http://itn.co.uk/news/b8db5a4ddf679c9fd85215d31b8062b0.html

More stupid posturing.  Deactivated firearms have been proven to have been 
used in only a handful of crimes so even if effective, these proposals will 
make no difference whatsoever.  But undoubtedly they will not be effective 
as the government will follow the 'Brocock model' where Brocock air pistols 
were confiscated from their legal owners without compensation.  Not 
surprisingly only a tiny number of the over 75,000 sold in the UK were 
surrendered.  Given the vast sums of money invested in deactivated firearms 
by pretty well heeled collectors, I wouldn't be surprised to see the 
government challenged via the HRA on this one.

Typically, the media and the government (Home Secretary) have tried to link 
the deactivated firearms (in the attached video) to the murder if a young 
boy, even thought there is no evidence what so ever to linking his shooting 
with deactivated firearms.

Does anyone have any statistics on the number of deactivated firearms that 
have been used in crime? Presumably the government would do, as they and 
apparently the Police are claiming that deactivated guns are a problem in 
the UK. It's also interesting to note that the Home Secretary is also 
claiming that the UK guns laws are the toughest guns laws.

BTW Congratulations Colonel, as you've provided this NG with the only UK 
revenant subject in the past week and one of the few in the past month.

Chris

"Colonel Colt" <NoneOfYourBusiness@feckoff,org> wrote in message 
news:1200045578.31934.0@iris.uk.clara.net...
> http://itn.co.uk/news/b8db5a4ddf679c9fd85215d31b8062b0.html
>
> More stupid posturing.  Deactivated firearms have been proven to have been 
> used in only a handful of crimes so even if effective, these proposals 
> will make no difference whatsoever.  But undoubtedly they will not be 
> effective as the government will follow the 'Brocock model' where Brocock 
> air pistols were confiscated from their legal owners without compensation. 
> Not surprisingly only a tiny number of the over 75,000 sold in the UK were 
> surrendered.  Given the vast sums of money invested in deactivated 
> firearms by pretty well heeled collectors, I wouldn't be surprised to see 
> the government challenged via the HRA on this one.
>
>

"Chris D"  wrote in message 
news:4787eca8$0$13113$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
> Typically, the media and the government (Home Secretary) have tried to 
> link the deactivated firearms (in the attached video) to the murder if a 
> young boy, even thought there is no evidence what so ever to linking his 
> shooting with deactivated firearms.
>
Yes, typical dishonesty.

> Does anyone have any statistics on the number of deactivated firearms that 
> have been used in crime?
The Home Office's figures are that they were used in only 8 offences out of 
11,084 offences in 2006/2006 and only 2 involved reactivated deactivated 
firearms.  But ACPO say that it *estimates* that deactivated firearms are 
used in 10% of all criminally used firearms.  So the real figure lies 
between 0.07% and 10%.  Therefore over 90% of criminally used firearms are 
not deacts so these proposals will make no difference whatsoever.

> Presumably the government would do, as they and apparently the Police are 
> claiming that deactivated guns are a problem in the UK. It's also 
> interesting to note that the Home Secretary is also claiming that the UK 
> guns laws are the toughest guns laws.
>
I hate to say it but our laws certainly aren't the toughest.  Japan is more 
severe.  Our laws on antique firearms are pretty liberal, though fortunately 
these appear to have passed under the radar of the anti-gun nuts, such as 
the Gun Control Network, which doesn't even mention antique firearms on its 
web site.

> BTW Congratulations Colonel, as you've provided this NG with the only UK 
> revenant subject in the past week and one of the few in the past month.
>
This NG used to be a good place to debate the UK scene but it was destroyed 
by the American nutjobs and conspiracy theorists.  There is plenty to talk 
about so I plan to start posting again here.