Petition Signatures: 0397 (08/11/01)

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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 to SIGN the petitionClick 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 yourClick to VIEW signatures 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.
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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

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