Is it about time that Airguns are banned?
I used to own one myself but every School holiday we read in the papers and on TV news about shot swans, dogs, cats etc. I am not a spoilsport but if these things cause so much aggro, lets stop selling the things and ban existing airguns!
Answers:
John, airguns, BB guns and other replicas / imitations are now illegal to possess in a public place, unless you have lawful authority or reasonable excuse. This came into effect on 20/1/04, as amended by sec 23 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.
Many people still believe that you can carry air weapons if you are over 17 but this was the old legislation and now out of date. Police officers can arrest any person in possession of the above. Sometimes youngsters who have BB guns find that instead of being arrested they are having the guns confiscated and destroyed. Obviously suitable advice is given. It really all depends on what the circumstances are as to what action you are going to take.
The legislation is in my view a step in the right direction. As a firearms officer I do not want to be in the situation where a youth or adult is brandishing a BB gun. You may not be able to identify it as a BB gun from a distance.
Next you should turn your attention to just how many people are stabbed every year. Perhaps we should consider banning cutlery?
so we ban anything because of a few stupid people???
Ban computers because of perverts?
Ban flying because some people get drunk and get violent?
Ban football because some fans fight?
etc etc etc
There would be nothing for people to do if we banned things because of that... so in a nutshell. rubbish idea.
Completely agree with you
maybe if the parents of those kids taught them better. the air gun, or any gun for that matter, is no more than an extention of the person who bears it. should we ban cars because of all the deaths they cause?
Since cars have caused far more damage in one day that airguns in a year we should ban cars.
Yes, and those using it them on people or animals should be prosecuted and given a custodial sentence, no matter the age, if they are too young then the parents should be prosecuted.
And while we are at it, let us ban slingshots, bows and arrows, rocks, sticks, clubs, bomerangs, dart guns, knives, lassos, baseballs, baseball bats, footballs, firecrackers, vehicles, etc.
These can and do cause injuries to animals every school holidays.
Or instead of banning objects, why not punish the criminals?
When a person (regardless of their age) commits a crime, then sentence them to the harshest punishment. This will stop future crimes more than "babying them."
yes i got shot by one ages ago it hurt like nothin
Its the idiots using the guns in those ways that should be banned, not the guns.
As a sport, shooting is as legitimate a passtime as football or tennis or whatever else floats your boat.
Just because of some jerk offs having a complete lack of respect doesn't mean the whole world should be banned from having fun.
most of the kids are using BB guns not air guns for starters, also most of the appalling injuries you see in the papers are caused by crossbows which don't really have a place in society today. The majority of airgun users are competent and safe shooters usually members of shooting associations or clubs who only try to promote the sport through safe shooting practises and also conservation.There are always idiots about who blacken any type of activity, the type of people who would not hand over a banned item, the only people affected would be legitimate and responsible owners. This question reflects the times we live in, lets ban a legitimate past time because its easier than dealing with the real problem, which is the low values and lack of respect that modern society has in general.!
In 1944 at the age of twelve, I had an airgun. I never aimed at anyone nor did I ever kill a living thing. I was told it was wrong. So what's wrong with children and young people today? Lacking self control, lacking common sense, stupid and cannot consider the consequences of their actions? Yes, ban them.
They are banned
I would licence them the same way real guns are licenced instead of banning them
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