Peter squires makes my blood boil !

[Kungfugerbil]

I can't actually remember the last time I saw a shooting magazine with such a picture on the cover

Indeed. I've just turned round to look at my magazine shelf and there are 6 different titles that I occasionally pick up. Three of them pretty much always have a chap holding a shotgun or stalking rifle with all of the correct safety gear. One show birds in flight, one a chap and a dog walking in a field and the last always has handsome dogs on the cover.

Of all of the issues the most bloodthirsty shows a dog retrieving a bird. No blood or gore of course, but it is a dead bird. A delicious dead bird:)

I suspect these 'grinning idiot/trophy pictures' in the mainstream press are just plain made up.

[David Nimrod]

I suspect these 'grinning idiot/trophy pictures' in the mainstream press are just plain made up.

Or perhaps it's Carp fishermen with their latest 'catch'..?

[Racalman]

Middle aged men with 'black rifles', or 'sniper rifles', who seem to be living out some sort of 'tactical fantasy', certainly don't help the public's perception of shooting sports...
Joining the Army, or the TA, might be a better option for these people.

I'm a middle aged man with black rifles and sniper rifles. I own them because I'm an engineer with a keen interest in ballistics and accuracy. I enter practical competitions as a means of using my sport to keep me fit and off the hospital waiting lists, not because I have any particular fantasy. I have no wish to enlist in a government programme that would train me to kill people.

[Daryll]

To be the Devil's Advocate:
Middle aged men with 'black rifles', or 'sniper rifles', who seem to be living out some sort of 'tactical fantasy', certainly don't help the public's perception of shooting sports...
Joining the Army, or the TA, might be a better option for these people.
As to killing animals, it should really only be done for pest control, food, or management. Shooting animals 'for sport', and chucking them away, is simply immoral.

To be fair David, "middle aged men" would be too old to enlist, but a fair percentage of them may be ex-Forces anyway...

But then the media idea of a "sniper rifle" is anything with a scope on it which makes it tricky NOT to be seen using one..

[David Nimrod]

I'm a middle aged man with black rifles and sniper rifles. I own them because I'm an engineer with a keen interest in ballistics and accuracy. I enter practical competitions as a means of using my sport to keep me fit and off the hospital waiting lists, not because I have any particular fantasy. I have no wish to enlist in a government programme that would train me to kill people.

Exactly, that's the point... However, the 'non shooting public' (ie 99% of the population) probably doesn't see it that way.

The negative perception of shooting in the UK is one of the mountains we have to climb, if Laws will ever be relaxed...

As someone who still feels the pain of handing his fullbore pistols in to the Police, this 'perception' is of interest to me.

I personally don't think it's likely that the Law will ever be relaxed, but who knows... stranger things have happened!

[David Nimrod]

He works at the University of Brighton... says it all, really! aaarggh

[safetyfirst]

Middle aged men with 'black rifles', or 'sniper rifles', who seem to be living out some sort of 'tactical fantasy', certainly don't help the public's perception of shooting sports...
Joining the Army, or the TA, might be a better option for these people.

I'm a middle aged man with black rifles and sniper rifles. I own them because I'm an engineer with a keen interest in ballistics and accuracy. I enter practical competitions as a means of using my sport to keep me fit and off the hospital waiting lists, not because I have any particular fantasy. I have no wish to enlist in a government programme that would train me to kill people.

Me too.

[Airbrush]

Oh look a Mike Yardley supporter has turned up.

Oh dear, I think you've missed the point entirely clapclap

Please explain how I've 'missed the point', were you not making derisive comments about other shooters?

[David Nimrod]

Oh look a Mike Yardley supporter has turned up.

Oh dear, I think you've missed the point entirely clapclap

Please explain how I've 'missed the point', were you not making derisive comments about other shooters?

No, obviously I am a Shooter... I refer you to the 'Devil's Advocate' part.

My point, is how non shooting members of the public perceive shooters.

Unlike America, guns are not 'normal' to the vast majority of people in the UK, and unlike us shooters, most people hate them, or are scared of them.

Therefore, Politicians won't help us, and the Public won't help us...

'Devils Advocate' means putting forward a contrary viewpoint, for the purpose of discussion.

Right, I'd better get back to installing my new Brattonsound gunsafe

[Airbrush]

No, obviously I am a Shooter... I refer you to the 'Devil's Advocate' part.

My point, is how non shooting members of the public perceive shooters.

Unlike America, guns are not 'normal' to the vast majority of people in the UK, and unlike us shooters, most people hate them, or are scared of them.

Therefore, Politicians won't help us, and the Public won't help us...

'Devils Advocate' means putting forward a contrary viewpoint, for the purpose of discussion.

Right, I'd better get back to installing my new Brattonsound gunsafe [/quote]

Thanks for the reply, I know what 'devils advocate' means.

As for Joe public they haven't got a clue as to what shooters get up to in the UK, I 'd argue that the vast majority only think we're allowed double barrel shotguns.