MikeEve
member
Reged: 06/02/2008
Posts: 19
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See -
http://psa.bizhosting.com/Interesting.html
I would have liked to post a link to the original 1998 press release on the Home Office Website, but as usual the search facility doesn't work, and pages are either missing or hidden in some obscure corner.... try it for yourself, maybe you'll have more luck than I did, and if you do, please post the link here if you can ?
http://press.homeoffice.gov.uk/?view=Search+results&form=advanced
However, it's now the years since the Home Office issued a triumphant press release about the 1998 Firearms (Amendment) Act.
ARE we any safer, HAS it saved lives?
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KevDerby
member
Reged: 01/03/2008
Posts: 2
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Legally held pistols, the property of responsible approved persons were never a problem. However illegally held pistols seem to be on the increase, 108 confiscated in Liverpool recently on the news. So no, we are no safer and there's no evidence it has saved lives.
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Insolentsquid
member
Reged: 16/11/2007
Posts: 12
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Quite the reverse in fact - Home office figures show that injuries from handguns have tripled since the ban.
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Baduila
member
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1
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The only people who were affected by this act were responsible gun owners. Criminals who wanted to obtain guns before this act was in place continued to do what they did after this act was put in place i.e. obtain weapons illegaly. Only safety conscious responsible gun owners were persecuted by this.
Introducing such restrictive and severe laws as far as gun ownership is concerned is not a means to restrict or even stop gun crime. Those who wish to obtain illegal weapons and commit illegal acts are certainly not going to attempt an application for any kind of firearm license.
As far as pistols are concerned there is now effectively no Practical Pistol competitions in the UK (other than the variant air pistol disciplines) any more despite this being considered the benchmark for gun handling safety at a sporting event.
And in answer to the question, no I dont feel any safer.
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VinceGreen
member
Reged: 11/05/2008
Posts: 19
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The pistol ban came about because the Cullen report coincided with a General Election and the promise to ban all handguns was a cheap throw away election promise by Tony Blair. It cost billions, people lost their businesses, and their homes.
Like other posters have already said, it achieved nothing.
You have to remember there were some shadowy organisations like the Snowdrop Campaign pushing for a ban. The Snowdrop Campaign was supposedly a group of outraged mothers. If you believe that you will believe anything. They were funded and organised.They collected millions in donations and then disappeared without a trace. Never published any accounts.
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MikeEve
member
Reged: 06/02/2008
Posts: 19
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"a cheap throw away election promise by Tony Blair."
Just a moment - wasn't it the Conservative government who banned our pistols ? and who banned Self-loading full-bore rifles? Who put Shotguns onto the current regime?
All the Labour party did was refuse to enact a small part of the 1997 Firearms (Amendment) Act which might have kept a small part of .22 pistol shooting going under extremely onerous conditions.
I believe it's best to place blame where it's due, however much we might dislike the current government.
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VinceGreen
member
Reged: 11/05/2008
Posts: 19
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John Major first said he would not be rushed to a decision but would wait for the outcome of the Cullen Enquiry. In the build up to the General Election this became a weakness that was exploited mercilessly by Labour.
Major then went back on his original word and said they would ban centre fire pistols before the Cullen Enquiry had reported. This was entirely due to the relentless criticism from Labour.
When the announcement was made Tony Blair said "Thats no good, if Labour are elected we will ban all pistols"
Thats what I mean about a throw away line from Tony Blair. Although the Tories announced they would ban centre fire pistols they never actually did because they didn't have time. The pistol ban, including .22s was part of the new Labour Govt's package after they won the Election.
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Blade
member
Reged: 12/10/2007
Posts: 22
Loc: West Mids.
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Listening to the radio on the way home to night they announced the results of a govt / police initiative to cut (inner city) gun crime - according to the news on the radio gun crime has actually risen by 4% since the initiative started - police / govt spokesman said they were encouraged! - what that it has only risen by 4% or that it has risen by 4% and its good ammo to have another pop at us?
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DrStrangeglove
member
Reged: 23/05/2008
Posts: 4
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I used to thoroughly enjoy practical pistol. It was a sport that made my heart beat and I came away from a shoot feeling good.
Before, after or during the shoot I never wanted to:
Call anyone a ***** because they were beating my team.
Throw coins at other spectators.
Rip apart parts of the range as trophies after a win.
Racially abuse participants.
Rip apart transport on the way to the range.
Generally create nuisance.
And that is why I have been enraged ever since the ban.
I have however just started shooting practical shotgun. After all the years after the ban I have not found a discipline that I wanted to practice on such a regular basis until now. I am determined not to let work (excessive overtime) get in the way this time. Any sad ex practical pistol shooters should give it a go!
And no I don’t feel any safer since the ban!
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