Pain of the PC brigade

[Pavarotti]

The day started off well enough. Decided I wanted to sell a nice BSA meteor. I have sold through the forum before without any problems but I thought I would try to sell locally.

I thought it would be quick, face to face,easy and avoid postage costs for both parties. Also I would not have to run the gauntlet of the Post office rules and all the crud about posting "Sporting goods"

Where I work there is an e-mail or electronic notice board so I thought I'd put an ad in there. I live in the country and I am sure there are plenty of people who would want a nice rifle for sport or for pest control. This is a farming area.

I duely wrote out the ad and posted it to see it appear see moments later. All well and good but when I checked in the afternoon the bloody thing had been pulled. No explanation, no reference to me , no discussion. What is doubly annoying is that I would get the same response from the local papers. I used to see lots of ads for air rifles and shotguns but not any more. I bet the policy (if there is one) is made up as they go along because they have been taken in by the gun nut gabage spewed out by the media. I thought about kicking up about it but I feel I would be talking to people with closed minds.

Perhaps these people should read these forums then they would see that we are sensible , responsible users of air guns not the Daily Mail bogeymen gun nutters we get portrayed as in the press and by politicians.

Trouble is if you kick up a fuss it plays into their hands

Life....

[Bertyb86]

Irational, mindless idiots that believe anything they hear in the media and think your a maniac as soon as you mention the word 'gun'. i cant stand these narrow minded individuals, boils my blood too!

[Titchgamer]

Personally I think you should go and find out there reasoning and explain to them the legalities of the matter as well as the type of people we are.

I have had to do this to numerous people in the past including a Royal Mail depot manager who seemed to be under the impression that I was some sort of arms dealer! (long story that one).

However despite that opinion he had made of me after some carefully chosen words and a few references (I went in with relevant legislation and postcomm guidance printed out) He did a complete U turn and got the gun to where it was supposed to go.

The sad truth of the matter is few people outside of the sport know the law surrounding guns or indeed the difference between a air rifle and a assault rifle!
Most would rather just delete the add and say nothing rather than ask or look into the legalities of it.

[brett1985]

Personally I think you should go and find out there reasoning and explain to them the legalities of the matter as well as the type of people we are.

I have had to do this to numerous people in the past including a Royal Mail depot manager who seemed to be under the impression that I was some sort of arms dealer! (long story that one).

However despite that opinion he had made of me after some carefully chosen words and a few references (I went in with relevant legislation and postcomm guidance printed out) He did a complete U turn and got the gun to where it was supposed to go.

The sad truth of the matter is few people outside of the sport know the law surrounding guns or indeed the difference between a air rifle and a assault rifle!
Most would rather just delete the add and say nothing rather than ask or look into the legalities of it.

oooh, i feel a story coming on! please do tell.......

[Titchgamer]

oooh, i feel a story coming on! please do tell.......

Wellll I guess I have the time.....

Some time ago I had a custom ratty up for grabs on here, I sold it to a guy up north and once payment had cleared I parcelled it up and got my Ms to send it off 1st class special delivery.
Anyways when I got home from work I sent the guy the tracking number and he was over the moon.
So about 10pm ms had just cooked tea and I had literally just stuck my fork in when there is a knock at the door.
Now theres me thinking who the **** is knocking at 10pm (we hardly have any guests).
Got up, opened the door and found 2 rather hefty stern looking police officers.
So I said "Can I help you officers?" to which they replyed "can we come in please?" So of course I let them in in somewhat of a panic thinking they are bringing me some kind of bad news as you would at 10pm!!
They asked me "Did you post anything this morning?" at this point I have a rather nervous chuckle of relief (in hind sight not the best thing to do infront of Fire arms officers) and replyed "yes".
"What was it?" they asked, To which I replied "A crossman ratcatcher air rifle".
Then they asked me "how did you sell it?" I said "via a forum".
"Oh" they said, "We were under the impression you had sold it via ebay because of the pay pal postage!"
Anyways I explained I brought the postage through paypal so my ms didnt cock it up accidentally and that it was within legal limits yuda yuda yuda.
Satisfied with my answers they then told me how this had all come about....

Apparently the woman in the post office who my ms gave the parcel to got it into her head that the parcel was a "loaded gun that could go off any second" (We are not sure where she got that information.....) The parcel was taken to the sorting office and the manager had rang the police who come and seized it, tested it, found it was obviously legal (thank god I had chrono'd it before sending it!) Then brought it back to me.

Anyways the police gave me the package back after letting e check it all over and went on there way.

So crack of dawn the next day I drove down the sorting office complete with said gun re-packed and ready to go and asked them to put it back in the post and not to return it to me again!

Now heres the relivant bit...

The manager of the sorting office refused to put it back in the post as it was "an illegal fire arm" and couldnt seem to understand why the police had given me it back and why I was not in jail!

As I said I went prepared with the crime number and the post comm regs saying that its not royal mails job to decide what is and what is not a illegal fire arm and as long as its sent special delivery they have to accept it.
He didnt accept that rang the post comm helpline then they told him it was true.
Still not happy I told him to ring the police with the crime number and they told him I had done nothing wrong.

So finally 1.5 hours later he apologized and put the ratty in the post for me.

So yes the point is if you go about it in the right way you can educate people in the laws surrounding shooting.

[andy46]

i cant till my new neibours move in next door,and try to explain what im about,think they will be shocked to see me walk down the path with rabbits in one hand and a rifle(cased) in the other,hopefully they will understand.

[Titchgamer]

Most people will understand, whether they will agree/like it is another matter.
As long as they know what you are doing is legal and dont call the cops saying your a crazed gun man then you should be fine.

[andy46]

there a young couple,so i think they will be ok with it all,if not i will send the wife round with a under ground chicken stew and a bottle red wine.that will do the trick

[Titchgamer]

Under ground chicken.... LOL

[andy46]

Under ground chicken.... LOL

i use that one on the lads at work too,when its my turn to cook on friday 2 to 10.just need to think of one for pigeon meals next.