Action Line: Weapons fired next to park in Liberty Village

  • Published
  • By Col. Jay B. Silveria
  • 48th Fighter Wing commander
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  

COMPLAINT:

I live on Bruntingthorpe in Liberty Village. A while ago, my children came running from the park next to our home due to the sound of gunshots adjacent to the park. Looking into it a bit further, we discovered that just behind the fence next to the park at least two men were hunting and firing weapons. This concerns me for the children at the park as well as my neighbors whose homes are right next to this fence.

This is a major safety issue that we would really appreciate steps being taken to prevent a repeat of this type of episode. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

RESPONSE:

Thank you for your comment, I appreciate you bringing this important concern to my attention.

In the United Kingdom, landowners with the proper licenses may possess and fire weapons on their private property if the landowner judges it to be safe and appropriate. There are no restrictions on firing weapons within a certain distance of a dwelling.

However, it is your right to report such activities to on base authorities. In fact, through programs such as Eagle Eyes, we encourage reporting any activity that seems suspicious or out of the ordinary. We maintain a robust dialogue with our local constabulary and any reported off-base incidents are immediately relayed to the local authorities for resolution.

If there are future occurrences we encourage you to call the RAF Lakenheath Emergencies Phone Line at 01638 520911, DSN 226-0911 or 911 (from on base). Our Security Forces' personnel have direct contact with the local constabulary and will be able to address your concerns with the off-base authorities. Thanks again for your commitment to the safety of our base.

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