Guns, lost or stolen in the UK

[naefeart]

"Nearly 3,000 guns were lost by or stolen from people registered to hold them in the past five years"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19416579

"The guns lost during the period included 730 shotguns, 86 rifles and 14 revolvers".

Quite worrying really. We used to have shotguns but they were locked in a thick, steel box that was rawl plugged to a concrete floor, inside another solid steel cupboard. When out with the guns, you were always very careful about what you were doing, even when just transporting them. We didn't leave them lying about, show them off to the public or not know where they were at all times.

This bit did make me laugh though: "Two muskets and a cannon had also been mislaid by their owners."

How many people here have proper guns and what do you use them for (sport, vermin control etc)?

 

[antijoke]

I use mine for chav control.

 

[Space Monkey]

I use mine for chav control.

That's gonna take a lot of bullets!

 

[Imy]

I use mine for chav control.

What is it - a gatling?

 

[TheMightyTen]

I own (all firing replicas):

17th Century Matchlock musket
1803 India pattern Brown Bess Musket
1853 Enfield 3 Band Shotgun
1863 Pattern Springfield Rifle Musket


I have them all stored off site at a secure registered storage. They are used for reenactment.

You will be surprised how many reenactors do 'misplace' their firearms and I'm not surprised by the cannon as many of the small ordnance barrels can be picked with one arm and out of season end up in some one elses store under a pile of tents or other equipment.

 

[Maccapacca]

5 shotguns spread over two brattonsound cabinets

 

[Edrof]

Well we need pictures of them now!

 

[Totality]

I don't live in a nanny country anymore so owned a Ruger 10/22, bolt action .308 and a Saiga AK 7.62.

Have sold everything apart from the Saiga AK which is used for jollies down the range or goats/pigs.

Locked away in its own room in a steel cabinet with ammo and magazines stored in yet another different steel cabinet in a cupboard elsewhere.

 

[Twirlywoos]

"Nearly 3,000 guns were lost by or stolen from people registered to hold them in the past five years"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19416579

"The guns lost during the period included 730 shotguns, 86 rifles and 14 revolvers".

Quite worrying really. We used to have shotguns but they were locked in a thick, steel box that was rawl plugged to a concrete floor, inside another solid steel cupboard. When out with the guns, you were always very careful about what you were doing, even when just transporting them. We didn't leave them lying about, show them off to the public or not know where they were at all times.

This bit did make me laugh though: "Two muskets and a cannon had also been mislaid by their owners."

How many people here have proper guns and what do you use them for (sport, vermin control etc)?

This is why all guns should be banned, obviously people are incapable of looking after their possessions. All licensed fire arms should be kept in a high security bank if people use them for "fun and games". Keeping them at home no matter if they are in a secure vault is NOT an option.

 

[estebanrey]

This is why all guns should be banned, obviously people are incapable of looking after their possessions. All licensed fire arms should be kept in a high security bank if people use them for "fun and games". Keeping them at home no matter if they are in a secure vault is NOT an option.

I guess you live in a city like me. I tried that argument with someone who lived and works in the countryside and he looked at me as if I was a complete idiot.

To be fair, I don't think you can realistically tell a farmer he can't have a gun. But anyone else, I agree shouldn't have them (and I do know two people with licensed firearms who aren't farmers).

 

[kwerk]

those cabinets are ridiculously easy to get open, it costs many thousands of pounds for something close to a proper safe.

 

[Teknobry]

Typical kneejerk response.

If a person loses their licenced firearm/shotgun then an investigation is carried out, the result of which can be revoking their licence.

Made me laugh the fact that sound moderators are included in that list, seeing as you can buy them over the counter with no licence needed!

I own a pump action 12gauge and a semi auto rifle, both used for vermin and the rifle is also used for target shooting at a gun club every now and then. The procedures put in place for getting a license are thorough and i'm amazed how people could be lax enough to lose a firearm/shotgun.
It's a shame we don't have a more educated culture towards firearms than the ignorance which prevails.

 

[edscdk]

those cabinets are ridiculously easy to get open, it costs many thousands of pounds for something close to a proper safe.

all gun cases should be booby trapped by law.. it will stop theft and remove stupid owners..

 

[agnes]

Hold on... If you have a licence to hold a weapon, which entails a locked cabinet at home. How the hell can you LOSE a shotgun?

Something tells me there is some form of loophole involved here...

 

[Teknobry]

If someone breaks into your home with the intention of stealing guns from a cabinet then they will be equipped with tools needed to get into a police approved cabinet. The idea behind it though is that they are hidden from plain site so no one even knows you have firearms. Also if your bog standard burgular discovers it by chance his screwdriver/crobar won't be enough to open it.

 

[kwerk]

I don't live in a nanny country anymore so owned a Ruger 10/22, bolt action .308 and a Saiga AK 7.62.

Have sold everything apart from the Saiga AK which is used for jollies down the range or goats/pigs.

Locked away in its own room in a steel cabinet with ammo and magazines stored in yet another different steel cabinet in a cupboard elsewhere.

Got a saiga too, one of my favs. Kept in a safe expansion bolted to a concrete floor. I want one of those saiga12 shotguns.

 

[Teknobry]

Hmmm, just reading through that article...

" But each quarter, we probably recover about 150 shotguns notwithstanding the other firearms material."

150 a quarter...600 a year...3000 in 5 years...ALL GUNS ACCOUNTED FOR

 

[estebanrey]

I don't live in a nanny country anymore so owned a Ruger 10/22, bolt action .308 and a Saiga AK 7.62.

If you are living in New Zealand you certainly are living in a Nanny State, maybe not on the firearms issue but they are bonkers and very nanny when it comes to tobacco control.

 

[dekez]

I own (all firing replicas):

17th Century Matchlock musket
1803 India pattern Brown Bess Musket
1853 Enfield 3 Band Shotgun
1863 Pattern Springfield Rifle Musket


I have them all stored off site at a secure registered storage. They are used for reenactment.

You will be surprised how many reenactors do 'misplace' their firearms and I'm not surprised by the cannon as many of the small ordnance barrels can be picked with one arm and out of season end up in some one elses store under a pile of tents or other equipment.

How come reenactors need live firing guns? Surely some sort of "cap" gun would be enough?

 

[Destination]

"Nearly 3,000 guns were lost by or stolen from people registered to hold them in the past five years"
"The guns lost during the period included 730 shotguns, 86 rifles and 14 revolvers".

This bit did make me laugh though: "Two muskets and a cannon had also been mislaid by their owners."

What on Earth were the other 2000 firearms, if shottys and rifles and handguns have been excluded as 1000 of the 3000 total?

Muskets might have stolen to order, or for auction.
Cannon, stolen for scrap no doubt

I hold a shotgun licence for sporting and vermin control.
The weapon isn't in my home, it is elsewhere, not my weapon I am licenced for.
It is in a steel solid cabinet which is secured to the fabric of the building. You'd need a jcb to get the cabinet out, and even then i doubt that thing could be opened by a digger.