| Say NO
to further firearms legislation in the UK |
| For
the last decade, decent and honest users and collectors of all types of
firearm have suffered because of the actions of a small minority. The BAN,
BAN, BAN approach has been used by Government to give some of the
strictest (and unfair?) firearms legislation in the World. At present, the
GCN (Gun Control Network) is lobbying ministers and the FCC (Firearms
Consultative Committee) to press for even tougher legislation. Recent
press releases have indicated a desire on behalf of the Government to ban
replica handguns. Other things on the list of items to be scrutinized (and
banned/legislated against?) include antique weapons, deactivated weapons,
air weapons, airsoft weapons and shotguns. This site is made available to
you so that you can share your views on further legislation with the
'decision makers' in the UK. |
| Information |
As you may be aware there has
been some press on this subject recently, including a pledge
from the Home Office minister Charles Clarke MP to support the Gun Control
Network's campaign to "abolish" replica guns.
One of the principle claims of the organisation called the Gun Control
Network is that there is some increasing threat to public safety from
replica guns. As support for this argument they point out the large
increase in the imports of replicas over the past few years, using DTI
figures. This increase supposedly fuels the new 'UK Gun Culture'.
In reality, there has been a 52% increase in the imports of replicas since
1997 (as the GCN correctly points out) because the possession of low power
guns powered by carbon dioxide became legal without a firearm certificate
due to Section 48 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. Most of these guns
are made in Germany by a company called Umarex, and as the DTI figures
show, the imports from Germany have increased by around 100% since 1997,
accounting for nearly all of the overall 52% increase in imports.
The simple reason for the increase in imports is the reduction in
controls, a reduction it must be noted that was overwhelmingly supported
by the Labour Party when they voted for the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997.
Yet now the Home Office minister wants to "abolish" replicas,
according to a quote from the Sunday Times.
Certainly there are crimes committed with replicas, however, given that
the most recent Home Office statistics how that 42 people were murdered
from March 1999 to March 2000 (highest level for seven years) in England
and Wales with real handguns, the Government has little to be proud about
on the "let's ban guns in the name of public safety" front.
Perhaps the suggestion of banning replicas is a limp attempt to distract
the public from the Government's appalling record on fighting real armed
crime, especially in areas where it is obvious that the crimes have been
committed with real guns. Unless of course the minister is going to
suggest that banning replica guns (along with bananas, sticks,
fingers and anything else that could vaguely be mistaken for a firearm)
will reduce firearm-related homicide levels.
A ban on 'replicas' could extend to those
Co2 guns that are modelled on real handguns, airsoft guns which are
obviously modelled directly on military weapons and even toy guns which
are life size! The jury is still out on deactivated weapons, antique
weapons, airguns and shotguns, but if you are serious collector/user of
these, don't just sit back and wait for things to get worse - be
pro-active NOW. |
| Petition |
 Click
on the link shown left to visit the petition site. If you feel strongly
about this issue then PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION. Please type in your full
name (not just your forename or a nickname) and put your postcode into the
address box rather than your full address. If you are worried about 'big
brother' knowing who you are then perhaps you shouldn't sign? BUT
remember, this may be your last chance to show support and
communicate the
strength of feeling on this issue. To view the petition
signatures click on the link shown right. |
| Message
Board |
| This has been set up in
order that you can post a SENSIBLE message of support. Offensive or
derogatory messages should not be left. Whilst you may feel annoyed
and victimised by current or future planned legislation, this type
of comment would not help our cause. Such messages will be removed
without consultation. Click the links shown right. |
|
|
| Links |
| The
Times - article 08/03/01 |
| The
Times - article 08/03/01 |
| Controls
Over Firearms (Government response to the Home Affairs Committee Report
II) - PDF Download |
| Deactivated
Gun Collectors Association (DGCA) |
Christian
Aid calls for increased gun control
 |
| The
Gun Control Network |
| What
else can you do?
|
-
Write
to your local MP and get others to do so. Put your views across
strongly, but intelligently.
-
Write
to the Home Office Minister Charles Clarke. Put your views across
strongly, but intelligently.
