Police warn kids of BB guns danger
Police in Beverley are preparing to visit primary schools to warn pupils about the dangers of BB guns after three youngsters were shot in a local park.
A 12-year-old boy was at the skate park off Flemingate with friends when he saw another boy approach and fire what has been described as a BB gun at him.
He was shot in the arm while two of his friends were also shot.
One boy has been issued a reprimand in relation to the incident.
The Beverley Neighbourhood Policing Team is now arranging to speak to pupils at schools in the area to raise awareness of the dangers involved in the use of guns.
PC Martin Pepper, the officer who dealt with the incident, said primary school pupils would be educated about the dangers of using the weapons.
He said: "This initiative is something that has come as a result of the initial incident at the skatepark and concerns it would pick up over the summer.
"The main age we are looking to target is year five and six of primary school and year seven of secondary schools.
"Once people get above that age they are aware of what they are getting involved in so it is more down to their own decision, whereas younger pupils may be oblivious to the dangers."
PC Pepper said PSCOs were already volunteering to take part in the scheme, which he hoped to launch before the summer holidays.
The parent of one of the youngsters who was shot at, who did not want to be named, said he was totally shocked by the incident.
He said: "I couldn't believe it had happened. When I first found out I was furious.
"When your kids go out around Beverley this is the last thing you expect to happen.
"I support any initiative which could stop this happening again."
16 Comments
View all
by phil montana, columbia ( off preston road )
Monday, July 06 2009, 4:27PM
“Come meet my liddle friends! I for one believe BB ( soft air )guns should not be sold at markets because there are no regulations. Air guns are a totally different class of weapon and the two should not be confused.”
by Barney Fife, *
Sunday, July 05 2009, 3:56PM
“You ain't yooman Gomer”
by Gomer Pyle, Paris Island
Sunday, July 05 2009, 1:49PM
“This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than any enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will....
My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit...
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...”
by Carl, Hull
Sunday, July 05 2009, 12:35PM
“Ban all guns simple ! , what do you want a gun for ?”
by james, here
Sunday, July 05 2009, 10:37AM
“Air-soft is great fun with no moral or emotional baggage. The US uses a similar thing in training, live rounds that fire a plastic projectile. Like Air-soft great for practicing building clearance, its hurt or be hurt.
NO Air Gun without a licence!”
by dave, hedon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 9:53AM
“lol @airsoft,
want to play with guns, try the infantry, not only do get a proper gun c/w a big knife to stick on the end your all get a war face, show me your warface son......”
by jimbob, there
Sunday, July 05 2009, 9:10AM
“Are people commenting here talking about Air Guns or BB Guns? There is a huge difference BB Guns are toys; however as replicas they are tightly controlled. Air Guns have less restrictions however are for more dangerous. I hold a firearms certificate and think all Air gun owners need to be issued with a certificate.”
by Charles, Cott
Sunday, July 05 2009, 1:23AM
“Beverley: the Chicago of the East Riding!”
by James Ashton-Garbera, Hull
Saturday, July 04 2009, 6:02PM
“As an airsoft player in controlled areas weve already had alot of changes with the laws with bb guns you are required by law to be 18+ years of age to buy one which shud be 50% flurescent and have to have a UKARA licence to buy a realistic imitation one the problem with the sale of these is at market places where they sell them to anyone without checking there needs o be more checks done on market stalls selling these bb guns in aspect of injuries they do hurt but any bb gun sold in the uk is incapable of breaking the skin as they are set to a specific power of the spring to project the BB out of the gun.
The other problem is half the time ive seen kids being bought bb guns by parents but nobody brings that up think more people need to know more i suggest that people should know more about this sort of thing. Airsoft is an action sport that i do weve already had so much hassle sue to law changes because of some idiots breaking the law with them its affecting our sport and our leisure weve been through enough with licensing laws we dont need any more hoops to jump through just to do what we do.”
by Steve, Hull
Saturday, July 04 2009, 4:39PM
“My son was walking with friends across the local park and was hit with a golf ball I think the sale of golf balls should be banned and while we are at it why not ban everything that can hurt if misused its not the guns its the idiots who use them thats the problem.”