Knobs.
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 5:18 am
Yesterday afternoon, Buster and I went up to the Old Oswestry Racecourse for a couple of hours leisurely stroll. The last stretch that takes us back to the car park, runs adjacent to a small country lane that gives access to the car park. From quite some distance away, I could hear the sound of one of the local boy racers heading in our direction. Sure enough, a lowered and very loud little silver Citroen, roared past us, the car laden with hoodies.
Buster and I were about 50 yards away from the car park when I heard the unmistakeable sound of a re-coiling air rifle being fired. When we got to the car park, the little silver Citroen had been parked discreetly in the far corner. A lady who was walking her greyhound, stopped and stared at the car for a moment, looking somewhat scared. That's when I heard the air rifle being fired again. Without hesitation, and perhaps rather foolishly, I strode purposely over to the Citroen. That's when I saw that the drivers door was open and I could see the barrel of an air rifle sticking out. I shouted out to stop shooting immediately. On reaching the drivers door, I asked the tracky clad yoof what the hell did he think he was doing. He replied that it was only an air rifle and that he was doing no harm. I 'suggested' that he made certain the rifle was safe and then put in the boot. I informed him he was shooting in a public place and that the offence he was committing, armed trespass, carried a minimum 5 year jail sentence. All of a sudden, he started to look very sheepish, and so did all of his tracky clad, hoody mates, especially when I informed them that they could also be charged with aiding and abetting armed trespass.
Once the rifle had been safely stashed away, I then told them that air rifle shooting was my hobby, and that it was people like them who gave everyone else in the sport a bad name. I laid it on really thick, without trying to be too aggressive, as I have been told I can be. I also told them they were very lucky, as I had my mobile phone on me and I should really have rung the police and let them deal with the matter. The young driver almost had tears in his eyes. I suggested that if they wanted to shoot an air rifle, they should go to an organised range or join a club. I finished off with telling them that I had noted the car registration number, and should I hear of anyone discharging an air rifle in a public place, in or anywhere near Oswestry, that I would report the car registration to the police.
The young driver thanked me, got back in the car, and drove off. Strangely enough, he drove off slowly and quietly, certainly not the same way he drove into the car park. His hoodie yoof mates were all looking very sullen too (nothing odd there then). Let's just hope that have learned an invaluable lesson, but somehow I doubt it.
Mike.
Buster and I were about 50 yards away from the car park when I heard the unmistakeable sound of a re-coiling air rifle being fired. When we got to the car park, the little silver Citroen had been parked discreetly in the far corner. A lady who was walking her greyhound, stopped and stared at the car for a moment, looking somewhat scared. That's when I heard the air rifle being fired again. Without hesitation, and perhaps rather foolishly, I strode purposely over to the Citroen. That's when I saw that the drivers door was open and I could see the barrel of an air rifle sticking out. I shouted out to stop shooting immediately. On reaching the drivers door, I asked the tracky clad yoof what the hell did he think he was doing. He replied that it was only an air rifle and that he was doing no harm. I 'suggested' that he made certain the rifle was safe and then put in the boot. I informed him he was shooting in a public place and that the offence he was committing, armed trespass, carried a minimum 5 year jail sentence. All of a sudden, he started to look very sheepish, and so did all of his tracky clad, hoody mates, especially when I informed them that they could also be charged with aiding and abetting armed trespass.
Once the rifle had been safely stashed away, I then told them that air rifle shooting was my hobby, and that it was people like them who gave everyone else in the sport a bad name. I laid it on really thick, without trying to be too aggressive, as I have been told I can be. I also told them they were very lucky, as I had my mobile phone on me and I should really have rung the police and let them deal with the matter. The young driver almost had tears in his eyes. I suggested that if they wanted to shoot an air rifle, they should go to an organised range or join a club. I finished off with telling them that I had noted the car registration number, and should I hear of anyone discharging an air rifle in a public place, in or anywhere near Oswestry, that I would report the car registration to the police.
The young driver thanked me, got back in the car, and drove off. Strangely enough, he drove off slowly and quietly, certainly not the same way he drove into the car park. His hoodie yoof mates were all looking very sullen too (nothing odd there then). Let's just hope that have learned an invaluable lesson, but somehow I doubt it.
Mike.
Knowing the boy racer youth of today, I'm not sure I would have approached them. Many testosterone raging adolescents of today have no respect for anyone or anything, especially a mature adult ticking them off in front of their mates. All I can say is well done to you and Buster and lets hope your advice hit home.