I have just received a report from the Gun Control Network (GCN) detailing incidents involving firearms last month. It illustrates why the private possession and storage of guns should be banned. This is a summary of their report.
At least two people's lives were taken by a firearm in England, Scotland and Wales during March, while another man is in a coma after being shot.
A further 12 convictions were handed down for charges related to gun homicide during the month, and a series of inquests revealed facts about recent gun deaths.
No reports indicated that gun homicide took place during March, although a victim is in hospital in a coma after being shot in Isle of Dogs, London's finance district. Police shot and killed a man during a planned operation in Culcheth, Cheshire; the other death was due to apparent suicide in Edinburgh.
Inquests heard members of the public took their own lives in Carsington Water, Derbyshire; Burnley, Lancashire; Bishops Offley, Staffordshire; and Eastbourne, East Sussex. The weapon in all cases except the Burnley suicide was confirmed to be a shotgun.
Murder convictions were handed to a trio in Liverpool; to a man in Leeds; to a trio in north London; and to another trio in Fife, Scotland. In the first two cases the murder weapon was confirmed to be a sawn-off shotgun.
Two men were also jailed after they accidentally shot and killed people close to them. One man pleaded guilty to culpable homicide after killing a family friend in Paisley, Scotland; and another was convicted of manslaughter after shooting his friend in the chest. Both of these accidents involved young men firing shotguns.
Altogether, a shotgun was the lethal weapon used in at least eight of the 12 confirmed deaths listed above.
Most firearms assaults in England involve guns being used to threaten individuals, usually for the sake of robbery, while the fear of gunfire is also evident when citizens call police to report gun shots.
Guns used to threaten people in the UK are usually identified as an 'imitation gun' or as unidentifiable, since it's difficult to distinguish – especially for witnesses and victims of gun violence.
Many robberies take place with guns that may not contain bullets, yet the fear they instil is, of course, considerable and undeniable.
Although imitation and airguns are legal in Britain, such guns are also responsible for many of the gun injuries, to both humans and animals. Airguns are used with ruthless frequency to attack animals, including at least seven incidents resulting in death and 11 times resulting in injury during March.
In many assaults in Britain that result in severe injury, the armed individual clubs, or 'pistol-whips,' the victim. These are frequently imitation firearms, but the perpetrator is able to capitalise on the fear of a victim who is facing imminent danger of being shot.
In fact, this traumatic experience is more common in England, Scotland and Wales than non-fatal shootings.
The GCN is committed to preventing gun violence and works to pursue that objective through adjustments to the legal system. Ultimately, legally obtained guns in every country tend to find their way into the wrong hands, whether it's through theft, or simply the wrong people being given a license.
Especially concerning is the use of shotguns (often licensed to unsafe individuals or stolen), air guns (low-powered guns are legal and high-powered ones can be licensed) and realistic imitation guns (legal to possess but not to trade/manufacture).
The GCN compiles a month-by-month table to document the number of new incidents involving these weapons, as well as 'unknown' weapons.
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were the firearms involved in those incidents legally held? If not it's hard to see how banning from having them them would make any difference if it was already illegal
ReplyDeleteMoreover how can you support the requirement in the Hunting Act for me to get trained marksman to shoot the deer that I disperse with my dogs and then also support it being illegal for those trained marksmen to have guns? Your position is not consistent.
ReplyDeleteThe title is privately owned guns. Those who use a gun as part of their business or work would keep theirs. I would myself like to see guns kept at clubs, and not in private houses.
ReplyDeleteThough more clarity would be needed, the sentiment is that there are too many guns that fall into hands of criminals or the foolhardy.
Keeping guns at clubs is not a practical proposition. My club has over 500 members. Assuming an average of 3 guns per person, that would create a central arsenal of 1500 plus guns, together with a huge amount of ammunition. As for this ludicrous idea that legally held guns end up in the hands of criminals, do feel free to back that up. You won't be able to.
ReplyDeleteIn 2003/04, 2,594 weapons were obtained illegally. Including air guns, rifles, starting pistols and shotguns.
ReplyDeleteThere is info here....
http://www.gun-control-network.org/CO15.htm
which uses a link to here...
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb0205.pdf
So, your comment of "this ludicrous idea that legally held guns end up in the hands of criminals" has been proven as very serious.
I am not sure about the gun club bit, as I said, there would be a need for further research. There are folk who have more than 3 guns, all at home with ammo. I know of one such person.
As we also know, folk who actually hold licenses have become the criminals, using their legally owned weapon to kill, maim and threaten. If you still think legally owned guns do not end up in the hands of criminals you may need to think again because your statement is wrong and very dangerous.
When handguns were banned in 1997/8, much political PR was made, with such evocative phrases as, "We're going to take guns off the street". Years later, the numbers of crimes committed with handguns (which let us remember are now illegal to privately own without a section 5 permit) has more than trebled. Therefore, these crimes cannot have been committed with legally held handguns. Legally held guns are not the problem you and the GCN would like people to believe.
ReplyDeleteThe statistics you link to contain 1,500 air rifles/guns - any adult can walk into a shop and purchase one. You would not need to 'misappropriate' one should you wish to commit a crime with one.
Thankfully, in the recent home office select committee report on firearms legislation, they agree that the idea of centralised storage is not viable and would create more problems than it may or may not solve. It is a ridiculous idea in the first place.
When the issue of illegally held guns is dealt with properly, then I'll be prepared to continue this with you.
Airguns in the UK are subject to the firearms acts, under the Firearms (Dangerous air weapons) rules 1969 they are classified as low powered Air Weapons and as such they are restricted to a maximum power of 12 foot pounds force for a rifle and 6 foot pounds force for a pistol. Above 12ftlb a rifle is classified as a Section 1 Firearm and requires a licence called a firearms certificate, and a pistol above 6ftlb is again a Section 1 Firearm requiring a firearms certificate in the UK.
ReplyDeleteIt seems you are wrong again.
What about the other guns that fall into the wrong hands that are licensed?
"When the issue of illegally held guns is dealt with properly, then I'll be prepared to continue this with you." = blinkered.
Forgot to educate you about the handguns,
ReplyDeleteThe 1997 Firearms Amendment Act made handguns illegal in the UK but Air Weapons were excluded under Section 5 (1) subsection (aba) "a prohibited weapon includes a firearm with a barrel length less than 30cms and an overall length less than 60cms, other than an air weapon, a muzzle loading gun, or a firearm designed as signalling apparatus".
Any air gun over the 6ftlb level needs a license and is not banned.
"Therefore, these crimes cannot have been committed with legally held handguns." = An incorrect statement.
Now you are worrying me, and may be others, you support gun ownership but have no idea about the legislation. And you attend a gun club. Worryingly Shocking.