RSWC #229 John Turrell

Riding Shotgun With Charlie

#229

John Turrell

Armed Lifestyle Magazine

 

There are some nice perks about going to SHOT Show as media and having more than one media gig. After I was asked to write for Armed Lifestyle Magazine, I got to meet the other contributors at SHOT. One of the ALM writers is John Turrell. John, as you’ll hear, is from England. This is my second international passenger! I’m glad we were able to connect with a crazy busy SHOT schedule. Not just mine, he keeps busy in Vegas, too. And not with the night life. With writing! He and his team put out daily reviews from SHOT.

 

Like many folks, John started shooting as a young child, around 10 years old, with his father. He’s worked his way up to competitive shooting in UKPSA and IPSC. UKPSA is the United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association. He enjoys shooting pistols competitively and even went up against Jerry Miculek, who got him into shooting revolvers. 

 

He is currently the sales manager at a gun range, where he offers a shooting experience for new folks. The hopes are to turn them into licensed individuals who get into firearms and shooting. The range is unique particularly in the UK.They have an indoor range with turning targets. With the range shooting experience, people can get a safety briefing, how to shoot session, then fire 50 rounds, ending with a little fun competition with turning targets. The range is very much like an indoor range here in the US. 

 

In 1996, there was a mass shooting. The government decided that it was time to ban all pistols from the “subjects”. There are several limitations…ahem…infringements. The barrel length must be 12 inches long and the overall length has to be at least 24 inches. That sounds like a rifle to me rather than a pistol. Obviously, that makes it hard to carry on one’s body, which the government doesn’t want them to do. 

 

To get a license in the UK, you have to attend a class, join a range, then you have a probationary period of at least three months. Then you apply to your local country police force for the license, with the usual background check and references. Of course, you’re not guaranteed to get the license either. If all goes well, you get a certificate. 

 

There are two types of certificates. The section one certificate is for centerfire rifles and long barreled pistols and shotguns with a more than three round capacity. The type of action doesn’t matter, just the capacity. The section two license is for shotguns which hold two rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. Despite the limitations, John enjoys having to do all the reloading. Seeing some Mossberg’s at SHOT, he’d really love to have a 590, but due to the barrel length, he wouldn’t be able to get home. 

 

We also talk about suppressors. As I’ve learned the original name was a silencer, but in the UK, they call them moderators. First, in order to purchase one, it has to be on your license that you can have them. To have it added to your license, it’s only about $25. At the gun store, you tell them which one you’d like, then add the serial number to the license, you pay for it, and then go home with it. Boom. Easy!

 

The main reason these are legal is for hearing protection. There is a possibility that the moderators will become an item that they don’t keep track of on your license. However, if you buy one for your air rifle, no license information is required. He says it could be possible that it gets as easy as going to the store to buy groceries and then picking up a moderator like it's any other item. Very different than it is here. 

 

I really enjoyed getting to know John better. He’s a great guy with a lot of knowledge. While at SHOT, he and his team crank out daily reports of the guns and gear they see.So he’s there truly for work and not necessarily pleasure. It was great to learn the difference in our gun cultures between the UK and the US. Please keep an eye out in the free online resource of Armed Lifestyle Magazine for John’s writings and reviews.

Favorite quotes:

“The government at the time, then banned all pistols.”

“The current laws state that the barrel must be at least 12 inches long and the overall length of the pistol has to be 24 inches.”

“Suppressors have to be on your license.”

“We call them moderators in the UK.”

 

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