U.K. "hand Over Your Guns"

[cuchulainn]

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12694084&method=full&siteid=89488

HAND OVER YOUR GUNS

Mar 3 2003


Amnesty on illegal firearms

Andrew Walker



POLICE will stage a firearms amnesty in a bid to sweep guns off Scotland's streets.

The move comes before a promised crackdown on gun and knife crime by the Executive.

The four week amnesty will last from the end of March until the end of April and run in tandem with a similar operation in England and Wales.

The last nationwide gun amnesty was after the Dunblane massacre seven years ago.

A total of 23,000 guns were later surrendered across the UK - 3428 in Scotland.

First Minister Jack McConnell said: "Those who have illegal weapons must realise that we are serious and hand them in during this current amnesty.

"Labour's manifesto for the election in May will have proposals for tougher action and tougher sentences on gun and knife possession and crime."

Justice minister Jim Wallace added: "I hope the removal of the threat of prosecution will encourage people to come forward and hand over illegal, unregistered or unwanted firearms.

"These types of weapons are a source of concern in our communities."

The Executive is also considering a knives amnesty later in the year.

Last night, the firearms amnesty was welcomed by anti-gun campaigners.

Dr Mick North, whose daughter Sophie was killed at Dunblane, said: "This can only be one of a number of measures to reduce the availability of firearms. Of course it can't be totally effective, but it has to be one of a number of measures.

"I am certainly supportive of an amnesty. I welcome anything that will reduce the number of guns that are available."

And Jill Marshall Andrews of the Gun Control Network said: "We are very pleased about this.

"We hope people will also hand in imitation weapons. There is a tide of public opinion against replicas you can buy without too many questions being asked."

Lord Advocate Colin Boyd said anyone handing in illegal guns would not be prosecuted under the Firearms Act 1968.

But he said immunity will not cover offences involving the use of guns.

Police will still be able to check surrendered weapons to decide if forensic tests should be carried out.

However, it is expected most of the weapons handed in will be destroyed.

Gun crime rose by 10 per cent in Scotland in 2001.

Last month the Record revealed how Scotland's biggest police force, Strathclyde, seized more than 20 weapons in two weeks.

But the number of legally-owned firearms is at an all-time low.

Official figures for last year showed 60,000 firearms and 120,000 shotguns legally- owned in Scotland - one for every 12 households.

 

[twoblink]

Watch that crime rate, go up yet again..

Don't bother me with facts, nor causual relationships.

 

[Marko Kloos]

Blatant fabrication. Everybody knows there are no guns in the UK...they banned them a few years ago.

 

[Baba Louie]

Good for them. Take the guns off the streets. They get in the way and are hard on the tyres, doncha know.

I've really been thinking about buying one of those UK approved handguns that Taurus (and S&W) makes; you know the ones, 12" barreled revolver with a wrist support thingy for a total length of 24" or so.

Be a bear to holster. Maybe a sling?

They're... interesting.

And, so I've read, still legal in the UK, as long as they're kept in the socially accepted safekeeping lock-box, approved by your local police, you have proper authorization, belong to the proper organization and keep any ammo away from them properly locked up in a different location in their police approved and authorized lock-box and are subject to a search now and then.
But never, ever to be used for self-defense (I think the BG could hurt himself from laughing so hard rolling around on the floor if you tried to bring one to bear)... "Do wait a minute old chap, let me get my keys, if you please".

What could be more simple?

Egads man. I'm glad now that my great-grandfather emigrated from Scotland way back when.

Adios