Continuity ACPO publishes gun ban shopping list

[HALODIN]

Wow... full article here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cr ... 01046.html

[joe]

From tomorrow's Independent...



Get letter writing.

and it bagins ! acpo war on shooters by wipping up the media and sheeple into a freeze forcing the government to act

gun control crais ?? what about gun crime crais by criminals with illegal guns with kids sometimes using them and a met co19 inspector went on the news saying that its only a matter of time when they will forced to shoot a kid because he has real gun, and they will get slated for it !

[HALODIN]

The article isn't bad having now read it. It ultimately highlights the lack of communication between GP's and the police and also some poor decisions in returning firearms to unsuitable certificate holders. Some promising words copied below:

Chief Constable Andy Marsh, the national lead on firearms licensing, said: “The last five years have seen a number of important and significant developments. There’s been a lot of work to improve things, but much needs to be done.”

“England and Wales are among the safest countries in the world when it comes to the risk posed not only by firearms in general but in particular by legally-held firearms, and the gun-owning community here constitutes an overwhelmingly responsible group of almost three-quarters of a million people.”

[Outsider]

Well that's ruined my peace as i was about to sleep, so I've writing another letter. I'm going to add links and references to things said, but how's this sounding for a rough draft of my latest letter.

"Dear So and So...

Recently, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary have released a press statement suggesting that Firearms licensing misses the mark in the UK. While I would certainly agree with this, it is not in the same context that HMIC are suggesting. In addition, in their report, they have outright lied, stating that the Police do not have the authority to enter Firearm and Shotgun Certificate holders homes, which they in fact do, under Part III, Section 46 of the Firearms Act, 1968. Their demand is to remove further rights of privacy from individuals who give up their entire medical history and allow inspections of their home at any time as a condition to exercise their lawful right to apply for a firearm certificate or hold a shotgun certificate, under the conditions of the Firearms Act. The language of the report essentially paints an incorrect picture of lawless, unregulated activity. If there is any, it is only the Police who are to blame.

Much of what the the report states is merely indicative of the utter shambles of the licensing procedure, which the Police themselves have let run down into an inconsistent mess. Again and again, the Police argument is that any person who wishes to legally own a firearm is a potential threat or a source of firearms for dangerous individuals despite the fact that those applying for firearm and shotgun certificates are among the most law abiding people in this country and the Police themselves lose far more firearms then the entire shooting community per year. Again and again, they deliberately put out misleading information to try and fool the general public into supporting further restrictions on the shooting community and to empower themselves even further, while cutting out Home Office and Judicial oversight of their actions.

In addition to this, the recent evidence given to the Law Commission's report into Firearms Licensing has also shown that the Police, through the NCPR and the NIBIS may have misled the Law Commission and called for further restrictions on components that have never before been under any licensing or regulation, and who's prohibition has never been proven to actually prevent criminal activity or tragic massacres. A recent Freedom of Information Request by UK Shooting News has shown that members of the Police, despite there being no sign of any danger to the public, are trying to put into place ludicrous restrictions on firearms that would result in the end of many popular and growing shooting disciplines, such as Practical Shooting, Mini-rifle, long range target shooting, as well as post further restriction on antique, replica and deactivated firearms. These documents suggest that high ranking figures in several Police Forces have also expressed a desire to remove any right to appeal against their decisions and effectively close off the Home Office and the Courts from their control over public firearm ownership.

While I am more then willing to engage with the Police in order to see safety and security, and by no means do I wish to tar every current Police Officer with the same brush as there are many who are supportive of the shooting community, there is an element within the Police that have shown themselves to have what can only be called contempt for those law abiding people of sound health and who have valid purpose, to privately, safely and legally own and operate firearms. This country has perhaps the strictest firearms law in Europe and indeed leans towards some of the strictest in the world comparatively, yet this element of the Police constantly seek to undermine the freedom of the Shooting Community. In addition, they seem to consider what should be a check on the law-abiding and healthy nature of a normal person as an generator for income at best and an aberration to be removed at worst. I understand that this is a matter for the Home Office and that both HMIC, the NPCC and NIBIS are outside of the control of the House of Commons. However, these organisations hold powerful sway and quite frankly are acting in a manner that causes intense concern, both for myself and for many who are involved in shooting sports.

I am very sorry if my recent communication to you seems one note as of late with my previous correspondence, but this is a matter that I hold personally very dear. The Independent, on the 15th of September, have made HMIC's report front page news. While this is more reflective of failures within the Police Forces themselves, with the recent Police activity, and with the appointments made to the new Labour Shadow Cabinet, I cannot help but fear that the future of British Shooting is in jeopardy.

On another, related note, I would also like to express my support for the recent re-application of a petition to Parliament asking for consideration on restoring .22lr sporting pistols to Section One status. I understand that this is not the most pressing issue, but given the legality of long barrelled pistols in this calibre, which essentially just extra barrel length and a metal rod to bring the firearm up to the Section One legal classification of 12" Barrel and 24" overall length, it has to be said that common sense would dictate that it would pose no more danger to the public that a normal pistol, in this calibre, could be held on Section One.

If the argument is to prevent massacres or criminals from acquiring short firearms, then the fact that it would be easy to remove both the additional barrel length and the metal rod should point out how useless it would be. Meanwhile, having to use these long barrelled pistols puts UK shooters outside the limits of many international competitions, including Olympic level shooting, which poses a threat to Britain's continued ability to effectively compete. While the current system in place allows the current team to practice, the ban on .22lr pistols effectively prohibits younger members of the population to take up the internationally enjoyed sport, which is legal across the EU, and suggests that in the future, Britain will no longer be able to field any Olympic pistol shooters. As of such, I would like to ask you to support this proposal, should it ever reach the House of Commons.

Thank you for your time in reading this letter,

Yours sincerely,

Outsider "

Feel free to point out any mistakes, inaccuracies, etc.

[HALODIN]

Sounds fine and thanks for posting it, I'm sure it will form a basic template for others. I noticed one mistake "Much of what the the report states".

[safetyfirst]

Nice letter.

I think we might need something a touch more generic though if we are to help FB members write to their MP.

I just don't know the legal side of it well enough to give it a crack but I'm sure someone is?!?

[safetyfirst]

Gruniad wades in http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015 ... chdog-says

Same article really.

[Chuck]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cr ... 01046.html

Seems a lot of their woes are down to POLICE failings! Whatever, stand by for action!

[Hunter87]

Suprise suprise just as are firearms laws are being reviewed sky new releases this craps
http://news.sky.com/story/1552588/polic ... cre-threat

[the running man]

Not to mention the very misleading picture of the uzi and ak-47 on display!