Firearms advice needed.
Discussion
A friend of mine (no, really.....) was recently convicted of having a shotgun without a licence and (probably due to the current gun paranoia) received 15 months porridge. He's a farmer, the gun was a 410 he shot vermin with. Hardly the crime of the century.
This is not the problem.......
I've been left in charge of the farm and I've discovered "other items" of a similar ilk which would certainly see him extending his holiday at taxpayers expense.
I want to hand these items in to the appropriate authorities asap, but would like some advice.
Will I be in the next cell to my friend next week? Will they want details in order to keep him locked up even longer? Do I expect a dawn raid at home and find myself being charged with downloading Engelbert Humperdink albums?
What's the procedure for disposing of illicit weaponry?
This is not the problem.......
I've been left in charge of the farm and I've discovered "other items" of a similar ilk which would certainly see him extending his holiday at taxpayers expense.
I want to hand these items in to the appropriate authorities asap, but would like some advice.
Will I be in the next cell to my friend next week? Will they want details in order to keep him locked up even longer? Do I expect a dawn raid at home and find myself being charged with downloading Engelbert Humperdink albums?
What's the procedure for disposing of illicit weaponry?
Vipers, I know him extremely well. No way would he ever use a firearm against anyone else. He's a hoarder, his farm is laden with the stuff most folk would have dumped on sight. I assume the cache I've found is just whatever has come his way over 40 years of farming/hoarding! The gun is in a very rusty condition but could obviously be restored if someone wanted to use it.
No way could I add to the problems he's suffered this year, the jail term was just the last of a long line of disasters this year.
Muncher, the gun I could cut up/melt down but there is a large amount of ammo.
No way could I add to the problems he's suffered this year, the jail term was just the last of a long line of disasters this year.
Muncher, the gun I could cut up/melt down but there is a large amount of ammo.
Just Googled and came up with this:
www.suffolk.police.uk/Public+Safety/Firearms+Licensing/Firearm+Disposal/
Looks like the police are more concerned with acting responsibly than bringing prosecutions.
Perhaps worth ringing from a call box (wearing disposable latex gloxes
) to discuss it anonymously first?
www.suffolk.police.uk/Public+Safety/Firearms+Licensing/Firearm+Disposal/
Looks like the police are more concerned with acting responsibly than bringing prosecutions.
Perhaps worth ringing from a call box (wearing disposable latex gloxes
) to discuss it anonymously first?
You are not responsible for them as you are the nominated 'steward' of your mate's property - only there to maintain it in his abscence.
If you are really worried, take the artillery, wrap it in paraffin-soaked cloth and bury it under the boundary line of the property (four inches either side of a boundary fence is 'un-owned' by either neighbour and therefore very difficult to label ownership of 'finds' to). When your mate comes out of chokey, tell him what you have done and let him sort the mess out - if he is prat enough to own any unlicenced firearms,you should not get involved. I know someone who was shot in the face with a 410 and you would not want to see the result...
If you are really worried, take the artillery, wrap it in paraffin-soaked cloth and bury it under the boundary line of the property (four inches either side of a boundary fence is 'un-owned' by either neighbour and therefore very difficult to label ownership of 'finds' to). When your mate comes out of chokey, tell him what you have done and let him sort the mess out - if he is prat enough to own any unlicenced firearms,you should not get involved. I know someone who was shot in the face with a 410 and you would not want to see the result...
I've seen a lot worse than gunshot wounds but take your point.
The boundry idea has a drawback. The farm boundry is dry stone wall and I've already got a bad back!
He's definitly a prat, but the problem is that he's almost incapable of throwing anything away. I'm not sure that he would do what would be in his own best interests.
I'm not giving him the option of keeping it.
The boundry idea has a drawback. The farm boundry is dry stone wall and I've already got a bad back!
He's definitly a prat, but the problem is that he's almost incapable of throwing anything away. I'm not sure that he would do what would be in his own best interests.
