The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Another reason to be wary is I was told by BASC (when discussing my sons application) that both Durham and North Wales now collate "information packs" on all applicants, these contain (amongst other things) online activities, forum and social media postings such as Facebook, Twitter etc.

Call me George Orwell but if Durham and North Wales are doing it they won't be the only ones.

Thorney wrote:Isn't that a reason to challenge that conditioning? Perhaps if we promote (sensibly and with an eye on security of course) gun ownership then we can change that perception?

Good luck with that one! :lol:

Quick observation from a coleague of mine who does know....

Use some common sense regarding your references to anything that may ring the homeland security bells, FAC holder or not.

Joking is one thing, If you have to joke (I know I do it enough) make it obvious, but even the browsing of certain sites may well put you on the radar. Every time I fill in my vetting I worry about what it is I forgot I put on here.... :roll:

There are trigger words and phrases that are picked up on, not today maybe, but whenever depending on the security/intel state and the current radar settings.

The net is a gold mine for intel and unless you are pretty IT cute, you get tracked down one way or tother.

Dont forget that it may not be just the security services looking but others that may want what we own, or to hurt us because of what we do or have been employed to do in the past.

Feel free to handbag me, but as I pointed out to someone the other day hell bent on taking photographs whether the subject wanted it or not, it just needs a bit of common and respect

1984... There's me thinking it was my inalienable right under UN charter to privacy!

So if an individual certificate holder is going to be strung up for unintentionally 'advertising' their location (even though you need to do some detective work to get close), how about gun clubs and RFD's intentionally advertising their locations?? Especially RFD's operating from residential premises?!

IainWR wrote:

Jackmanuk wrote:to the point in had i read the basc pages and they say the police should book appointments for spot checks , depending what they say tomorrow i may ring basc and see what they say

"Hello Sir, may I have your membership number?"

Everyone seems to have missed Iain's point, but it is good to belong, which is why I am a member of bith the NRA and BASC.

If you are not a member, then help will not be forthcoming.

Mike

in the past i have posted shooting related stuff on social media ... after reading this thread im not going to again !!

Blackstuff wrote:So if an individual certificate holder is going to be strung up for unintentionally 'advertising' their location (even though you need to do some detective work to get close), how about gun clubs and RFD's intentionally advertising their locations?? Especially RFD's operating from residential premises?!

I'm thinking the key part was the neighbour - someone "of interest" to Special Branch or whoever already - being pictured with a lawfully held firearm.

However, the police answer should not have been to jump to conclusions, revoke tickets and attempt a prosecution based on hot air and alarmism. A quiet chat would have been far more sensible, along the lines of "please don't let your neighbour have access, even supervised, to your firearms, and we would appreciate it if you didn't mention this conversation to him. But do it again and we'll come down on you like a ton of bricks".

Problem is Gaz, how would you know your neighbour was of interest to SB mate? I guess you just have to go for a blanket "dont let anyone have a play unless they are a known holder" etc.

The point I was trying to make is this.

We know that once something is out there these days, we have no control (look at all the images girls have sent to boyfriends at school that end up in the public domain).

Its not 1984 either. We are way past that. If you would not stand up and shout it in the street, dont put it on here, because once out there, it out there.

Just ask yourself, "would I like everyone to know my address, allide to the fact that I hold x thousand rounds of this and that".

Like most I dont want my sport hidden, but at the same time I dont want nosey neighbours having a stick to prod me with, or anyone with a need for firearms from the wrong side of the law knowing where to look.

If you want to go making comments about fertilizer etc, well, each to their own. Possibly funny in context but taken out of context by the wrong people...

Dont forget, we are damned near borderless now.

Some folk just cant help themselves

did anyone hear of the lads that were refused entry to the States because one had put a facebook status up saying that they were going to "destroy" America ... meant in a "have a good time" kinda way ... the American authorities got to know about it and refused entry ... i kid you not !