TargetTalk

this cannot possibly do any good to our 10m shooting friends across the pond.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 580896.stm

Toddler shot in head with airgun
An 18-month-old boy was critically injured in the head when his five-year-old sister fired an airgun at him as their father answered a phone call.

West Midlands Police said the "tragic accident" happened in the family's garden in Washwood Heath, Birmingham.

Their grandfather said the girl used the airgun after their father, who was using it for target practice, left it loaded and turned his back.

The boy, Rashid Rullah, was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

The grandfather said: "Everybody's in shock. There are no words to describe it really. The whole road loves them."

Rashid had a "very serious head injury" from a pellet wound to the back of the head, an ambulance service spokeswoman said.

Police stressed that they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident, which happened on Sunday.

"While we are still trying to establish precisely what happened, this does appear to be a tragic accident involving young children," said DI Simon Vowles.

'Serious head injury'

An ambulance, two rapid response vehicles and a doctor were sent to the home.

The ambulance spokeswoman said: "When crews arrived they found an 18-month-old boy who had suffered a very serious head injury.

"They were told that it had been caused by an airgun.

"Crews immediately started treating the child and very quickly took him to Birmingham Children's Hospital travelling on blue lights.

"Two additional paramedics travelled with the ambulance crew to provide additional assistance on route to hospital."

A spokesman for the hospital confirmed it was still treating the boy but was "not at liberty to confirm anything else".

The spokesman said: "I know this is a subject of police interest already and we will know more as time goes on."

Bill,
I suspect you're correct. But as is almost always the case, it's the fault of someone behaving with gross disregard for safety and no common sense. It's questionable shooting in the garden with a 5 year old and a baby. Dangerous to leave an unattended gun and grossly negligent to leave a loaded gun with a 5-year old and a baby !

A very unfortunate case, but it really acts to re-inforce to people that airguns are not toys and should not be treated as such.

Rob.

Unfortunately the media in the UK will seize upon this as another excuse to call for the banning of "all" shooting sports. The BBC have been mentioning this story all day, with their usual disapproving tone - no mention of gun safety training, just why does anyone want such an object.

Recent new legislation has prevented anyone under 18 from purchasing an airgun and only gunshops can sell (other than private sales), with mail order prohibited - this has forced the closing of a number of mail order specialists and is driving up the cost of equipment and reducing access.

The UK is now probably the worst place to be a shooter outside of North Korea and Zimbabwe...

And here is an example of how such an incident gets reported in the UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 581776.stm

Apparently as the result of gross neglect by an irresponsible parent all airgun shooters should now be licensed...

I will be surprised if by the Olympics in 2012, competitors will be allowed to use anything more dangerous than a wet sponge for target events in the UK.

Do childern in the UK ever hit their heads on a swing or maybe with a left out cricket mallet?

Fortunately accidents like these are very rare in the UK, but it does not stop the hysterical response of the media in their reporting of anything related to shooting.

This discussion may seem "off topic" in a target shooting forum, but the current political climate in the UK has huge implications for the future of the sport and 2012. There is currently a consensus in the media, politics and police that anything related to any form of gun is bad and should be actively discouraged or banned. This has even gone as far as banning replica firearms, airsoft etc. There are also calls to remove shooting sports from the Olympics.

Airgun shooting is normally the route most shooters first come into the sport in the UK. If this ends up being licensed (effectively banned for most people) then the whole sport will decline even more rapidly than it is at present.

What is the experience of other countries? Are you suffering this degree of anti-gun sentiment - is there a lesson UK shooting can learn to turn this around?

I was talking to my sister on the phone and heard the Olympic closing ceremonies in the background. I told her I didn't watch the Olympics because I couldn't watch the shooting events. She said she didn't know there were any shooting events at the Olympics.
Ben

all the shooting finals were online on nbcolympics.com and may still be there.