Scotland-cannons-criminal

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

LAR-15

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
3,385
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4404318

Cannons Owner 'Destroyed' by Firearms Conviction

By Dave Higgens, PA


A former giftshop owner who fired his cannons at a seaside resort to welcome historic ships said today that a conviction for breaching his firearms certificate has devastated his life.

Peter Budd, from Whitby, admitted three breaches of his certificate at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday – one for firing his specially made cannons to celebrate Lord Nelson’s birthday.


Now he says his plans to stand as a local councillor and start a political career are in tatters because he has been branded a “criminal who misuses firearmsâ€.

The court heard how Budd’s licence only allowed him to fire the four bronze cannons from a battery overlooking Whitby Harbour in North Yorkshire.

He used the specially made guns to greet historic ships such as the replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour.

Budd, 53, breached the terms of his licence by using the cannons aboard another replica historic ship, The Grand Turk, once in Whitby and twice in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Today, Budd said the stigma and the criminal record has wrecked his life.

He said: “I am now a criminal who misuses firearms.

“This has destroyed every aspiration I have for this life.

“As far as I know this means I can’t go to America, I can’t emigrate to New Zealand, I can’t look after children and I can’t hold public office.â€

Budd, of Church Street, Whitby, said he had now written to the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Della Cannings, to ask for his cannons back.

He said they were seized by officers six months ago.

The four cannons were made in Saltburn, near Whitby.

Budd said he got the idea when The Endeavour first came to Whitby in 1997 and thousands of people turned out to watch it
 
“As far as I know this means I can’t go to America, I can’t emigrate to New Zealand, I can’t look after children and I can’t hold public office"

:fire:
 
I think the crime that keeps you from public office has to have a multi-year sentence.

It's a shame, but he knew where he was living and this was really to be expected. I mean, he wasn't being low profile, sneaking shots out to the ocean when no-one was looking.

I hope he does run for office still, and use his experience to bring the issues to public attention. He'd have my vote.
 
Nope, he can't get into the US on an immigration or tourist visa, because he's a felon or equivalent. If I remember the rules correctly, he's going to have a hard enough time getting out of the EU, because he can't easily get an international passport.





BUT HEY, THE WORLD IS NOW A SAFER PLACE, RIGHT?
 
I pray for the day when aliens descend on Europe, or when one of the old powers there get antsy and decide to march into their neighbors territory. Then Europe will look to the US and say, "help us, please. We were idiots to assume that something along these lines would never happen again." And on that day, I hope the US lets them twist slowly in the wind.
 
Isn't it sad what has happened to Europe.
Click to expand...
England, not Europe. (Yes, it was in England, despite being reported by a Scottish newspaper :) )

That's a bit like saying "Wow, NYC has some insane gun laws. Isn't it sad what has happened to the US."

If I remember the rules correctly, he's going to have a hard enough time getting out of the EU, because he can't easily get an international passport.
Click to expand...
Without a passport, he's going to have a hard time getting out of the UK. As I told a Brit I discussed this with in Spain, I as a Norwegian non-EU member can travel without a passport in much of Europe, while he as a British EU member could not. He said, "yes, I can" and held up his Spanish residency permit, "but I need my passport to get back into the UK". The UK is not part of the passport free zone of the EU.
 
While this seems the high point in foolishness to us in the United States I’m not convinced the average Brit sees it the same way. He or she probably agrees this man was boot-heeled for a good reason and they are all the more safe by it because the government says so.

After all, how much sympathy can you have for a nation that puts forth no effort to change the direction of their government’s wrong-headedness even when it puts them is a DNA database on “suspicion†or even less than that!

And another point…oh wait….after reflection on the state of matters in the US never mind.

S-

PS.The next logical step should be stamping out any loud noises on national holidays and celebrations all together. No honest man in the UK needs a cannon!
 
Well, he's living under the rule of idiots. But he's been brainwashed, folks. He wished to emigrate to New Zealand ? Correct me if I'm wrong; but I believe his actions would have led to prosecution in New Zealand, also.

What's the legal definition of firearm in his jurisdiction? Was he actually firing a projectile? Seems to me that if he was only firing a charge of powder with wadding; that his cannon might not fit the legal definition of firearm. If that definition mentions projectile and he, in fact, didn't load any projectiles. Just an idea.
 
Byron Quick,

I believe starter pistols are restricted in the UK. Seem to recall a thread here on that very topic.

So projectile projectability is not a necessary requirement over there.

S-
 
I am just sad at the idiocy that led to his arrest. I would expect, 100% - he was blank firing .... and quite how that can be any threat to anyone - I am hard pressed to see. Oh my - ever more downhill things seem to go over there. :(
 
"Nope, he can't get into the US on an immigration or tourist visa, because he's a felon or equivalent. If I remember the rules correctly, he's going to have a hard enough time getting out of the EU, because he can't easily get an international passport."

He's from the UK, i'm under the understanding that people from the UK (And other parts of the EU) don't need a visa to enter the US.
 
All he has to do is go to Mexico and walk across Bush and the rest will welcome him with a job and free medical care. Oh wait! He's not a Mexican. :what: NEVERMIND :D
 
you either need a ninety-day visa waiver, or a visa itself.
If it meets the definition of a 'lethal barreled weapon' then it's a firearm
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
REPUBLICAN lawmaker pushing for illegal amnesty, labels opponents "White Supremacists
Replies
12
Views
463
Standing Wolf
S
D
  • Locked
(VT) Cop takes 'midnight photos' of teacher's classroom
Replies
7
Views
1K
jimpeel
J
D
  • Locked
(NH) Firing range owner gets gun back and apology from ex-Fish and Game official
Replies
0
Views
2K
Drizzt
D
D
  • Locked
(Ontario) Ban on bear hunt causing problems for farmers
Replies
0
Views
342
Drizzt
D
R
  • Locked
Here's a Senate seat the Repubs are going to lose
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Justin
Justin
Back
Top