regardless of job title.

[RL3AO]

5. I thought these weren't allowed in the UK

and that the Olympic shooting teams had to practice outside of the country?

[krispos42]

8. The pistol team has to practice in France, I believe

Because handguns are outlawed.

This must be rifles, probably single-shot or bolt-action, which are allowed with registration and such.

[benEzra]

11. Airguns/BB guns and possibly .22 rimfire rifles.

The Olympic team has to go to France or Switzerland to shoot handguns.

[Redneck Socialist]

6. I can hear the guns in my safe calling to me as I type this...

They want me to go out and start shooting people! OK, why not? I'll be back after I go out and shoot a few folks. Makes sense, after all that's what my father encouraged me to do when he taught me to shoot.

:sarcasm: <--------- Just in case anyone out there is dumb enough not to understand

[jody]

7. "go around shooting people"! Then every member of UK's military should not be allowed off post and

upon reaching retirement age, promptly euthanized.

That should also apply to any of the aristocrats who hunt.

Doesn't the Queen hunt?

[SteveM]

10. QE 1 hunted.

[Endangered Specie]

12. I'd think youd have better luck going on a killing spree with a dull razorblade...

then a .22 olympic target rifle :eyes:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. Not true ... A well-placed .22LR shot can take down a deer

A favorite round of poachers (or so I've heard) because it's so quiet. Not a humane death for the deer, perhaps, but it works.

And that target rifle can get off five well-aimed shots in a hurry. In the right hands, of course. How they do that after flat-track skiing is pretty amazing.

[Endangered Specie]

14. I hope thats sarcasm

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Sarcasm? Which part?

I've never experienced shooting a deer with a .22, and don't plan to. It's illegal (in MI) and cruel. It's just something the instructor mentioned in a hunter's safety course I took.

The other part? Shooting multiple well-aimed shots quickly? That's from watching the biathelon in the winter olympics. Years ago, they used military service rifles. These days, it's bolt-action .22's.

No sarcasm intended.

[SteveM]

17. .22 semi-auto pistols have been the Mafia's favorite for assassination....

Cheap, effectively silenced, small and easy to hide.

[sabre73]

16. Believe it or not

In one of my many firearms courses one of my fellow instructors brought in some articles confirming 2 elephants that were killed with a .22LR!

It all started with a "bet" and some guy took a shot that hit the elephant in the soft spot under it front leg and passed through the ribs to the heart.

After that he was challenged to do so again. To which he did.

I don't know how log ago but the article sited Africa as the location and that it had happened some time ago.

Food for thought. If I can find the article I will post it for any who care.