Really? Are Shotguns loud? That's a new one on me!

[Graham.J]

Taken from The Sunday Telegraph:

Clay pigeon fans find themselves in the line of fire
By Elizabeth Day
(Filed: 23/02/2003)


Clay pigeon shooters are facing tough new restrictions following a report branding them as a noise nuisance.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, which advises national and local government, says people living close to shoots suffer "hell on earth" - akin to being "next door to the Battle of the Somme every afternoon".

Shooting also upsets animals, says the report. "The sound of gunfire may be distressing to wild and domestic animals during certain periods (for example, mares in foal; ewes at lambing)."

The institute calls for various measures to counter the noise, such as the siting of shooting grounds behind hills and embankments; for participants to use "subsonic" cartridges; and for them to aim shotguns into the prevailing wind.

It continues: "Wherever possible, prevailing local atmospheric conditions should be taken into account. It would be advisable to arrange for the general shooting direction to be oriented towards the prevailing wind, as this will reduce the total distances over which sound travels."

The conclusions have angered shooting enthusiasts, who believe that it will lead to a "complainers' charter".

John Harradine, of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said: "The report makes it easy for anyone with a grievance against shooting to have an abatement notice slapped on a clay ground with a minimum of justification. It leaves the field open for malicious and mischievous complaints."

A spokesman for the association said: "This is likely to lead to real problems for shooting grounds.

"The biggest problem will be people who are new to the area and new to the sound of shotguns - mainly townies coming out to the country. There is so much anti-gun feeling around at the moment that we are worried about a knee-jerk reaction, both from the public and from members of the Government."

The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association was so incensed by the institute's approach that it refused to co-operate with the research process.

A spokesman said: "We don't agree with a lot of the content. We are very concerned and we purposely did not give our backing to this report."

The report, which was partly sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is likely to become the standard reference for local environmental health departments.

Graham Jukes, the institute's chief executive, said the controversy over the report was an over-reaction. "The fuss being created by my colleagues in the shooting world is unwarranted," he said.

"Our report encourages the diversification of farm land. If you live close to one of these sites, it's like hell on earth. One complainant said it was like being next door to the Battle of the Somme every afternoon."

Clay pigeon shooting has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent years. Two years ago, the pop star Madonna enrolled in a shooting course at the West London Shooting School in Middlesex.

Oh come on, give me a break, why is everyone taking pot shots at virtually EVERYTHING nowadays, you can't read a paper without seeing that some self righteous people are trying to get something banned.

[Agent006]

"I think people have every right to believe in anything they want, no matter how ridiculous it might be, but I don't accept their right to coerce others into the same views."

In other words, LEAVE US ALL ALONE.

[JonRB]

I think the distinction needs to be made between shooting clubs (and other recognised and designated areas) and unofficial clay shoots on private land.

The former I would class with motorways, railways, airports, airfields and race tracks ie. "don't move there unless you're prepared to put up with it you moron".

However, I do agree that unofficial shoots on private land can be bloody annoying and impact on your life. You have no choice over that any more than you do over any other form of antisocial and inconsiderate neighbourly behaviour (like playing music too loud, etc.)

So, given the distinction I've just made, I'd say that I would be sympathetic to the former but not the latter.

[dazren]

If you move to live in the countryside you'll find people shoot guns, animals are reared and slaughtered, cars get covered in mud and the pubs have lock ins. If you don't like it bugger off back to town and leave us alone. If you've always lived in the country and don't like it, have you considered a move to Islington?

DAZ

>> Edited by dazren on Monday 24th February 21:33

[MoJocvh]

"unofficial shoots on private land "

It's called "FREEDOM".

Considering that a lot of the posts on here are complaining about the continual reduction of that very FREEDOM, to take a stance against people exercising their very FREEDOM to do just what they want on their own land is hypocritical.

