Autism and firearms

But, have you checked out The Walker Outdoors Gun Shop? They might be able to answer your questions and give you some advice. I heard they have a great selection of firearms and accessories. You can check them out at [edited by mod]. I've got my son a gun there. He's autistic, but he has already dreamed of a gun.

Hey John! I'm new on this forum and just stumbled upon your old thread. I totally get where you're coming from. Shooting can be a really fun and bonding activity. As for your stepson's diagnosis, I'm not sure if it will hinder him from getting a firearms certificate.

aye, im not diagnosed, but they refused me vaguely for "not being social enough/not proving to have a social life" which i guess they suspect themselves the possibility of autism or something there. their interview they kept asking about personal life, what you do and so on and if you go pubs with mates on weekends. no mates, no social life. dont really do anything, they said it was suspicious and then declined me for lack of a social life. tbh its pretty stupid because it made me think they are only looking for trashy drunkards and pub crawlers and the sort of person that talks too much instead of focuses on doing their job. 

You might not know this but Australian armed forces welcome ASD recruits and other disabilities  - UK armed forces actually list autism as a reason to refuse - I’ve seen their book!! 

ah getting black belts or even getting good doesnt matter at all. the core aspect is self improvement. no need to compare yourself to others, but your current self to your former self, and improve yourself step by step continuously. thats what i believe martial arts is more about. more about the continual self improvement and being a better person step by step and going through the hard work and graft to improve yourself. dont need to be good at it, just need to be better than you was the day before or the week before continually. 

due to corona i got lazy and didnt train much as all the places shut down, plus i got a job now so on feet all day for hours, so my leg, especially my right, has got very stiff now and not as flexible, i suspect i may have injured it and never stretched it back out in the recent past perhaps for it to be this stiff, but i know how to work it back to flexibility as the things you learn stay with you. you always have the tools to maintain your body and get it back to where it was or where it never has been before. 

hell i do believe a few unexpected side effects of martial arts and self improvement is, making me think ahead more, made me change my fussy diet and i now eat everything and anything, to even getting a job which id never have done before. i guess physical self improvement also changes you mentally too. 

I did martial arts for 5 years before I realized I would never be any good.  I am at the very stiff end of the flexibility spectrum and find it very hard to relax in a fight.  It was good fun but I don't think I would every have passed my black belt (I tried once but it was a bit of a disaster).

So it depends on flexibility and nerve.  If you can't relax under pressure you might not do so well.

ahhh as much as id like to be supportive guns and mental health issues are a big massive no for me.

i wanted to join the army or navy at one point, of which both declined me, but they are lucky they declined because even i would be unpredictable with a gun. thered be times where id likely want to shoot myself with it, and ofcourse if a trainer got very shouty and obnoxious id ofcourse probably turn the gun on them in my heightened emotional state. so i have to honestly say a big no to guns even for myself. guns can only end in tragedy.

however martial arts would be good, sure he may lash out and go too far in sparring of which i did at times lol, but hed get good fitness and development and be able to develope and control his life better off the internal lessons and sense of self it builds when done right.

I have done a bit of clay pigeon shooting in the past and I am sure clubs will let you use their guns.  I don't know about long term but it makes it easier for members if they don't need a gun license.

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I think the ADHD would be more of a concern than ASD, but I'm not familiar with the process.  I'd have thought they'd be looking more into the content of a person's character, are they a scoundrel, an extremist of some description, have they a history of violence or psychotic episodes.

In my view, if he's stable and can demonstrate safe handling of an unloaded gun, I don't see why he should be excluded.  It sounds like a fun way to spend time together.

I was recently looking to get into clay pigeon - the paperwork I looked at said that your gp would be contacted if there was any history of depression or mental illness etc.        Most autism or Asperger's people get diagnosed with depression long before any real diagnosis happens so there may be an issue.

Also - personally, I think it's not the kind of sport where an attention deficiency might be considered safe.

I agree with aidie  , airsoft, airguns of archery would be a more sensible first step to gain confidence with your stepson's safety and competence levels.

i think target shooting helped my concentration quite a bit.

get air guns as no license is required(england). But please get range training. ADHD can be dangerous around guns

i was reading up on certificate and they dont seem to check mental health issues (england)  but start small, join a club, guns are very dangerous even an air gun can kill a person or blind them. I have seen so many accidents.

How about archery ?

I spent years with guns and am a naturally good shot. I trained myself in target shooting to quite a high level. I loved it.

www.durham.police.uk/.../Fitness-to-be-Entrusted-with-Firearms.aspx