The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-10-04/poli ... onference/

Is this acceptable? Haven't they heard of spotting scopes? Rule 2 of the Firearm Safety Code?

Of course it's acceptable, they are the police! It isn't 'do-as-I-do', it's 'do-as-I-say'. How have you not figured that out already?

On the other hand, don't want to get scoped? Don't go to protests.

Maybe do a little research on how snipers/marksman work and are trained.

You always work with the rifle scope. If you were to use a spotting scope, locate a threat then have to move to the rifle to engage, you are going to lose the target.

You scan/range/locate/identify using your primary source (your rifle) then you can engage any threat immediately.

MiLisCer wrote:Maybe do a little research on how snipers/marksman work and are trained.

You always work with the rifle scope. If you were to use a spotting scope, locate a threat then have to move to the rifle to engage, you are going to lose the target.

You scan/range/locate/identify using your primary source (your rifle) then you can engage any threat immediately.

It is not a combat situation. And they are not snipers.

It is not safe for observation.

See, that's what happens when you're not on GoM - this has already been on .

Maybe do a little research on how snipers/marksman work and are trained.

You always work with the rifle scope. If you were to use a spotting scope, locate a threat then have to move to the rifle to engage, you are going to lose the target.

You scan/range/locate/identify using your primary source (your rifle) then you can engage any threat immediately.

Snipers and marksmen are different - ask any sniper.

The police are marksmen not snipers, police are usually working alone...A sniper will have a spotter amongst a myriad of other things.. The police should not be scoping people with a live weapon IMO..a suitable spotting scope would suffice if they had no intention of shooting anyone. If they have intel to suggest a threat is present that would warrant firing then they should make a move to negate the threat, even if it means cancelling the event or whatever.

Typical police marksman engagement distances seem to be seldom over 55 yards, 100yards plus is a rarity (US evidence).

Chuck wrote:See, that's what happens when you're not on GoM - this has already been on .

Sorry for the duplication. I'm not on GoM (although I qualify on all three counts ).

I thought it was inappropriate, that's all.

My BS Detector just short circuited...

It is an ongoing observation of the biggest march that has ever been in Manchester because of the Tory Party conference.

But they are there purely for observation and supporting the police at the march as it’s a major public event.

They are high up for that reason, to observe. And they [the guns] are used for their powerful sight, which is stronger than any pair of binoculars.

They are not there to shoot people.

– GMP

...I'm sure there are NO more powerful binoculars - besides - the light gathering ability of TWO sets of lenses is way behind the average rifle scope, er, or, well...
Never mind - off to do some bird watching with my Remington 700 - the 10x scope is brilliant for spotting

saddler wrote:My BS Detector just short circuited...

It is an ongoing observation of the biggest march that has ever been in Manchester because of the Tory Party conference.

But they are there purely for observation and supporting the police at the march as it’s a major public event.

They are high up for that reason, to observe. And they [the guns] are used for their powerful sight, which is stronger than any pair of binoculars.

They are not there to shoot people.

– GMP

...I'm sure there are NO more powerful binoculars - besides - the light gathering ability of TWO sets of lenses is way behind the average rifle scope, er, or, well...
Never mind - off to do some bird watching with my Remington 700 - the 10x scope is brilliant for spotting

Maybe they have credible evidence of someone planning something nasty, but don't want to panic anyone by saying someone is planning a shooting/bombing in the middle of Manchester.

It's not the first time there has been police with long rifles on rooftops in Manchester for other similar events though. It does seem to be the first time people have made a big deal out of it though. I've even had friends have visits from the plod telling them to stay out of drains and off of cranes during the paty conferences. With access to various underground bits of manchester getting seals that are quick to check added to them.

RDC wrote:Maybe they have credible evidence of someone planning something nasty, but don't want to panic anyone by saying someone is planning a shooting/bombing in the middle of Manchester.

It's not the first time there has been police with long rifles on rooftops in Manchester for other similar events though. It does seem to be the first time people have made a big deal out of it though. I've even had friends have visits from the plod telling them to stay out of drains and off of cranes during the paty conferences. With access to various underground bits of manchester getting seals that are quick to check added to them.

Since the emergence of Twitter the left make a big deal out of everything that they feel affects them.