ACPO, terrorists, Channel 4 and us

[Blackstuff]

Considering the average demographic (in my experience anyway) of your average UK shooter, i'd suggest the chances of an islamist sleeper cell terrorist inflitrating a gun club is pretty slim, although the number of native converts appears to be increasing if the press is to be believed ( :lol: ) which could provide difficulty. Then again the converts do allegedly have a common physical feature http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09 ... 91854.html

In the unlikely even that one managed to get a foot in the door the bacon sandwich test would be deployed if suspicions were aroused and ginger vegetarians would simply be an unfortunate piece of collateral damage tesnews :lol:

[Chuck]

Considering the average demographic (in my experience anyway) of your average UK shooter, i'd suggest the chances of an islamist sleeper cell terrorist inflitrating a gun club is pretty slim, although the number of native converts appears to be increasing if the press is to be believed ( :lol: ) which could provide difficulty. Then again the converts do allegedly have a common physical feature http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09 ... 91854.html

In the unlikely even that one managed to get a foot in the door the bacon sandwich test would be deployed if suspicions were aroused and ginger vegetarians would simply be an unfortunate piece of collateral damage tesnews :lol:

[Blackstuff]

Doesn't matter what he's wearing, he doesn't fit the demographics of a UK shooter (in my experience)

[Gaz]

I hear from a mate that Lancashire Police have approached a few clubs with a view to arranging an open question and answers meeting with the membership regarding firearms security, domestic terrorism etc.

Now this seems a very sensible, desirable approach to me, it must be a concern to the authority's that some extremists will attempt to infiltrate Shooting clubs to gain access to firearms, play the long game, get an FAC's etc, and we all need to be especially vigilant in these dangerous times.

God knows how many have already returned from Syria, full of hate and with a massive axe to grind, way more than the official figures I wager.

Now a fully open approach, fully engaging with the shooting community and openly explaining what's going on to Club memberships is far the best idea, lets hope this is adopted across the country.

If only every force took this sensible approach!

[Sim G]

Doesn't matter what he's wearing, he doesn't fit the demographics of a UK shooter (in my experience)

Seriously Mark? Jordan Horner, Richard Dart, Nicky Reilly? Ever heard of them?

White Anglo Saxon, British men, who converted to Islam and are terrorists. Dart is even a former PCSO and Horner has blue eyes and ginger hair! Reilly is the one who walked into an Exeter cafe and tried to blow himself and everyone else up with an IED.

Demographics? If only it was that simple....

[Christel]

Yeah, Richard Dart, had to look twice when I saw his picture in the papers this morning.

[huntervixen]

In the unlikely even that one managed to get a foot in the door the bacon sandwich test would be deployed if suspicions were aroused and ginger vegetarians would simply be an unfortunate piece of collateral damage... :lol:

Operation Winkle....to winkle out the spys! Perhaps a lookout for sandals too...

All joking aside, a terrorist probably won't turn up on camel, he (or she) would attempt to fit in and gain peoples trust, I guess, we must all vet new probationary club members carefully, and report reasonable suspicions to Club officials.

A very sad fact of life these days guys, but we must be vigilant.

[huntervixen]

Also, don't thing these people wont put in the hard yards ..... after all the 9/11 Terrorists learnt to fly !

[dromia]

There is nothing new here, clubs and shooters have always had a duty to be vigilant for unsuitable people seeking an FAC and access to firearms.

All this stuff and initiatives from the police and ACPO is just froth with no substance, nothing has changed other than some useless press releases have been put out to make the police look good and proactive and make shooter appear to be a risk disproportionate to the reality.

This home check thing is more smoke and mirrors, if the police had reason to think that there was any cause for concern then of course they would turn up at the doorstep it is there job. They have no more powers than before and most people will help the police if they can. Just more post modern spin to make the polic look good and FAC holdes to be a greater risk to the community than we are.

Anti gun owning propaganda as far as I can see as there seems to be no other reason behind all this non event stuff that ACPO is coming out with.

[M99]

How can you say nothing has changed?
People leaving the country to fight for IS. People over here beheading a soldier on the streets of the UK.
Today we have armed soldiers in fatigues on the streets of London partroling (see today's news)
It is not unreasonable to consider that someone may try and use a club as a route to getting a firearm or 6.
Hopefully the police would pick it up before, but us shooters and clubs also have to play a part.