Shotguns on public transport

[Gene Holmes]

What is the score with regard to taking shotguns on public transport?
Mrs H and I have been invited to a wedding in Scotland next December and they are arranging a shoot for the day after.
Problem is, about a dozen of us plan to travel up from Hertfordshire on the train, a journey of about 3 hours or so.
Obviously the guns will be broken down in their cases, not slips, but is this going to cause a problem.
I will probably put a call in to my FAO as he should know, but it would be nice get your take on it.

 

[no.1topdog]

Can't see any problems at all Gene. In my younger days I used to travel all over on trains with my guns in normal gunslips, including trips across London on the underground etc. Never been stopped yet, but then I do have an honest face??

Just treat them like you've got your life savings in the case and don't let them out of you grasp.  :biggrin: Remember, carrying your gun does not turn you into a criminal. Always keep you licence handy just in case though.

 

[westley]

Used to have a Guy that travelled to shooting ground by train every time. He lived alone and had no car. He then had a walk of nearly a mile from the station to the ground. Now that IS dedication !

 

[bigmac1]

If I were you I would check with the train company has to how you stand. They might have a secure part on the train to store the guns.

 

[Alan Rowley]

A friend if my fathers went to St. Albans on the train, to have his gun repaired a few years ago, a lady asked him on the train "what's in the case" nothing much came the reply, her friend had recognised the case as a gun case, she told the guard, the guard called ahead, and at oxford station 6 armed police stormed on to the train demanding he handover the weapon ( at gun point) my fathers friend was nearly 70, gave him a funny turn I can tell you, they then lectured him bringing a gun case on to the train,

 

[Bebo]

Most train operating companies have a set of rules that you can find on their website.  Every one that I've looked at bans carrying guns.  Although if you've got it broken down and in a suitcase or holdall then who's going to know?

 

[BTC3]

I'd second the idea if it being broken down and in a regular case of some sort. Just keep a good eye on them. Funny thing, attitude to guns: I'm on my way to Switzerland, on most trips I see a large number of squaddies off for periodic training with their guns slung over their shoulders. Most of them leave them in the overhead rack when they go to the toilet, no one bats an eyelid.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[RobertBeard]

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf

Do a document search on this pdf and you find a table which lists banned items which include

"Loaded Guns and Firearms" on page 29.

There was a debate about this on a target shooting forum that I am on.

The view is that in spite of this document it is down to individual companies to decide what passengers may carry.

The National Conditions of Carriage are formulated by the Association of train operating companies, British Transport Police, and the Dept of Transport and it may well be that some civil servant put this in according to the MP of a target shooter.

Whatever you need to be careful to get it right!

 

[Jan Powell]

What is the score with regard to taking shotguns on public transport? Mrs H and I have been invited to a wedding in Scotland next December and they are arranging a shoot for the day after. Problem is, about a dozen of us plan to travel up from Hertfordshire on the train, a journey of about 3 hours or so. Obviously the guns will be broken down in their cases, not slips, but is this going to cause a problem. I will probably put a call in to my FAO as he should know, but it would be nice get your take on it.

No issues, just don't advertise the fact your carrying firearms. Don't use a gun slip and make sure your case doesn't suggest there's a gun inside.

There's no need to inform your FEO or your local police force, nor would I inform the train operating company. Providing you're discreet nobody will even know.

 

[ips]

After the story from alan personally I would be sure to check with fao and train company before risking it.

 

[chippy]

A friend if my fathers went to St. Albans on the train, to have his gun repaired a few years ago, a lady asked him on the train "what's in the case" nothing much came the reply, her friend had recognised the case as a gun case, she told the guard, the guard called ahead, and at oxford station 6 armed police stormed on to the train demanding he handover the weapon ( at gun point) my fathers friend was nearly 70, gave him a funny turn I can tell you, they then lectured him bringing a gun case on to the train,

Mind you if the police station they took him to was closer to the gun shop than the railway station. Result

 

[no.1topdog]

A friend if my fathers went to St. Albans on the train, to have his gun repaired a few years ago, a lady asked him on the train "what's in the case" nothing much came the reply, her friend had recognised the case as a gun case, she told the guard, the guard called ahead, and at oxford station 6 armed police stormed on to the train demanding he handover the weapon ( at gun point) my fathers friend was nearly 70, gave him a funny turn I can tell you, they then lectured him bringing a gun case on to the train,

Does anybody know what the offense was in this case?

If he was waving his gun about in the carriage I can see there would be cause for complaint, but transporting it in a secure case and in his possession surely is within the law?

The day we can be charged with "holding a legally held weapon secured in it's carrying case in a public place" is the day we will all have to give up?

I'd like to know to save me breaking any laws. Do we have a legal expert on the forum?  :biggrin:

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Several foreigners fly into London and shoot in Scotland using the train.

Train companies talked about a ban 2 years ago and they backed down when BSSC got involved.

Just don't let it out of your sight or advertise the fact.

 

[Macc Ladd]

Does anybody know what the offense was in this case?

If he was waving his gun about in the carriage I can see there would be cause for complaint, but transporting it in a secure case and in his possession surely is within the law?

The day we can be charged with "holding a legally held weapon secured in it's carrying case in a public place" is the day we will all have to give up?

I'd like to know to save me breaking any laws. Do we have a legal expert on the forum? :biggrin:

"pancake day" shrove Tuesday!!

 

[no.1topdog]

"pancake day" shrove Tuesday!!

Macc, that's a bit deep for me. Can you explain it a bit. Or have you been at the mushrooms again?  :sarcastic:

 

[WezC]

South West Trains would not allow me on the train with my gun, nor First Great Western. I was removed. I went the following weekend with it broken and wrapped in towels in a normal looking trolley bag.

This was only last summer.

Wez

 

[Macc Ladd]

Macc, that's a bit deep for me. Can you explain it a bit. Or have you been at the mushrooms again? :sarcastic:

I didn't want to call those 6 armed policemen (tossers)

 

[no.1topdog]

I didn't want to call those 6 armed policemen (tossers)

Ahhh! Thanks Macc. I get it now. Sorry, a bit slow tonight.  :biggrin:

South West Trains would not allow me on the train with my gun, nor First Great Western. I was removed. I went the following weekend with it broken and wrapped in towels in a normal looking trolley bag.

This was only last summer.

Wez

Just found the link below from Home Office Firearms Security information. Scroll down to last paragraph on page 6.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117794/security_leaflet.pdf

So who makes the rules to say we can't transport our equipment on public transport as we seem to comply with Home Office guidelines by having our legally held guns in cases and nothing else. Are they going to invent a new charge for the privilage?

Is it a "jobsworth" attitude by train companies? Are we being victimised or criminalised?

I'm sure there's a lot more dangerous items we could carry on trains and they wouldn't blink an eye. I can understand the problems with airlines, and I sypathised with Peter Wilson on his recent trip, but it's not like we're going to hunt whales in this country is it?

 

[jwpzx9r]

When I put my guns in to store temporarily I travelled to the shop on an LRT bus two shotguns in breakdown cases and a rimfire in slip driver never even blinked flippin heavy load I can tell you toiled on to the bus and struggled off it