What "serious crime"?
You think buying a rifle is a serious crime?
Seriously?
You think 6 years in prison is an appropriate penalty for the "serious crime" of buying a rifle?
Seriously?
Underneath all the blather about whether these guys were or were not dirtbags lies the complete disconnect with reality.
A .22LR rifle is NOT a 'sniper rifle'.
A .22LR rifle is the least powerful rifle commonly available anywhere.
The idea that buying a .22LR rifle (or any other rifle) without the government's permission constitutes some sort of heinous crime is insane. Nuts. Whacko. Bonkers. Mad.
You can come on this forum and make apologies for, and try to explain away, the UK's insane and idiotic firearms laws if you like. It's a Free Republic.
But it's increasingly discrediting both you and your country.
1—Convicted criminals (one on licence) with gang affliations and violent track records buying a rifle, hollowpoint ammo, silencer and a scope is serious.
As you know, its legal to own a rifle in the UK, as long as the rifle and ‘accessories’ arent banned.
The rifle however was an ‘illegally held’ weapon (ie it hadnt been registered and had been smuggled into the UK), hollowpoint ammo is illegal in the UK. Silencers and scopes are of course legal.
The men were convicted on possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and illegal possession of a firearm. They werent up in court for the crime of buying a rifle, as its perfectly legal to own one as long as you adhere to the gun laws.
2—The British gun laws are what they are. You think they are stupid. Many British would say that the easy availabilty of guns in America with little or no checks is equally insane.
3—Nope, try again. I have agreed with many here that many of the 20thC UK gun laws have been ill-advised and some downright wrong. All I do here is to explain the laws (as a Brit and gunowner) and try and correct myths and errors in posts.
Thank you