DEADLINE FOR AIR GUN OWNERS (England)

[dischord]

Apr 6, 2004 20:00 ET

DEADLINE FOR AIR GUN OWNERS

London, 7 April/GNN/ --

HOME OFFICE News Release (150/2004) issued by the Government News Network
on 7 April 2004

PLEASE NOTE EMBARGO
Not for publication or broadcast before
0001 hours Thursday 8 Apr 2004

Owners of self-contained air cartridge guns got a blunt reminder today that
they need to apply for a firearms certificate before 30 April 2004 or face
a minimum five-year prison sentence.

The crackdown on ownership of these weapons, which were used in at least 80
serious crimes including murder between 2001 and 2002, is part of wide-ranging
Government work to tackle gun crime.

From 30 April, anyone found in possession of a self-contained air cartridge
gun without the appropriate police firearms certificate will face the new
five-year mandatory minimum sentence for illegal possession of a prohibited
firearm introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Anyone who owns one of these guns but does not want to apply for a firearms
certificate may hand it in to the police for disposal before 30 April.

Home Office Minister Caroline Flint said:

"We have seen an unacceptable rise in gun crime in recent years, which is
why we are taking a broad range of actions to reverse the trend.

"Because this particular type of air weapon has been increasingly used in
crime we have acted to ensure they cannot fall into the wrong hands. Anyone
caught with one of these guns will face a prison sentence of at least five
years if they do not have a valid police certificate.

"We do not want to criminalise legitimate sporting shooters, which is why
existing owners may keep their guns if the police are satisfied that they
are fit to be entrusted with such a weapon, but this is their last chance
to apply for a certificate if they want to keep within the law and avoid a
lengthy prison sentence."

Simon Taylor, ACPO spokesman on Firearms licensing and Assistant Chief
Constable of Norfolk Constabulary, said:

"Until 30th April, there is an opportunity for people who currently possess
a self contained air cartridge system type air weapon to continue to legally
possess them. However, from that date the new Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003
will make it unlawful to possess this type of air weapon unless they are in
possession of an appropriate firearm certificate.

"If people wish to make their possession of these air weapons legal then I
urge them to apply to their local Police Firearms Licensing Department for
the appropriate firearms certificate prior to 30th April. Failure to do so
will make them liable after this date to a mandatory five year prison sentence
upon conviction. Alternatively, those wanting to legally dispose of these
air weapons should take them to a police station before the end of April."

The new laws covering ownership of self-contained air cartridge guns are
part of a range of measures introduced in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act
2003, which also saw a ban on carrying imitation and air guns in public
and raised the age limit for ownership of an air gun to 17. In addition,
the Government is working closely with police and community groups to crack
down on gun culture, and held a successful amnesty which took over 40,000
guns and a million rounds of ammunition off the streets.

Notes to editors

1. On 20 January 2004, under the provisions of the Anti-Social Behaviour
Act 2003, it became on offence to manufacture, sell, purchase, transfer or
acquire any air weapon that uses a self-contained gas cartridge system.

2. Anyone who already owns one of these weapons must obtain a firearms
certificate for it from the police. Applications for firearm certificates
must be made before 30 April 2004. Alternatively, existing owners can hand
their weapon into the police for disposal before 30 April.

3. From 30 April is will be an offence, punishable by a minimum of five
years and a maximum of 10 years imprisonment to posess a self-contained gas
cartridge weapon without the necessary firearm certificate.

4. The ban applies to any air rifle, air gun or pistol that uses, or is
designed or adapted for use with a self-contained gas cartridge system. It
does not apply to weapons that use a CO2 bulb system because CO2 bulbs do
not contain a projectile and are therefore not self-contained.

5. Existing owners who wish to apply for a firearms certificate should contact
their local police firearm licensing department. The police must be satisfied
that an applicant is fit to be entrusted with the gun, will not represent
a danger to public safety or to the peace and is not a prohibited person.

6. The five-year mandatory minimum sentence for illegal possession of a
prohibited firearm was introduced on 22 January. (Home Office press notice
027/2004 refers.)

http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/...lines&criteriadisplay=show&resourceid=2658739

 

[Wildalaska]

We do not want to criminalise legitimate sporting shooters, which is why existing owners may keep their guns if the police are satisfied that theyare fit to be entrusted with such a weapon
,

ROTFLMAO

WildidberightonthenextplaneoutAlaska

 

[RatFink]

The crackdown on ownership of these weapons, which were used in at least 80 serious crimes including murder between 2001 and 2002, is part of wide-ranging Government work to tackle gun crime.

WHAT?!!? did the victim die 4 days later from lead poisoning because of a pellet in his butt?

 

[Unlucky]

Anti-Social Behaviour Act

This sounds straight out of "1984."

 

[inventory0297]

Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003

All persons not using proper forms of INGSOC or suspected of engaging in ThoughtCrime will be subject to immediate reprogramming and deportatation to the EastAsian front........refer to your telescreen for more information

I'm just waiting for the Home Office to be "absolutely horrified" by the wave of drive-by slingshottings

 

[Ben Shepherd]

You know the more I think about what is happening over there, the less I feel like even joking about it.
It's downright sad.

Could you honestly live with all those restrictions? I couldn't.
(For those who do, you have my sympathy)

 

[TimRB]

"You know the more I think about what is happening over there, the less I feel like even joking about it.
It's downright sad."

I understand the sentiment, but in my view it's all perfectly appropriate. The British have been subjects for over a thousand years. To this day they tolerate a monarch. They are getting exactly what they deserve and want. That is why America exists.

Tim