The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

nfrancis wrote:
We have a proper firearms licensing system in this country and the ban on handguns is not ludicrous. Its perfectly understandable that certain types of firearms are not generally available to members of the general public. In this country it happens to be pistols and you know the reason for that - a firearms certificate holder using legally held pistols which he obtained and learned to use by being a member of a shooting club very similar to the ones you and I are members of shot a classroom of 5 and 6 year olds to death. Just what do you expect a society to reflect upon when this happens?

This is not really a case of agreeing or disagreeing with any of this. The situation we find ourselves in is unfortunate but its not the end of the world. So there is some types of pistol we can't shoot. Big deal... There is loads of stuff we can - why don't we concentrate on all those instead of sulking about the few we can't? Some GB Pistol shooters have to train in other countries - do you know how many events this actually applies to? Out of the dozen or so current shooting events GB shooters can choose to shoot in the Olympic games two of them use pistols that are not legal in this country. Anyone in this country can shoot Olympic pistol disciplines - choose 50m free or air pistol. The challenge is the same, the techniques are the same the test of skill at arms is the same. Lets face it - you'd have to be pretty daft to choose a sport to concentrate on that was not readily accessible - that's what I'd be asking people.

You are going to have a hell of a job selling the 'we can't shoot pistols in the Olympics' to the general public with this argument because frankly even I don't buy it. You'll have an even even harder job when anyone points out the history the British have in Olympic pistol shooting - last pistol medal won in 1912 I believe and that as a bronze. A real impressive historic legacy that one!



Well - instead of getting our knickers in a twist about what any 3rd rate "here today gone tomorrow" politician says why don't we just get on with the shooting?

I think you need to have a look at a few things mate. First up, the concept of freedom. The point here is very simple - there is not a logical reason for handguns to be illegal. You say it's perfectly reasonable - why? Because some nutter used them to kill 16 people? As with just about every firearms offence that has been reported before or since, the nutjob in question was known to Police who failed spectacularly to bring the situation under control. It was preventable a very long time before Hamilton ever got to that classroom in Dunblane, and the failings were not those of law-abiding shooters, who were the ONLY ones who suffered here and without any benefit.

Every opportunity was there to stop this massacre, but the way the police were organised and the system of revocation in force at the time allowed it to happen. Handguns are just a tool - normally they are a tool for sport, humane destruction of animals and self defence. Like every tool, there are alternatives. What possible good does it do banning them? Since the ban gun crime increased markedly, so it clearly had no effect.

The argument about Olympics is no argument at all - it is a highlight, a symptom of a stupid, ineffective law brought in for no good reason whatsoever. The Conservatives knew the public mood at the time so they did the minimum possible - ban centrefire handguns. Labour then finished the job, for no reason except political points scoring.

People like to make out like our firearms laws make us the bastion of safety, but it's complete codswallop - we have more than our fair share of violent crime, and people get killed by plenty of other means - often just with illegal firearms!

Therefore, very simply put - there is no valid reason to remove the freedom to own pistols and enjoy their legitimate shooting. It does not protect the public. It does not save lives. So I'd like my freedom thanks.

Once you get that far, Nigel Farage's argument is sound. Not quite sure why it's surfaced now, but it's sound, and I back him on that point. it is a good thing to hear a political person come out and say it. It makes a very refreshing change from the usual Etonian claptrap, influenced only by the guff spouted by the mainstream press. Sadly, with every politician only caring for their newspaper image, the press are the ones who govern British policy now, not the politicians, and certainly not the people.

And a good point - that poll the Mail has on the page - anyone else noticed it's 52% in favour of keeping a ban? That's pretty bloody narrow!

Its nothing that has not been said before. It wont make a bit of difference WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET HAND GUNS BACK IN THE UK live with it move on.
Its not worth the time it takes you to type it in to a forum post.

nfrancis..

We have a proper firearms licensing system in this country and the ban on handguns is not ludicrous. Its perfectly understandable that certain types of firearms are not generally available to members of the general public. In this country it happens to be pistols and you know the reason for that - a firearms certificate holder using legally held pistols which he obtained and learned to use by being a member of a shooting club very similar to the ones you and I are members of shot a classroom of 5 and 6 year olds to death. Just what do you expect a society to reflect upon when this happens?

