Sad news story from England, land o' regulation

[0akhonor]

It appears from the xrays that the culprits kept shooting after the swans were already dead, but to the public, it must appear as a prolonged shooting spree.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2018/12/02/family-of-swans-wiped-out-in-air-gun-attack

Instead of more regulation, perhaps less regulation of FAC guns ? ,

 

[MobyMyster]

I'm a bit skeptical...! I'm no doctor or x-ray tech but it appears all those "pellets" could,

in fact, be shotgun pellets. There certainly is a lot of them..

~MM~

 

[nervoustrig]

No doubt, if that was done with an airgun, it was loaded with a shotshell. Either that or they have swans the size of pteranodons in jolly old England. 

 

[Bullfrog]

Looks like political shenanigans. A few lines in the article indicate some group that wants tighter regulations on airguns for hunting purposes is leading the charge. Its so obvious that’s shotgun shot in that xray that its laughable. I’m glad I don’t live in the UK. 

 

[Bullfrog]

Fake news or clickbait?

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/police-update-swans-reportedly-shot-2251718

I also found an article from 2011 where supposedly swans were killed in the same area by an airgun. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-12534932

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-12616003



Apparently its a thing for swans to die in groups in Somerset and for some anti airgun groupto whine about it when it happens, even though it turns out the deaths may be natural.

 

[Glem.Chally]

Big media is a puppetshow for the owners. More trustworthy independant news these days. IMO

 

[X27]

"The RSPCA is calling for better regulation of air weapons after receiving 884 calls reporting air gun attacks on animals across England and Wales last year."



How many of those calls were made by busy bodies on hunters legally hunting. I bet almost all of them.

 

[SDellinger]

Did they dig a "pellet" out and examine it? Has got to be shotgun shot I think.

 

[BlackICE]

I guess the UK isn't any different than the USA. Fake news stories to support a political position.

In the US tons of stories about guns shooting killing innocent people, about zero stories about how guns save lives, put food on the table and in many cases deters crime. Not so much fake news, but selective reporting.

 

[0akhonor]

Another reported swan death, prior and before this one, was attributed to pellet guns but was obviously from a 'catapult', or slingshot to us Yanks. 

Huge holes and dents in the animal that I'm referring back to.. The pictures make me cringe as a responsible hunter. Fortunately, in the public comment section, knowledgeable contributors pointed out the error, but the article itself wasn't ever corrected, and still remains online titled as an airgunner shooting. Sad...

 

[Glem.Chally]

Ministry of misinformation 

 

[Gazmn]

Sad story...

Definitely not an air gun enthusiast. Looks like it was an @$$hole with automatic BB gun

 

[Macloaded]

Any more regulations won't stop this type of incident as anyone mindful of the law who would apply for a license wouldn't do this to a swan. I am in Scotland so I know first hand the damage airgun licensing has had on the sport. One interesting point my firearms officer told me is that more folks getting FAC powered airguns given the test is only slightly more burdensome than a sub 12flb. I now have two fac airguns and loving them. If I was in england I would do all I can to oppose licensing as it will vastly reduce the number of kids getting into airguns, which are the gateway to other more powerful powder burners, probably the motivation behind it all....