Questions for Beetle

[StarOfAfrica2]

Ok Beetle, here you go.  Expound away.  This is in response to your last post in the thread on shootings in New Orleans.

Not here, they don't. That's why there are so many crimes committed with replica guns. Those crimes still count as gun crimes though. The point is that why would they use a replica gun instead of the real thing, when the penalty is the same. And the answer is that they cannot always get their hands on guns - the real thing. But I do concede that they can sometimes get their hands on real guns. Nashwan posted some stats - he said that 48% of gun crimes in Britain were committed with replica weapons. And when it comes to stats, Nashwan is da man. I would not dispute any stats he comes up with.

Ok, first of all, just a simple logical point I'd like to make, and a question, and then you go right ahead.  

What exactly is a "replica gun"?  Obviously if its still capable of killing, then it must be functional in some way.  I know what my definition of a "replica gun" is, its simply a replica of an antique gun no longer produced by the original manufacturer or at least not produced in its original form.  They are still considered fully functional guns though.  So I'm curious what your definition is.  

Also, I'm curious just how many law abiding citizens there are in Britain who own guns.  Because I know there are some.  I was under the impression it was merely difficult to obtain them, not impossible.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Curval]

I can answer the replica gun question...it is NOT capable of anything other than pretending to look real.  It is used in crimminal activities to scare people.

[takeda]

Replica = toy gun that looks more or less real.
Happens a lot here in Spain too. In fact only organized crime or terrorists use firearms extensively here. Your regular perp migth have an old cranky handgun or a hunting rifle but the black market is scarce and quite expensive, so most of them tend to use knives or fake firearms.

Last year police caught a guy in my town that had robbed 3 groceries entering disguised as an old lady and then  wielding an axe...

[StarOfAfrica2]

Ok, fair enough.  That still means that over half the gun crimes in Britain (however low that number is, I have no idea) are committed with real guns?

I know there are private citizens with guns.  I have pictures of some of them.  SASS has several members in other countries, inlcuding Britain.  Obviously there's still a market for guns there, no matter if its legitimate or not (and I know at least part of it has to be).

[Nashwan]

Also, I'm curious just how many law abiding citizens there are in Britain who own guns. Because I know there are some. I was under the impression it was merely difficult to obtain them, not impossible. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

As of the 2003/04 figures, there were 122,076 firearms certificate holders in England and Wales, with 342,213 firearms. There were 569,948 shotgun certificate holders, with 1,372,712 shotguns.

It's difficult to get a certificate, but anyone eligible (no serious criminal record, history of major irresponisbile actions, mental illness) will get a certificate if they show a reason for wanting a gun (member of a club, land to hunt on, vermin control etc), and show they have somewhere secure to store it.

About 1 - 1.5% of applications are refused, and a tiny number of licences are revoked during the year (195 firearms certificates were revoked last year)

What's difficult to get are handguns. Handgun licences are impossible to obtain in most cases.

It's handguns that are the favoured weapon of criminals. According to the FBI, of the murder cases where they have received details of the type of weapon used, 7,701 were with handguns, 390 with rifles, 452 with shotguns. That's over 90%.

(about 70 people were murdered with guns in England and Wales last year)

[Mukiwa]

Replica guns are something that are popular in the UK for two reasons - since real firearms are illegal and strictly controlled - I think illegal ownership has a 5 year  jail sentence - those that wish to own firearms buy replica's.

Replica's are used by those that feel that ownership of a firearm confers upon themselves power and respect - ie Fear me I have a gun! - in this they are the same as the weirdo's that HAVE to have 23 weapons to "protect" themselves -  and secondly those that actually use the non functioning replica in criminal activities.

This is obviously not that effective and some of these "replica's" are well made enough and strong enough to be rebored to take a .22 or .32 rimmed cartridge.

Basically you're talking a modern version of the zip gun - it's a stupid trade and I think it's about to be stopped.

[straffo]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
What exactly is a "replica gun"?  Obviously if its still capable of killing, then it must be functional in some way.  I know what my definition of a "replica gun" is, its simply a replica of an antique gun no longer produced by the original manufacturer or at least not produced in its original form.  

Réplica

or not
?

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Nashwan
As of the 2003/04 figures, there were 122,076 firearms certificate holders in England and Wales, with 342,213 firearms. There were 569,948 shotgun certificate holders, with 1,372,712 shotguns.

It's difficult to get a certificate, but anyone eligible (no serious criminal record, history of major irresponisbile actions, mental illness) will get a certificate if they show a reason for wanting a gun (member of a club, land to hunt on, vermin control etc), and show they have somewhere secure to store it.

About 1 - 1.5% of applications are refused, and a tiny number of licences are revoked during the year (195 firearms certificates were revoked last year)

What's difficult to get are handguns. Handgun licences are impossible to obtain in most cases.

It's handguns that are the favoured weapon of criminals. According to the FBI, of the murder cases where they have received details of the type of weapon used, 7,701 were with handguns, 390 with rifles, 452 with shotguns. That's over 90%.

(about 70 people were murdered with guns in England and Wales last year)

Thanks, thats along the lines of what I wanted to know.

[Sandman]

Now, dicks have drive and clarity of vision, but they are not clever. They smell ***** and they want a piece of the action. And you thought you smelled some good old *****, and have brought your two small mincey studmuffingot balls along for a good old time. But you've got your parties mangled up. There's no ***** here, just a dose that'll make you wish you were born a woman. Like a salamander, you are having second thoughts. You are shrinking, and your two little balls are shrinking with ya. The fact that you've got "Replica" written down the side of your gun. (withdraws his gun) And the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point five O" written on the side of mine, should precipitate your balls into shrinking, along with your presence. Now... **** off.

[Hangtime]

ROFLMAO!  Slap on the paddles and hit the juice.

I think I'm having a heart attack!

[StarOfAfrica2]

straffo.......

Replica



Non-Firing Replica



Real



Can you tell (without my labels) which one is which?  I dont see the point of selling large numbers of fakes.  Its a good way to get killed if the police think you have a real gun.  A copy of a historical piece?  Sure.  But why copies of modern guns?  Thats just silly.

[AKH]

Source countries for illegal firearms

7.16 Recoveries have been made in the UK of illegal firearms originating from Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Israel, Croatia and Switzerland, and especially the USA.

NCIS report

[straffo]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2

Can you tell (without my labels) which one is which?  I dont see the point of selling large numbers of fakes.  Its a good way to get killed if the police think you have a real gun.  A copy of a historical piece?  Sure.  But why copies of modern guns?  Thats just silly.

No I cannot identify the replica neither will a shop owner under hold up

I don't know who (and why) buy modern gun ,it make no sense for me.
The pict I posted is a air soft gun , all I know is it used for recreational purpose ...

[StarOfAfrica2]

I've seen those.  I applaud Airsoft on the one hand for their talent in making air guns that look real.  We use some of them for the kids at the gun club fun shoots.  On the other hand, those are copies of antique guns and not copies of modern semi-automatics.  Why anyone would make those, and why any idiot would buy one and carry it is beyond me.  Well, I take that back.  Some might try to get one to use to intimidate people, as is apparently what is happening.  But to me, the thought of running into someone with a REAL gun while all I have is a fake that shoots bbs.............thats scary.

[Yeager]

I remember those old black and white films of brits rehearsing for the battle against hitlers invasion forces.  They were drilling with broomsticks and garden impliments.

Thank God for the RAF, had it not been for the bravery of those few men, England would would have been lost.  That was one close deal.

At least in the USA we can fire on aggressive ambulance helocopters, trying to invade our disaster zone.