Anyway, they ain't THAT loud. WHAT, WHAT, speak up woman

[mad jock]

Here we go again, some peolple are never satidfied unless they're interfering in someone else's life. While I agree that setting up a clay pigeon centre next to a primary school or near houses might be a tad insenesitive, most are way out in the sticks.
I have lived in the country nearly all of my life, and am sick to death of people attempting to impose their own little Utopian ideals on us.
My parents sold their estate five years ago, and moved to a smaller house a few miles away. We had lived there as a family since 1976, and had excellent relations with the farmers that surrounded us, indeed all were customers of my father's business. (He sold tractors and combine harvesters and suchlike).
We keep in touch with our old neighbours, and had a good laugh when we heard that the wife of the new owner had been in touch, and "could they stop their cows mooing"!
It needn't be restricted to country pursuits either. Not far from us is East Fortune Aerodrome, home to the racing circuit of the same name, and Air Museum, and Sunday market. Quite a busy wee place, really.
At one end of the old runway is a microlight flying school. One man, who bought the new house at the end of said runway, tried to get them shut down. Jesus, if he didn't see them before he bought the place, he must be blind.
Luckily, he was told to get lost by the council, as it would have put them in an embarrassing situation. The school had originally asked for a permit to operate there, and the council turned them down. One of the pilots deliberately landed on the beach at North Berwick and got arrested. The ensuing press coverage forced the council to hand out the aforementioned permit, as the pilot said that the only place to fly from was the existing runway, but the council refused permission.
Sorry, a long winded story, but it shows that it is possible to win some of these cases.

[minimax]

mad jock said: Here we go again, some peolple are never satidfied unless they're interfering in someone else's life. While I agree that setting up a clay pigeon centre next to a primary school or near houses might be a tad insenesitive, most are way out in the sticks.
I have lived in the country nearly all of my life, and am sick to death of people attempting to impose their own little Utopian ideals on us.
My parents sold their estate five years ago, and moved to a smaller house a few miles away. We had lived there as a family since 1976, and had excellent relations with the farmers that surrounded us, indeed all were customers of my father's business. (He sold tractors and combine harvesters and suchlike).
We keep in touch with our old neighbours, and had a good laugh when we heard that the wife of the new owner had been in touch, and "could they stop their cows mooing"!
It needn't be restricted to country pursuits either. Not far from us is East Fortune Aerodrome, home to the racing circuit of the same name, and Air Museum, and Sunday market. Quite a busy wee place, really.
At one end of the old runway is a microlight flying school. One man, who bought the new house at the end of said runway, tried to get them shut down. Jesus, if he didn't see them before he bought the place, he must be blind.
Luckily, he was told to get lost by the council, as it would have put them in an embarrassing situation. The school had originally asked for a permit to operate there, and the council turned them down. One of the pilots deliberately landed on the beach at North Berwick and got arrested. The ensuing press coverage forced the council to hand out the aforementioned permit, as the pilot said that the only place to fly from was the existing runway, but the council refused permission.
Sorry, a long winded story, but it shows that it is possible to win some of these cases.

good points, BTW north berwick, that's near eyemouth & such isn't it? nice scenery up there!

[mad jock]

Minimax, Berwick (upon Tweed) is nearer to Eyemouth, a bit further south down the coast. If you go north from Eyemouth, you will come to North Berwick, which is a good twenty miles from Edinburgh. You're right, though. Great scenery.

[plotloss]

Oh piss off!

If you dont like country pursuits piss off back to the city you tossers.

Matt.

[incorrigible]

And I though Daz was to the point

Couldn't agree more

[Don]

dazren said: If move to live in the countryside you'll find people shoot guns, animals are reared and slaughtered, cars get covered in mud and the pubs have lock ins. If you don't like it Fcuk off back to town and leave us alone. If you've always lived in the country and don't like it, have you considered a move to Islington?

DAZ

>> Edited by dazren on Sunday 23 February 19:59

[JMGS4]

Oh come on, give me a break, why is everyone taking pot shots at virtually EVERYTHING nowadays,

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Virtually everything... why the FCUK aren't they shooting labour scum??? BLiar, Fatty2Jags, Gordon One-eye loppy lips Brown, Byers et al?????