More 'lessons learned', I suppose.

lovebeigecardigans1955

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.

You cannot buy a gun on line. You can advertise it but all sales have to go through a registered gun dealer, and show your licence. It is not even that easy. Your licence says what guns you are allowed and you either have to sell one and send your licence to the police to be amended then go back to the dealer collect the gun and send your licence off again. Or you can apply for an additional firearm, send your licence off …..

All firearms you own are listed on the licence with their description and serial number.

What I can’t understand is what Devon police firearms dept were doing. The rules are clear.

lovebeigecardigans1955

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.

There seem to be some questions about whether his mental health problems ever went through official channels. I expect they will be investigated, but it seems that at the moment there's quite a bit of speculation about his mental health and autism history.

I used to shoot competitively with a .22 pistol. The conditions of my licence were that I kept the gun in the locked cabinets at the gun club and I could only buy ammunition from the club and it was signed for. The regulations are pretty strict but it doesn't mean people stick to them. I think this young man had a shot gun and tbh I am very surprised that he got his licence back I'm sure this will result in some more tightening of the laws. I feel very sad for everyone who has lost family or friends.

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

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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

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