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Britain Announces Jail Term for Guns
AP / The Guardian, UK ^ | 01.06.2003 | JILL LAWLESS

Posted on 01/07/2003 10:06:18 AM PST by EBUCK

Britain Announces Jail Term for Guns By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) - Britain will introduce a minimum five-year jail sentence for carrying an illegal firearm, a bid to stamp out a growing "gun culture" on the streets, the government said Monday.

The decision - which would apply to handguns and automatic weapons, firearms most often used in crime - came as the shooting deaths of two teenagers last week reignited the debate on gun violence. A ban on replica guns that can be adapted to fire live bullets also is reportedly under consideration.

"While we already have some of the toughest gun laws in the world, there has been an unacceptable increase in the flagrant use of guns in crime across the country," said Home Secretary David Blunkett.

"We will not tolerate an escalation of the number of guns on our streets," he added.

There is currently no minimum sentence for carrying a prohibited weapon. The maximum is 10 years, but many offenders receive much less.

The new rule will be added to the Criminal Justice Bill, currently before Parliament. If lawmakers approve it, the bill should become law by the end of the year.

Officials said the change was planned before the killings of two teenagers outside a party in the English city of Birmingham last week, which shocked a nation where gun crime is relatively rare.

Latisha Shakespear, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, were killed and two other teenagers were wounded when gunmen opened fire outside a party at a Birmingham hair salon Jan. 2. Police believe all four were innocent bystanders caught in a turf war between street gangs.

Britain banned handguns in 1997 after the massacre of 16 children and a teacher at a primary school in Dunblane, Scotland.

There were 73 gun homicides in England and Wales in the 2000-2001 financial year, and guns were used in only 0.1 percent of all crimes reported that year. But government crime statistics due to be released later this week are expected to show an increase in the number of crimes involving firearms.

Writing in Sunday's News of the World newspaper, London Police chief Sir John Stevens blamed violent images in popular culture.

"This culture of mindless violence, which has sprung partly from the increasing influence of Jamaican and American culture and the glorification of gang warfare, must be stopped," wrote Stevens, who heads London's Metropolitan Police.

Other experts say shootings are often linked to battles over the drug trade, and that guns have flooded into Britain from the Balkans over the last decade.

Blunkett plans to meet police chiefs, immigration officials and community workers in London on Friday to discuss ways of stopping the spread of guns.

2003-01-06 13:51:43 GMT


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: banglist; crazybrits; failedpolicy; freshfruit; guncontrol; pointedsticks
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"While we already have some of the toughest gun laws in the world, there has been an unacceptable increase in the flagrant use of guns in crime across the country," said Home Secretary David Blunkett.

"We will not tolerate an escalation of the number of guns on our streets," he added.

Well...DUH, what did you think was gonna happen??!!

Crazy Brits.

EBUCK

1 posted on 01/07/2003 10:06:18 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: EBUCK; Shooter 2.5; *bang_list
Ping/Bump....

The ultimate effects of gun control, gun crime.

EBUCK
2 posted on 01/07/2003 10:07:24 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: EBUCK
What better proof that the Brits are morons? Problem with illegal guns? Pass laws making it really, REALLY illegal to own guns. Since criminals always obey the laws... problem solved!
3 posted on 01/07/2003 10:09:38 AM PST by pabianice
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To: EBUCK
Dumb . . . ass . . .

No other words successfully describe such stupidity.

4 posted on 01/07/2003 10:11:38 AM PST by AmishDude
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To: EBUCK
The British sheep are on their way to the slaughterhouse, without complaint.
5 posted on 01/07/2003 10:12:17 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: EBUCK
>"This culture of mindless violence, which has sprung partly from the increasing influence of Jamaican and American culture and the glorification of gang warfare, must be stopped," wrote Stevens, who heads London's Metropolitan Police.

Hey, they're blaming us!
Well, when they go Islamic,
they'll stop watching films...

6 posted on 01/07/2003 10:12:55 AM PST by theFIRMbss
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To: pabianice; glock rocks; blackie; BrowningBAR; PatriotGames; elbucko; Poohbah
there has been an unacceptable increase in the flagrant use of guns in crime across the country

"Flagrant Increase" PING!!!

7 posted on 01/07/2003 10:13:13 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: Rye
They're complaining alright, about their inability to defend themselves....

"How come the criminals don't obey the laws?"

EBUCK
8 posted on 01/07/2003 10:14:28 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: pabianice
I think the Brits should be denied tea time if they're found with a gun in their possession. That would really REALLY crush them.
9 posted on 01/07/2003 10:17:58 AM PST by Humidston
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To: EBUCK
"While we already have some of the toughest gun laws in the world, there has been an unacceptable increase in the flagrant use of guns in crime across the country," said Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Well, there you have it. Flagrant proof positive that gun laws cause gun crime.
Does that mean the people who pass gun laws are flagrant criminals?
Can they be prosecuted flagrantly?

10 posted on 01/07/2003 10:18:16 AM PST by HiJinx (Dream on!)
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To: EBUCK
This from a Handgun Control Inc postcard... In 1990 handguns killed 22 people in Great Brittan....

That includes both murder and legit killings. Now the number, 73?

Guns are like nukes, when only one has it, it tends to get used.
11 posted on 01/07/2003 10:23:31 AM PST by NJ Mountain Goat
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To: HiJinx
Can they be prosecuted flagrantly?

No, because flagrant prosecution would lead to flagrant rump raping for the elite.

EBUCK

12 posted on 01/07/2003 10:26:13 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: NJ Mountain Goat
Yah, that's a whopping 332% increase!!

Gun control works...perhaps we should pressure Afganistan into a strict, UK style, of gun control. We could pull our troops out and in a few decades the problems would be solved.

EBUCK
13 posted on 01/07/2003 10:28:00 AM PST by EBUCK
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To: NJ Mountain Goat
In 1990 handguns killed 22 people in Great Brittan....

No wonder they're sending those guns to jail (see headline of original post)! They up and killed 22 people all by themselves! I'd lock those guns up too! </ sarcasm>

14 posted on 01/07/2003 10:47:25 AM PST by TrappedInLiberalHell
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To: EBUCK
Just goes to prove that when guns are outlawed, only OUTLAWS will have guns!!!
15 posted on 01/07/2003 10:52:07 AM PST by RetiredArmy
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To: EBUCK
Then they better build A LOT more prisons.
16 posted on 01/07/2003 10:54:03 AM PST by copycat
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To: RetiredArmy
Only outlaws and those that make the laws...

17 posted on 01/07/2003 10:54:22 AM PST by EBUCK ((does this work,,,is it new?))
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To: EBUCK
Meanwhile, there's no jail time for first time burglers.
What's wrong with THIS picture?
18 posted on 01/07/2003 10:55:46 AM PST by Puppage
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To: Puppage
THEY'RE BRITISH!!! That's whats wrong with that picture.

EBUCK
19 posted on 01/07/2003 10:57:28 AM PST by EBUCK (On guard in Oregon.)
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To: EBUCK
Ah, yes. The joys of being a SUBJECT, rather than a CITIZEN.
20 posted on 01/07/2003 11:07:48 AM PST by Puppage
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