Airgun crackdown?

benjo plz. · 19 Sep 2006 at 19:37

woodsy2k said:
Its the same as when the law on hand guns / pistols was introduced.

Arguably that could be seen as a knee jerk reaction to the Dunblaine bombing, but then the fact that nobodies gone into any schools in the uk and shot people since kinda reinforces the need for it.

50/50 · 19 Sep 2006 at 19:39

Ban them all.

AmaTeX · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:04

Phnom_Penh said:
Arguably that could be seen as a knee jerk reaction to the Dunblaine bombing, but then the fact that nobodies gone into any schools in the uk and shot people since kinda reinforces the need for it.

Yes and how often did it happen before the dunblane incident? The police screwed up big time on the issuing of a fac to the person concerned and we have to bear the brunt of the incompetence. The National Firearms License Management System (NFLMS) is still not implemented or indeed working properly after six years since initial funding was setup!

50/50 said:
Ban them all.

An excellent demonstration of what I said here:

AmaTeX said:
How long will it take for all the idiots who support the ban culture to learn that banning something never ever works!

The amount of people who can’t rationally think things through is truly scary. Banning is done out of ignorance and often a knee-jerk reaction to an event.
Example: handguns after dunblane.

and an example of how stupid the ban culture is: lets ban aeroplanes as they crash into skyscrapers and kill people.

Why don’t target the route of the problem before we jump on the self richeous bandwagon of ignorance and stupidity.

benjo plz. · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:18

AmaTeX said:
Yes and how often did it happen before the dunblane incident?

Once, the Hungerford massacre. I guess they just didn't want to ban all cartridge firearms (excluding shotguns with 3 shots etc which are still allowed) so they left cartridge firing pistols off the list, which was another place where they ****ed up when you review Dunblane.

VeNT · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:20

50/50 said:
Ban them all.

more people are killed per year by people driving cars than by airguns.
maybe we should ban cars?
or what about cigs?
or DIY?
or beer?

benjo plz. · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:25

VeNT said:
more people are killed per year by people driving cars than by airguns.
maybe we should ban cars?
or what about cigs?
or DIY?
or beer?

Lol, yer like everyones going to jump on the bandwagon for something they use everyday, :rolleyes:

, cigs, well there's no evidence they kill other people, diy well the govt have started to crack down on that and as for beer, they add chemicals to it to give you a badder hangover.

robmiller · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:26

Phnom_Penh said:
Once, the Hungerford massacre. I guess they just didn't want to ban cartridge firearms (except obviously for shotguns with 3 shots etc) so they left cartridge firing pistols off the list, which was another place where they ****ed up when you review Dunblane.

Because banning things ensures that they cease to exist :cool:

benjo plz. · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:27

robmiller said:
Because banning things ensures that they cease to exist

Nice choice of smiley....

Two schools were shot up during a decade, a decade on and no shootings in schools since (well in the uk anyway), doesn't look too bad to me...

AmaTeX · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:35

Phnom_Penh said:
Nice choice of smiley....

Two schools were shot up during a decade, a decade on and no shootings in schools since (well in the uk anyway), doesn't look too bad to me...

Despite an increase in armed offences? :rolleyes:

VeNT · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:43

robmiller said:
Because banning things ensures that they cease to exist

Banning things just makes kids want do to them more.

sorry, just had to.

(if this is totaly against the rules or anything then dons just remove it)

Von Smallhausen · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:52

Phnom_Penh said:
Nice choice of smiley....

Two schools were shot up during a decade, a decade on and no shootings in schools since (well in the uk anyway), doesn't look too bad to me...

Perhaps, but armed crime and shootings are increasing.

Obtaining an illegal firearm is rarely more than a couple of calls away and what are on the streets of the UK would scare most people ****less.

On the original subject, an airgun is a firearm and it should be treated and used with respect that all firearms should be used with. Unfortunately there are irresponsible idiots who use them and one lad I used to hang around with lost an eye from some cowardly wannabe sniper and a police officer chum of mine was shot in the face some time back. The majority of users are responsible enough I know, but I think that all air weapons that fall below 6 and 12ft/ibs should have a certificate like other firearms.