Well firstly had that been me that had said that I would have been crucified. I agree when you say:


''We have a proper firearms licensing system in this country ''

However I disagree when you go on to say:

''the ban on handguns is not ludicrous. Its perfectly understandable''

I think that you have got that back to front.... The ban on handguns is ludicrous... If i can be trusted with other types fire arms, why not pistols? However I believe It is understandable , for several reasons. The primary reason being that the majority of British people have little interest in firearms, and consequently very little knowledge of them. Generally speaking They couldn't give a toss one way or the other . But when they see or read about Massacres involving firearms, for example Dunblane and any other massacre (more usually in the USA) involving guns, many are easily persuaded that public ownership of firearms is not a good idea.

Jenks

I disagree Alpha if we give up trying to get handguns back we are on the defensive and only reacting to controls, we need to be on the the offensive, proactive and putting pressure on!

Alpha1 wrote:Its nothing that has not been said before. It wont make a bit of difference WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET HAND GUNS BACK IN THE UK live with it move on.
Its not worth the time it takes you to type it in to a forum post.

Sure, lets bend over and let them do what ever they want. I would love to own a hand gun for sport and I am going to vote UKIP. To me I see it as a long term goal; politics is business; supply the demand = profit.

I am a realist, more chances of not getting hand guns then getting them, but I will not give up. You move on if you want to but I will not live with it.

Jenks wrote:nfrancis..

We have a proper firearms licensing system in this country and the ban on handguns is not ludicrous. Its perfectly understandable that certain types of firearms are not generally available to members of the general public. In this country it happens to be pistols and you know the reason for that - a firearms certificate holder using legally held pistols which he obtained and learned to use by being a member of a shooting club very similar to the ones you and I are members of shot a classroom of 5 and 6 year olds to death. Just what do you expect a society to reflect upon when this happens?

Well firstly had that been me that had said that I would have been crucified. I agree when you say:


''We have a proper firearms licensing system in this country ''

However I disagree when you go on to say:

''the ban on handguns is not ludicrous. Its perfectly understandable''

I think that you have got that back to front.... The ban on handguns is ludicrous... If i can be trusted with other types fire arms, why not pistols? However I believe It is understandable , for several reasons. The primary reason being that the majority of British people have little interest in firearms, and consequently very little knowledge of them. Generally speaking They couldn't give a toss one way or the other . But when they see or read about Massacres involving firearms, for example Dunblane and any other massacre (more usually in the USA) involving guns, many are easily persuaded that public ownership of firearms is not a good idea.

Jenks

I whole heartedly agree with jenks on his comments, if folk can have 50 cal and .338 let alone 7.62 target rifle then why not pistol, if it's concealment then I agree pistol can be hidden easier than most other firearms, but surely that's outweighed by the pure potential lethality of the aforementioned calibers.that is why the ban was ludicrous.derek bird used a crappy old s/s shotgun, look at the damage he did with that antiquated peice, By rights all firearms in private ownership should have been revoked if the aim of the pistol ban was to prevent another uk mass shooting.instead they chose to ignore the real reasons behind the Dunblane massacre and the truth of how it could have easily been prevented, and shafted the lot of us.....so in summation as jenks said if I can be ok with a 50 cal and 9mm sgc lever release then why not a pistol........

m7jnu wrote:

Alpha1 wrote:Its nothing that has not been said before. It wont make a bit of difference WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET HAND GUNS BACK IN THE UK live with it move on.
Its not worth the time it takes you to type it in to a forum post.

Sure, lets bend over and let them do what ever they want. I would love to own a hand gun for sport and I am going to vote UKIP. To me I see it as a long term goal; politics is business; supply the demand = profit.

I am a realist, more chances of not getting hand guns then getting them, but I will not give up. You move on if you want to but I will not live with it.

Here here.....

I was lucky enough to be able to own and shoot hand guns until they stole them off me.
But you dream on guys dream on.

Polls now at 60+ in favour.

Stop hiding and support our sport.