| MikeEve |
| (member) |
| 08/07/2008 14:29 |
Air gun registration ?
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I see there's an "Early Day Motion" in Parliament asking to bring forward proposals for a registration requirement that holds air gun owners responsible for the use of air guns."
In fact, air gun deaths and injures are falling, and are now at their lowest for over thirty years !
AND registration doesn't save lives either - see "OF INTEREST TO EVERYONE IN THE UK" half-way down the page at http://psa.bizhosting.com/Interesting.html
The EDM is at -
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDe...84&SESSION=891
| Alastair_Balmain |
| (stranger) |
| 08/07/2008 17:28 |
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Re: Air gun registration ?
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Hi Mike,
Thank you very much for bringing that to out attention — it's the language of the motion that I find particularly annoying in that it calls on the Government to bring forward "proposals for a registration requirement that holds air gun owners responsible for the use of their air guns".
There's no presumption in there that airgun owners can be responsible for their airguns without Government interference. And of course the responsible majority are the ones who would sign up dutifully should such a scheme be brought about, while the unlawful minority wouldn't give two hoots.
I'd love to know how Joan Walley MP (appropriate name...) plans to bring such a scheme into being when the police can only just about cope with their current responsibilities with regard to firearms and shotgun licensing.
I'm sure others have an opinion — there may be some forum members out there who feel it might be worth lobbying your local MP to table a suitable amendment to this EDM which I think does absolutely nothing to address the crime it seeks to curtail.
Alastair.
| JohnS |
| (member) |
| 27/07/2008 11:59 |
Re: Air gun registration ?
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I couldn't help noticing the air gun registration discussion. Here in the not-quite-relevant environs of Nova Scotia (and, indeed, across Canada) any air gun with a muzzle velocity in excess of 500 fps is categorized as a "firearm". That means it cannot be acquired without a government-issued firearms acquisition certificate, and cannot be held or used without proof of registration. These jolly circumstances resulted some years ago subsequent to the death of a young girl behind a shop counter at the hands of an illegal immigrant holding a fully automatic and equally illegal firearm. This ghastly business occurred in the riding of the federal attorney general of the time, a wholly urban gentleman who probably had trouble distinguishing a field of barley from a soccer pitch. Net result was that farmers and sport gunners just had to be punished...and it trickled down to air guns as well. British sportsmen really need to get onto this Walley business--the thin edge of the wedge and all that. Good luck!
| 555db555 |
| (member) |
| 30/08/2008 10:29 |
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Re: Air gun registration ?
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the thin edge of the wedge and all that.
johnS, what do you mean hear by thin end of the wedge?
| camies |
| (member) |
| 12/11/2008 15:37 |
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Re: Air gun registration ?
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Good idea this registration bit.
Does not go far enough though.
All firearms, shotguns, or airguns should be limited to use only cork bullets or pellets as appropiate.
| OldJon |
| (member) |
| 27/11/2008 22:36 |
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Re: Air gun registration ?
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The Telegraph reported on 7 November
"Grandfather arrested after confronting gang with air rifle
A grandfather was arrested after using an unloaded air rifle to confront a gang of youths who had fired rockets at his house."
"Alan Parker, 62, said he felt like a prisoner in his own home for two years during which he was plagued by teenagers.
He said gangs repeatedly vandalised his car, causing £5,000 damage, and threw bricks and eggs at his window.
The retired lorry driver, who suffers from a heart condition, finally "snapped" on Halloween when fireworks rained down on his terraced house in a quiet cul-de-sac in Hertford.
Several rockets exploded against his front window just inches from his gas meter.
Mr Parker, a keen game shooter who holds a shotgun licence, took out his .177 air rifle, marched across the street and confronted a group of eight to ten teenagers who then fled.
But minutes later armed police arrived at his home, surrounded the house and cordoned off the road.
Four shotguns, for which Mr Parker had a licence, and cartridges from his gun cabinet were seized by police, as well as the air gun.
The grandfather-of-four was arrested and taken to a police station where he was given a caution for possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence."
What difference would licencing have made in this situation?
I think he should have considered taking his shotguns out with him instead. Much more respect.