-
Visit
your local MP at his/her surgery and get others to do so. Work out
what you want to say beforehand.
-
Contact
the prospective Parliamentary Candidates of all parties and ask their
views – especially as we approach what is a very important time for
them all
-
Discuss
the matter with everyone - friends, family, work colleagues, etc. Not
just people with the same interests as you. Put over your side of the
story. Public opinion means everything; particularly to politicians.
-
If
you are a member of a shooting discipline club or a collectors
society, then make other members of your club/society aware of this
issue. Get them to sign the online petition. If a paper-based version
would be more appropriate for a number of people to sign, then mail me
– I will try to provide one.
- Don’t
become complacent – keep your ear to the ground. If you see press
articles on this issue then mail me, so that I can share them via this
site.
|
| News
|
|
30/11/01 - Not a great deal seems to be happening at present.
The FCC has not published its most recent thoughts/advice, but
ministers are probably aware of what its main recommendations will be.
The Afghanistan war has put many things on a back burner. As it draws
to an end, no doubt attention will focus in again on our so called gun
cilture. |
| 13/05/01
- I caught the end of a Labour Party election advert (not a Party
Political Broadcast). It was basically a showcase for what they have
achieved in their last term. I was surprised (but perhaps I
shouldn't be) that up there along with their efforts to ban
landmines, one of their proudest achievements was the banning of
handguns in the UK. I don't want to be political here, but that
surely sends us a message ..... |
| 30/04/01
- Reply received from organisers of the War and Peace Show regarding
table space for a paper petition. They are unable to provide any
space for free. |
| 19/04/01
- Site/Petition featured in Gun Mart. Unfortunately, petition URL is
now incorrect and the site URL is printed incorrectly! However, the
correct site URL is shown in the body of the text. |
| 12/04/01
- The new petition is now online. All signatures (hopefully) have
been transferred across. |
| 06/04/01 - I have been
informed that the site hosting the petition is due to close on April
13th. This is obviously not very helpful. I have set up a copy of
the petition elsewhere and am in the process of transferring all of
the existing signatures across. It is identical (in wording, etc.)
to the previous one. If you have already signed and object to me
transferring your signature, then please mail me. The new petition
will hopefully be available through this site early next week.
Please continue using the existing petition until then. |
| 06/04/01 - In a response
to a DGCA letter on the subject of further legislation, the Home
Office states that 'It is true to say that there is general support
for a move to ban replica firearms, at least in public places'.
Unless my understanding of the law is incorrect, it is already a
crime to brandish a replica in a public place, i.e. legislation
already (rightly) exists on this matter. The response goes on
to say 'Nevertheless, the Government is aware that there are
legitimate uses for these items such as in theatre and film
production and in sports such as airsoft. There is also the
problem of suitably defining the term "replica firearm" so
that any legislation does not bite on such things as water pistols
or other obvious children's toys. Because of these difficulties,
Ministers have referred the matter to the Firearms Consultative
Committee for their consideration'. So we have to hope that the FCC
(who at times seem too heavily influenced by the GCN) see
sense. |
| 05/04/01 - Letter
received from the organisers of the Birmingham International Arms
Fair stating that they are looking into providing space for a paper
petition at the next fair. |
| 23/03/01 - I have written
to the editor of Gun Mart to ask for assistance in raising awareness
of the petition and site. Last week, I received confirmation that
there will be some kind of feature in next month's edition. |
| 23/03/01 - Last week, I
contacted the organisers of the Birmingham and Nottingham Arms Fairs
as well as Rex Cadman for the War and Peace Show. I asked if they
would be prepared to have a paper version of the petition near to
the entrance of each event. I have received no replies to date. |
| 16/03/01 - Articles from Gun Mart
April 2001 - I feel that it would be inappropriate to reproduce the
text of these articles here, but many of you I know, will have
access to Gun Mart. |
|
Sportsman's Association -
The growing influence of the ACPO - Page 28
|
|
Sportsman's Association -
Good reason to possess
shotguns - Page 26
|
|
| Contact
us |
| Email: support@say-no.freeservers.com |
Airgunners - Protect your sport!