BB Guns Sold To 10 year Olds In Chippenham

By Lois_Avery | Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 20:11

Police are warning youngsters in Chippenham of the danger of BB guns after two children were caught with the weapons on Monday.

A BB gun

Although police discovered that no shots had been fired, after being called to the Allington area by concerned neighbours, they found that the boys, aged 10 and 11, had bought the guns from a shop on Chippenham High Street.

Officers arrived at the scene and confiscated the guns before reminding the boys and their parents of the dangers.

Another concern was that a local shop had sold the potentially dangerous weapons to the young boys without question.

Sergeant Alex Reid from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Chippenham said: “We are not trying to be kill joys by confiscating and destroying these guns however our number one priority is always public safety. While these guns are classed as toys, some can fire hard plastic bullets and if fired at close range to the facial/eye area they have the potential to cause a nasty injury.

Our message to children and parents is therefore to be aware of the dangers associated with these guns and to supervise your children at all times if they are using them. I would also like to take this opportunity to advise shopkeepers to exercise caution when selling these types of toys to youngsters who are not accompanied by an adult.”

Have you had problems with youths using BB guns? Or has your child been sold one in the town centre? Is it a problem or are the police being over zealous? Let us know…

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Comments

I think this is maybe another example of Wiltshire Police having the wrong Priorities. I would prefer the police dealing with the increasing crime rate in Chippenham, rather that wasting their time telling off a couple of kids, who were doing nothing wrong or illegal!

Since when did the Police change their name to the "Fun Police"

By mjhudston at 08:40 on 02/07/11
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OK I'm ready to be flamed over this one.....but here goes...Seriously! BB guns! I doubt very much these particular 'weapons' are capable of sending a small plastic misshapen ball much further than a arms length and would bounce off a wet paper bag. Who are these concerned neighbours (read boring kill joy do gooder's), what exactly were they concerned about? I presume the two young gentlemen with the so called 'weapons' are the local tearaway's and they imagined that they had got hold of a pair of Air Pistols and were about to create bedlam in the area. As for the police, I understand they must respond to a call of this type, but to then confiscate and destroy what is obviously a legal toy, surely they have better things to do and the parents of these children must now have some sort of redress as to be compensated for the cost of the toys.
If we are not careful we are going to end up in a Welfare/Police state such as Germany...and before anyone says "Good", mark my words it will Not be with the benefits and freedoms they Do have.

By voreason at 23:53 on 29/06/11
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with reference to the comment by bobby4321, i was looking to moving into youre area, for community spirit and good education for my children, but being a single mum, looks like im penalised before getting there! u really should not tie us all with the same brush! some of us are single mothers through no chice of our own, and seek the best for our children, very saddenend by youre comment!

By gina1967 at 16:12 on 05/03/11
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May be they should control there kids i.e keep them with you so they not out on their own buying bb guns, where's daddy in this or was it another single parent sat at home popping out kids for jokes .

By bobby4321 at 16:30 on 12/09/10
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May be they should control there kids i.e keep them with you so they not out on their own buying bb guns, where's daddy in this or was it another single parent sat at home popping out kids for jokes .

By bobby4321 at 16:30 on 12/09/10
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