I'm not giving him the option of keeping it.
How about taking the whole lot off the property and hiding them in a fixed, but unfrequented place, and calling the police anonymously to tip them off where the cache is? Keeps you and your mate out of it, disposes of the dodgy stuff, no questions?
ETA: Just don't get caught moving it...
>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Tuesday 1st November 22:12
ETA: Just don't get caught moving it...
>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Tuesday 1st November 22:12
Size Nine Elm said:
How about taking the whole lot off the property and hiding them in a fixed, but unfrequented place, and calling the police anonymously to tip them off where the cache is? Keeps you and your mate out of it, disposes of the dodgy stuff, no questions?
ETA: Just don't get caught moving it...
>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Tuesday 1st November 22:12
Only problem is IF somehow they were discovered, the consequences could be terrible. I'm sure
would rather they were handed in no questions asked than leave them where they could be discovered.BliarOut said:
Size Nine Elm said:
How about taking the whole lot off the property and hiding them in a fixed, but unfrequented place, and calling the police anonymously to tip them off where the cache is? Keeps you and your mate out of it, disposes of the dodgy stuff, no questions?
ETA: Just don't get caught moving it...
>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Tuesday 1st November 22:12
Only problem is IF somehow they were discovered, the consequences could be terrible. I'm sure
How about keep them on the property then, but phone the police and say they've been dumped? Less likely to be 'discovered' by a third party...
ETA: Don't forget to brush up on your Narn Irish accent first
>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Tuesday 1st November 22:22
Do you not know anyone that you trust who has a gun license? Or how about you get one yourself - you seem to be looking after a farm after all, so should have a reasonable cause to have one.
That way you could legally have the ammo, or not have a problem in taking it to the police for disposal.
Are we talking shotgun or rifle here?
That way you could legally have the ammo, or not have a problem in taking it to the police for disposal.
Are we talking shotgun or rifle here?
In the days before really strict gun laws a friends father was asked to look after a gun and ammo by a diplomat who had to return home suddenly. The friend's father not having a licence took it to a local gun shop and asked them to keep it in their safe for him.
Some time after that someone the friend's father knew got a gun licence so they went to the shop and got it back.
They took it to the gun club and started shooting at paper targets, but they were asked to stop. It turned out that the ammo was armour piercing and wasn't stopped by the metal behind the targets.
They ended up taking the advice of the club and shooting all the ammo into the ground. Then, much later, the gun was sold to the police under the gun amnesty scheme.
I like our gun laws. It's crazy that a 19 year old can walk down the street in America carrying a gun but they can't walk down the street with a bottle of wine.
Some time after that someone the friend's father knew got a gun licence so they went to the shop and got it back.
They took it to the gun club and started shooting at paper targets, but they were asked to stop. It turned out that the ammo was armour piercing and wasn't stopped by the metal behind the targets.
They ended up taking the advice of the club and shooting all the ammo into the ground. Then, much later, the gun was sold to the police under the gun amnesty scheme.
I like our gun laws. It's crazy that a 19 year old can walk down the street in America carrying a gun but they can't walk down the street with a bottle of wine.
OK, leave them where they are for when your mate finishes his bird. If Plod makes a search and finds them, state that you are acting as his steward and that you have no power over his possessions or chattels. State also that you believe him to be suffering from Diogenes Syndrome (like Mr. Trebus on 'A Life of Grime') and his express wishes are that you do not disturb his possessions any more than is necessary for you to upkeep the property.
Better still, get your mate to have his solicitor draw up a document of stewardship for you that releases you from any responsibility as to the content of the property you are looking after and, if he refuses, tell him he's flying solo - the worst shit comes off somebody else's shoes...
Better still, get your mate to have his solicitor draw up a document of stewardship for you that releases you from any responsibility as to the content of the property you are looking after and, if he refuses, tell him he's flying solo - the worst shit comes off somebody else's shoes...
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