Dillema? Should I or shouldn't I have???

[hogen-deifar]

Cycling home from work, went through the park, around the lake. There, up against the edge of the lake were two kids with "guns".

They weren't toys. I'm assuming they were pellet guns, and lying on top of their bikes was a sports shop/gun shop bag.

They were trying to shoot at the ducks. When they saw me coming they tried to hide the "guns". They were hand "guns" rather than air rifles.

Should I have called the police or should I have just done what I did and cycle past in a dilema.

Confronting them wasn't an option. Sorry. I'm dumb sometimes, but not stupid. I was also involved, as a victim, in a fire arm situation a couple of years ago, and the gun was thrown into the local river in front of me, but you could see it so I HAD to call the police then. The police divers came out and recovered it and the guy went on the run. I don't like guns, even toy ones and after that event I knew I hated them even more. Having a guy in your car with a hand gun is not the nicest feeling, especially when he's telling you where to go etc.

I've put three options in the poll:-

Yes you should've called the police

Nah, they're only kids

Something else

If you go for something else please tell me, because I'm ina quandry here over the right thing to do!

So should I have "dobbed" on them or should you just turn a blind eye to these things???

Signed

Confused of Reading!

[purple vonny]

They were probably BB guns which are (I think) legal. But if they were bothering the wildlife or behaving in a menacing fashion I'd dob on the little buggers. But I'm a miserable old bat like that.

[Scubee]

Probably air pistols. I think you probably did the right thing, knowing the way some kids are round here - I certainly wouldn't have confronted them.

Having said that, it might be worth a phone call just to let the police know where you saw them, so that they can keep an eye out.

[cazyoung]

Yep tell the police but you can do that from a safe distance and out of sight so the little yobs don't know it was you. Often a firm word from the boys in blue has a good effect even on todays yoof!!!

[MartyC]

You did the right thing in not confronting the little darlings but yes phone the cops, they may not have had time to deal with it but making the call would have been the right thing IMHO

[fatone]

Tell the old bill or the kids will potencialy end up with no idea of value or respect.
However, on a lighter note.........................dont tell the police they are kids or, that you susspect they are air guns or BB guns, tell them you can hear the report from the weapon's every time they fire them, and here's why................

A little old man see's his shed getting broken into and and phones the police,
the police explain that they are too busy at the moment to send anyone, but they will when they can !
The little old man gets his wife to call the police back 3 minutes later and tell them not to rush now, as her husband has dug out his old world war 1 revolver and gone after the burglers !!!! He is actualy hiding in the house frightened.
4 minutes later there is a police helecopter and numerous police cars arriving at the old couples house, and most of them armed !
After they arrest the two unarmed kids nicking the pensioners bike out of the shed the inspector takes the little old lady to one side and say's " you lied to me madam, you said your husband was going after them with his gun, yes she replied, and so did you, you said you were busy !

[dry suit diver]

they were guns, even the police can't tell the difference bertween a real one and a fake one when its pointing at them.

this time it might be ducks next time it might be an old lady.

worse case the police turn up unannounced see the gun the armed response come kid gets jittery fire gun armed response shoot him.


if you called the police and told them you think its an air gun they approach the situation differently.

[Silent Diver]

Originally Posted by dry suit diver

If you called the police and told them you think its an air gun they approach the situation differently.

The police would deal with this the same way as they respond to all "firearms involved" calls they will respond with the nearest ARV, (Armed Response Vehicle), and have a second possibly a third on route as backup immediately plus paramedics just in case and Dog handlers etc....

They dont listen to a non "expert's" opinion that "its only an air weapon".

If you had a mobile phone you should have moved away a safe distance even better if you could have gotten out of view and then phoned the Police.

But then I am a retired Police Officer so I am a bit biased in my views of how these things should be dealt with

If nothing else it would have been interesting to see the looks on the kids faces when suddenly confronted by an Armed Response Officer backed up by a big snarling GSD but then I am mean like that

[essexbloke]

I got nicked for the same thing many years ago! now i'm older i would do the same thing and call the police!
How times have changed!

mind you i would call the police if i saw you on a cycle.
female cycle how dangerous is that?

[Digger]

My only concern is that even air rifles can cause quite significant injury, and the potential to be used in robberies etc.

Reality is there's no reason for these things to exist. There's also no reason for anyone to have them in a public place.

Digs.