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More 'lessons learned', I suppose.

(28 Posts)
Sarnia Sat 14-Aug-21 09:19:29

Last Christmas Devon police revoked the firearms licence for the gunman who shot 6 people dead on Thursday. The reason being given that there was an accusation of assault against him. He was sent on an anger management course and last month he had his licence and guns returned to him resulting in what we now know would have catastrophic results. Was it as easy as that? Was there any follow up on a clearly unstable young man who had some unnerving posts on social media? Surely some follow up care might have helped him mentally and reinforced the decision to remove his firearms in the first place. There is an internal enquiry going on and I suppose we will hear the usual statement of 'lessons learned'. Are they though?

Lillie Sat 14-Aug-21 09:40:01

good post sarnia

of course there will be an internal enquiry
later there will come anger and regret maybe even apologies

but whatever the findings nothing will bring back those killed

for the people in the plymouth community this weekend and even in the whole county there is nothing but shock and huge strength in comforting each other

a 3 year old girl
tragic

Luckygirl Sat 14-Aug-21 09:42:44

I do not think anger management courses are worth the paper they are printed on - they just tick a box that says: "something has been done."

Galaxy Sat 14-Aug-21 09:46:10

From what I understand his family were begging for support for him.

Kate1949 Sat 14-Aug-21 09:51:47

Dreadful. I believe the little girl was adopted. I keep thinking about what her parents must have gone through to get her.

tickingbird Sat 14-Aug-21 10:00:45

Yet again, an illustration of the total lack of mental health support available in this country.

timetogo2016 Sun 15-Aug-21 09:39:02

Spot on Lickygirl.
I know that from a neighbours awful experiance.

Grammaretto Sun 15-Aug-21 09:44:55

Can someone explain to me please. Why does anybody a member of the public "need" a gun?

I thought after the massacre of Dunblane, not to mention all the madman incidents around the world, that owning a gun was unacceptable. Who issues licences?

Whatdayisit Sun 15-Aug-21 09:50:26

I sound so naive but i can't understand why members of the general public need a gun. I can understand certain professions, like farmers needing to use one.
I was shocked that somebody under 25 years of age could hold a gun licence.
The police have absolutely fucked up here and blood is on their hands.
Absolutely tragic.

Luckygirl Sun 15-Aug-21 10:00:45

Why indeed?

My OH was a GP and frequently was asked to sign gun licences. We live in a rural farming community and there were some farmers who needed to have a gun to control rabbits etc.

But I can see absolutely no reason whatsoever for a town dweller to own one, and definitely not a shot gun. And not for a man with his history.

maddyone Sun 15-Aug-21 10:17:11

Luckygirl

Why indeed?

My OH was a GP and frequently was asked to sign gun licences. We live in a rural farming community and there were some farmers who needed to have a gun to control rabbits etc.

But I can see absolutely no reason whatsoever for a town dweller to own one, and definitely not a shot gun. And not for a man with his history.

That’s my opinion on this and the other thread, just why was he allowed to have a gun?

eazybee Sun 15-Aug-21 11:19:28

I too wondered why this man was allowed a gun in the first place, as he had a history of mental health difficulties.

Calendargirl Sun 15-Aug-21 11:22:27

I think the applicant’s GP has to be informed and asked if there any health issues, mental or otherwise, which would make the applicant unsuitable to hold a licence.

MerylStreep Sun 15-Aug-21 11:25:36

Sarnia
The teacher at the special school ( the teachers words, not mine) stated that there was a care package in place for him until he was 25.

Kestrel Sun 15-Aug-21 11:49:51

There seems to be a lack of funding for people to 'get help' and the different agencies involved in helping don't seem to communicate with each other. It's a shame families/communities can't fill this need.

maddyone Sun 15-Aug-21 12:00:57

I’ve no idea about funding, but there certainly appears to be a lack of proper monitoring and communication. The more I hear/see about this case, the more I think the whole scenario beggars belief.

Grammaretto Sun 15-Aug-21 12:39:37

Thanks Luckygirl I didn't know that GPs had to sign gun licences which presumably the police can issue..
How very sad and strange this saga is.

Tizliz Sun 15-Aug-21 13:46:26

I have a rifle. I target shoot, that is paper targets on a licensed range. Believe me licences are not easy to obtain. You must either be a member of a club or have land you need to shoot something on - rabbits, foxes, deer etc. You have to have two referees who have known you 5 years and usually your application should be signed by the club secretary and a letter from your doctor. Then there is a police visit. Certificates are renewed every 5 years, same rules each time. They want to know everything, right down to the speeding ticket you got aged 19.

I cannot understand how this person got his shotgun back, they couldn’t have looked into it properly, it is even harder to get your licence back.

Target shooting and clay shooting are good sports. If it hadn’t been for COVID we would have had another gold medal at the Olympics.

Before you all shoot me down ? I hate killing for sport.

Whatdayisit Sun 15-Aug-21 14:02:25

Tizliz i wouldn't shoot you down you have explained the situation further showing the massuve failings here.

Whatdayisit Sun 15-Aug-21 14:03:45

Please excuse the terminology usedabove it was not used as a pun just replying. Didn't mean it to sound in bad taste.

Scribbles Sun 15-Aug-21 14:37:20

Surely, someone sufficiently disturbed to require a course in anger management should never, ever be allowed within a mile of firearms for the rest of his/her life?

AGAA4 Sun 15-Aug-21 16:06:10

I wonder how all those people a GP, 2 referees, plus police visit didn't pick up on the fact this man was unstable.

3nanny6 Sun 15-Aug-21 16:20:34

What was a young man doing with a gun licence and a shot gun? News stated he suffered from ADHD and had unstable mental health also ongoing domestic disputes with his mother and step-father and the living domestic situation was volatile.
So just give him a shot-gun to play with and see what happens.
That community will take forever to recover from the deaths and it is unthinkable to even have any idea how all family of the three year old girl who died can even come to terms with it. All so tragic and if health professionals police and all other agencies communicated better perhaps he could have been taken off the streets and supervised for the good of all, too late now.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sun 15-Aug-21 16:47:39

I can only imagine that this young man got his gun through the internet, no questions asked, as he seems to have spent most of his time online, he can't have bought it by the usual channels (whatever they are) could he? It has been reported that police admit that they 'may have made a mistake' and it makes you wonder at their naivety.

He had mental health problems for many years which started at school. A sad day indeed.

Calendargirl Sun 15-Aug-21 16:54:47

However he acquired his gun, he still needed a licence to own it, and he had one.