Why Shooting Etiquette Matters

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Why Shooting Etiquette Matters
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Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 3:56 am Post subject: Why Shooting Etiquette Matters

One second's worth of competetive overenthusiasm did this. A sad but cautionary tale.

Quote:

A competitive teenager who leapt in front of a friend's firearm during a pigeon shoot caused his own death, an inquest found.

Alex Bailey, 18, died instantly when he was hit by a pellet from the gun during the shoot in farmland near Southease, East Sussex, last July.

His inquest heard that the "gentle giant" had run forward despite his friend calling "my bird" - a breach of shooting protocol.

Eastbourne Coroner's Court was told that the teenager, from Kingston, near Lewes, East Sussex, had alcohol in his blood - although friends denied he had been drinking during the shoot.

The inquest heard that Alex, a keen rugby player, was lying in wait for birds in a wooden hide at the edge of a barley field with friends Charles Page and Carl Hammond, both 18, when the tragedy happened.

The court was told that when Charles Page spotted a pigeon, he called out "my bird" but 6ft 4in Alex replied: "No, Bull" before standing up and stepping straight into the line of fire.

A split second later he fell dead onto Carl Hammond's lap.

"We thought he was joking, then we asked him if he was all right," Carl told the inquest.

The court heard that when police arrived Charles declared: "I'm going to prison. I've killed my best mate, how can I live with that? It should be me dead instead of him."

But returning a verdict of misadventure, coroner Alan Craze said the teenager should not be held responsible.

"This afternoon has made it abundantly clear that there is no question of any criminal negligence in this death," he said.

"He didn't intentionally put himself in the line of fire.

"From Charles Page's point of view this was an accident, but from Alex Bailey's point of view I must give a verdict of misadventure."

He added: "They must follow very, very strict rules which are clearly understood beforehand and are adhered to by everyone.

"Alcohol and guns do not mix. I don't need to say anything more than that.

"This was a most tragic and distressing case."

Alex's father Andrew, a 50-year-old accountant, told the inquest: "He was a practical lad, very strong-willed but very caring. He was a bit of a gentle giant."

Mr Bailey said his son never showed off with his guns and believed he was very sensible and careful with firearms. He had held a gun licence for a year.

But the two friends described Alex as competitive.

"When we went fishing he'd say he would catch more than you," Carl said.

"He was always trying to prove himself better than anyone else."

Story from Telegraph News:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2303039/Teenager-jumped-in-front-of-gun-at-shoot.html

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 6:33 am Post subject:
We heard about this at the time BB, very sad indeed and a cautionary tale if ever I heard one. Unfortunately lack of etiquette around guns, amongst other things, is something we are coming across more and more just lately.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 6:37 am Post subject:
If anyone has ever wondered why people are 'braced and ballocked' by old-style keepers for boorishly taking birds from other Guns, this is why.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 6:45 am Post subject:
A dreadfully sad case that should be read by every Gun, new and old as an object lesson in why etiquette does matter.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 6:58 am Post subject:
Agree.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 7:49 am Post subject:
Poor sod. I hope his death has made a few people think about the way they handle guns. We have one potential new club applicant, who owns his own rifle, so presumably has land to shoot on but his safety management is appalling. Carrying a rifle around in the club room with the bolt closed and magazine clipped in is not good etiquette.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 7:54 am Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

Poor sod. I hope his death has made a few people think about the way they handle guns.

We have one potential new club applicant, who owns his own rifle, so presumably has land to shoot on but his safety management is appalling. Carrying a rifle around in the club room with the bolt closed and magazine clipped in is not good etiquette.

Stalkers can get into very bad habits. When I'm out I know my rifle is safe so I don't have to worry - nobody else there to see me or be made nervous by what I'm doing. Then other people are there and you have to remember not just to be safe, but to be seen to be safe.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 8:16 am Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

Stalkers can get into very bad habits.

I don't think he's a stalker as his personal discipline is awful. I know what you mean though.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 8:30 am Post subject:
I was taught firearm safety as a cadet prior to owning guns myself and it is something that stays with you. Even if it's for one hour I feel a short safety course for anyone wishing to own a firearm would be appropriate.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 8:43 am Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

I was taught firearm safety as a cadet prior to owning guns myself and it is something that stays with you. Even if it's for one hour I feel a short safety course for anyone wishing to own a firearm would be appropriate.

Fortunately gun accidents are few and far between. I don't know what enthusiasm there is in the home office to enforce or introduce legislation but it may very well help prevent some of the accidents that do happen. Good guns clubs are excellent training grounds on health and safety matters. There is probably a gap in safety awareness for casual field shooters though.

It will be interesting to see if this chap in our club listens to what he's being told over the next few weeks. He won't be gaining full membership if he doesn't that's for sure.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46240
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 2:22 pm Post subject:
field safety has extra aspects on top of good range practices ,gates ,styles ,bushes , mud ,dogs ,random members of the public etc casual with guns is wrong

GENT

Joined: 03 Jun 2008
Posts: 387
Location: Student diggs- coventry.

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 4:44 pm Post subject:
Unfortunately it�s also more expected with us young uns also, as we do on the whole tend to be a little over eager. That�s where education is paramount I suppose.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46240
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 5:19 pm Post subject:
my ex father in law lost a chunk of ear and sufferered hearing damage to a middle aged stockbroker who swung through the line for a bird an inch more badness and an inquest the chap didnt even understand enough to withdraw from the shoot until told young or old good and repeated education is best

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 5:23 pm Post subject:
I once beat on a commercial shoot, saw all the Merchant Banking oafs staggering out of the lunch tent and went home. All the pheasants ever bred etc - especially if it's me.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 08 5:23 pm Post subject:
Experience discriminates against the young but idiocy makes no such distinction.

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