tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182119.post1030768147959987169..comments2024-03-28T10:36:31.949+00:00Comments on House of Dumb: Phat Phraud Phails PhysicsDJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00446322024174274621noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182119.post-85258027073487739682011-03-02T09:52:58.379+00:002011-03-02T09:52:58.379+00:00The law regarding air rifles is already pretty str...The law regarding air rifles is already pretty strict. I don't have a huge problem with current air rifle laws as it happens. On this point you are incorrect: from the BASC:<br /><br />"The law makes no distinction between air rifles and more powerful guns for which you need a licence – they are all classed as firearms."<br /><br />What I do have a problem with is that they are not enforced in the slightest; but whenever there is an "incident" involving an air rifle the cries go up to ban them. For those (like me) who own an air rifle and use it responsibly, it is incredibly annoying, because this non-enforcement is an obvious method of raising the perceived danger in preparation for a ban.<br /><br />Here's an idea: why not enforce the laws we've already got, instead of making up new ones?<br /><br />For example (and remember most of these offences carry a minimum 5 year prison term):<br /><br /><i>The Crime and Security Act 2010 makes it an offence for a person in possession of an air gun to fail to take “reasonable precautions” to prevent someone under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to it.</i><br /><br />And yet, when we hear about children being shot in playgrounds by other children, is the owner of the air rifle found and prosecuted? No.<br /><br /><i>Parents or guardians who buy an air rifle for use by someone under 14 must exercise control over it at all times, even in the home or garden.</i> Same again. Toddler gets shot by her brother when the (young) brother finds his dad's air rifle (loaded) and ammo in the same place -- lying on a chair. Prosecution? No.<br /><br /><i>It is an offence to fire an air rifle pellet beyond the land where you have permission to shoot, unless the occupier of the neighbouring land has also given you permission.</i><br /><br />This pretty much covers firing an air rifle anywhere it could harm another. Prosecutions? No.<br /><br /><i>It is also against the law, in England and Wales, to fire an air rifle within 50 feet of the centre of a highway if this results in someone being injured, interrupted or endangered</i><br /><br />Firing in your garden towards a road will also get you in trouble. Except it doesn't.<br /><br />My suspicion is that the government doesn't want to make air rifle owners more responsible it wants to take air rifles away from people. There is no justification, so they are going to create one by allowing toerags like Ashley Cole to get away with shooting someone while claiming "yes, yes, air rifles are a problem".Onus Probandyhttp://onusprobandy.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182119.post-8417446054847794372011-03-02T01:10:25.546+00:002011-03-02T01:10:25.546+00:00Next time I'm back in the 'old country'...Next time I'm back in the 'old country' I'll be sure to purchase one of these new explosive airguns - quick, before they're banned...LSPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120630078039958644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182119.post-19105630706314883672011-03-01T21:11:47.271+00:002011-03-01T21:11:47.271+00:00I've got 'explosive devices' in my kit...I've got 'explosive devices' in my kitchen and garden shed. I don't have one of those icky <i>guns</i> though, so no doubt Martin would feel safe as houses...JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.com