and found myself thinking, "It's only been a little over 100 years since England....How are the mighty fallen."
Posted on 04/22/2005 10:14:58 AM PDT by neverdem
The Labour government today indicated new moves towards a possible ban on imitation guns – less than a year after the Home Office appeared to rule out such a measure.
Last May, the Government published a paper which said a wholesale ban on replica firearms would be impractical.
But as new figures showed offences involving imitation firearms rocketed by 66% last year, Home Secretary Charles Clarke said he planned to launch a new consultation on a possible ban.
“We will introduce a flagship Violent Crime Reduction Bill within weeks of the General Election,” said Mr Clarke.
“It will tackle the ownership and use of replica firearms and knives, propose tougher sentences for knife and gun crime, and new measures on anti-social behaviour.
“We will consult on banning replica and imitation guns, which account for a high proportion of gun crime.”
Last May’s document said there were legal difficulties in drawing up such a ban.
For example, experts have struggled with how to prohibit imitation weapons without outlawing water pistols and other toy guns.
“It has proved difficult to find a workable legal definition of an imitation firearm,” it said.
“We do not believe that the level of effort required by agencies to administer additional restrictions is offset by public safety gains.”
Pointing out that carrying an imitation firearm in public without reasonable excuse was made an arrestable offence under Labour’s Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, it added: “We do not therefore propose that imitations are licensed or their sales restricted.”
But it did ask for responses on whether imitations should be prohibited.
Home Office minister Caroline Flint said at the time: “I can’t envisage a wholesale ban on imitation and replica firearms.”
She said there were difficulties in making such a ban an “enforceable reality”.
However, Prime Minister Tony Blair later insisted in the House of Commons that a Home Office review of gun laws would be “absolutely open” and would include imitation firearms.
Most other countries do not have bans on imitation weapons but in the Netherlands imitations, even toy guns which resemble the real thing, are subject to licensing.
In 2003 a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gun Crime called for a complete ban on the import, sale and manufacture of replica firearms.
In London more than half of weapons seized by police are converted replicas.
The Gun Control Network has long backed a ban, and has even drafted legislation to prohibit the sale, importation and manufacture of imitations.
Results of the May 2004 consultation paper are still being considered by the Home Office.
When the owners refuse to hand these harmless toy guns in, we'll eventually see a report of someone in the UK being charged with 'possession of a deadly weapon'.
When fake guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have fake guns!!
Fingers are next!
"Like a prick, you are having second thoughts. You are shrinking, and your two little b---s are shrinking with ya. The fact that you've got "Replica" written down the side of your gun. (withdraws his gun) And the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point five O" written on the side of mine, should precipitate your b---s into shrinking, along with your presence."
And after that, they'll ban PICTURES of 'em.
IDIOTS.
Can you answer a genuine question. Why would anyone need a replica gun?
beat me to it. great scene, great movie.
depends on what they are thinking of banning.
airsoft is beginning to supplant paintball as a combat-simulation sport. airsoft guns look DAMNED close to real.
Check out the British government's latest crazy gun control proposal. The Labour party are insane!
It might be simpler for them if they just outlaw human beings. (end of severe sarcasm)
and found myself thinking, "It's only been a little over 100 years since England....How are the mighty fallen."
On a visit to the UK, I was surprised to see shop windows filled with handsome replicas of any type of gun. Not only handguns but sub-machine guns too. These weren't toys . My host said they were intended for the collectors market.
But in a country where you expect the average citizen to be unarmed, it would be just as effective as a real one if shoved in your face during a robbery. It struck me as nutty to have them for sale to anyone... along with sabers, daggers and machetes.
The bane of Freedom.
I had one of those!!
This is exactly what I am saying. In Britain where only farmers and gangsters have ever seen a gun never mind used one, replicas are used widely to rob banks etc.
I know of a young child who was held in a Bank Robbery, and the gun turned out to be a replica. She was terrified for months. People may disagree with it but it is hardly insane to clamp down on them.
Whoa; Fragmentation bomb?
From the movie "Snatch," one of my favorites.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.