Present legislation says that people who commit certain offences cannot own a firearm for a certain amount of time or for not own one at all for more serious offences but I think more should be done.

AmaTeX · 19 Sep 2006 at 21:08

Licensing sub 12ftlb weapons effectively would be a near imposable task for a number of reasons. Mainly the amount of new applications and renewals for licensing authorities to deal with, some of them are struggling at the moment. Secondly how many people with sub 12ftlb weapons will register them or dump them? How many will slip through the net like with the recent legislation on brockock tac weapons. The enforcement and punishment will still be lame.

Whenever I teach people to shoot I make sure they have a good understanding of what they are holding and what they can do, this includes BB guns, air rifles and shotguns. The biggest problem in this country is the lack of respect for each other and not the legal use of firearms.

Amp34 · 20 Sep 2006 at 14:37

singist said:
Please explain why you are not reporting these people to the police; knowing about their activities and not reporting them negates the rest of your post as far as I'm concerned.

We can't say " it's ok when we are responsible" etc and then not report someone who takes pot shots at people ........

Ok yes well I may have been exagerating a little when I wrote that but there have bee a few times I have stopped someone I know from using an air weapon irrespoisibly to shoot things. IMHO I believe shooting birds (which a lot of people see as legitimate) is completly wrong. :rolleyes:

On the original subject, an airgun is a firearm and it should be treated and used with respect that all firearms should be used with. Unfortunately there are irresponsible idiots who use them and one lad I used to hang around with lost an eye from some cowardly wannabe sniper and a police officer chum of mine was shot in the face some time back. The majority of users are responsible enough I know, but I think that all air weapons that fall below 6 and 12ft/ibs should have a certificate like other firearms.

Maybe I'm a little pedantic(?) but technically an air rifle isn't a firearm and never has been. Maybe it's seen as one but its not. A firearm would imply a weapon using an explosive to propel the round not compressed air or a spring which air rifles use.

benjo plz. · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:09

Amp34 said:
Maybe I'm a little pedantic(?) but technically an air rifle isn't a firearm and never has been. Maybe it's seen as one but its not. A firearm would imply a weapon using an explosive to propel the round not compressed air or a spring which air rifles use.

CS Gas is classed as a firearm, so go figure

.

taliesyn · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:16

Amp34 said:
Maybe I'm a little pedantic(?) but technically an air rifle isn't a firearm and never has been. Maybe it's seen as one but its not. A firearm would imply a weapon using an explosive to propel the round not compressed air or a spring which air rifles use.

Not strictly true.

Any air pistol with a power greater than 6ft/lbs is prohibited by UK law as it is classed as a firearm, (and as we know, pistols are generally banned unless you have Section 5 authority for one on your FAC).

Any air rifle with a power greater than 12ft/lbs (16 Joules), is classed in the UK as a Section 1 firearm and the owner must list it on his Firearms Certificate (and must obtain authority to purchase/posess it). They can be owned, but only by an appropriate FAC holder.

Also if any air weapon is carried loaded in a public place, it is also classed as a firearm (irrespective of the power), which means that potential penalties come under the auspices of the Firearms Act, and the penalties imposed can (although in practice won't) be 5 years in prison and up to a £5000 fine.

Amp34 · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:18

I was thinking more along the lines of literal thinking not laws but still interesting.

taliesyn · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:20

Amp34 said:
I was thinking more along the lines of literal thinking not laws but still interesting.

I know, I just couldn't help myself

woodsy2k · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:42

AmaTeX said:
How long will it take for all the idiots who support the ban culture to learn that banning something never ever works!

The amount of people who can’t rationally think things through is truly scary. Banning is done out of ignorance and often a knee-jerk reaction to an event.
Example: handguns after dunblane.

and an example of how stupid the ban culture is: lets ban aeroplanes as they crash into skyscrapers and kill people.

Why don’t target the route of the problem before we jump on the self richeous bandwagon of ignorance and stupidity

I have to say I agree. Well put.

badgermonkey · 20 Sep 2006 at 15:50

Phnom_Penh said:
cigs, well there's no evidence they kill other people, .

Please say you're joking?