Those are valid points, but let's take a realistic look at things.
The situation where a copper does get called out to a suspected armed suspect who in actual fact has a realistic imitation firearm it is 99% likely that the firearms is a "springer", a pistol/rifle that requires cocking before each shot (which no airsofters would be caught dead with) and that the suspect has bought the pistol/rifle from an unscrupulous market stall who sold it to them for £30.
The influx and availability of springers is what has caused this problem in the first place, and as usual the government has decided to ban everything completely instead of coming to an arrangement.
And with regards to the provision, we all feel that a "maybe" is not enough. We want a guarantee, not a "we might allow it if we feel like it".
It's not as though we're against registration and licensing either, but the government has already decided against that.
All in all, that part of the law is POORLY thought out. A complete ban isn't needed.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 05:55 pm (UTC)The situation where a copper does get called out to a suspected armed suspect who in actual fact has a realistic imitation firearm it is 99% likely that the firearms is a "springer", a pistol/rifle that requires cocking before each shot (which no airsofters would be caught dead with) and that the suspect has bought the pistol/rifle from an unscrupulous market stall who sold it to them for £30.
The influx and availability of springers is what has caused this problem in the first place, and as usual the government has decided to ban everything completely instead of coming to an arrangement.
And with regards to the provision, we all feel that a "maybe" is not enough. We want a guarantee, not a "we might allow it if we feel like it".
It's not as though we're against registration and licensing either, but the government has already decided against that.
All in all, that part of the law is POORLY thought out. A complete ban isn't needed.