The liability

As the angry visitor called on the shooting club stand, new volunteer, Pete, had a plan to deal with him

he volunteers didn’t meet up much during the rest of the year, but came together at the summer country shows to set up and help at the shooting club marquee. Days were long, the catering outlets cost a fortune, and more often than not the showground would turn into a mud bath when the weather turned. Nobody complained though; the “craic” was good and they were doing the club a good turn. Above all, everyone enjoyed meeting show visitors to chat and offer help and advice when it was needed.

Pete was the new boy while the others were all old hands who knew the form. The three of them – Pete, Big Dave and Angus – were talking together during a quiet spell when a visitor approached asking to speak to someone “what knew guns”. Large, red faced and loud, he was clearly a man

Tangry with the world, and especially the boat owners who complained about him shooting mullet in the local harbour with a .22 rimfire rifle. “It’s no business of theirs, so what do you bloody experts suggest, eh?” His face got redder, his voice louder.

Big Dave and Angus exchanged glances. Awkward visitors were rare but this one was clearly spoiling for trouble as well as having no notion of gun safety. How, though, to deal with him? Pete spoke first, tactfully deciding not to raise the ricochet issue, and instead asked about the man’s firearm certificate. In particular, what were the conditions on it, and what was he allowed to use the .22 for?

“Vermin, you know, rabbits and crows and stuff” came the angry reply. “Fish are bloody vermin, eh, so I’ve got every right... besides, it’s a laugh, innit?” He glared at Pete, defying him to disagree. Big Dave and Angus, from a safe distance, watched Pete speak quietly to the visitor. The big man’s face cleared, then – incredibly – he smiled, shook Pete’s hand and left cheerfully.

“What the hell...?” said Angus eventually. “Easy.” Pete replied. “I simply told him to ask for ‘and mullet’ to be added to the conditions for use on his certificate so no one can complain about him shooting fish.”

His friends looked at him admiringly. Not only had he sent the man off happy, he’d also persuaded him to personally inform the Firearms Department that he was a raving liability as well...

“Awkward visitors were rare, but this one was spoiling for trouble”