Replica guns

[chrisch]

Regular readers know I love to have a dig at Blair...

The government's "flagshit" Violent Crime Reduction Bill will ban the sale of replica firearms. This, I guess will double the value of any you have laying about, if none go buy quick.

Whether or not this will have any effect whatsoever on crime is doubtful.

My question though to you is - what is the difference between a toy gun and a replica firearm. The bill is claimed to differentiate between the two. Something I find rather incredulous.

The post office in Tottenham Broad Lane sells toys and it used to make me laugh that about 2 meters from the counter were very real-looking toy guns...

Today's challenge then all you wordsmiths and pedants - what's the difference?

Chris

FYI http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4071848.stm

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by chrisch

Today's challenge then all you wordsmiths and pedants - what's the difference?

Some are also 'de-activated' real firearms.

To me it makes no difference whether the gun is real, replica or toy.

If you walk into a post office and wave it in the assistant's face during the commision of a robbery, then you obviously intend that the assistant thinks it's real.

Tough sh*t on you if you also manage to convince an armed response team that it's real.

r
Paul

[SoggyFox]

If it looks like a gun and you wave it round like a gun, who's going to ask you to prove its not a real gun.

does this then include things such as paintball guns, cos on a dark night they'd look pretty much like a real gun.

[MATTBIN]

And table legs?

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by turbanator

...
To me it makes no difference whether the gun is real, replica or toy.

If you walk into a post office and wave it in the assistant's face during the commision of a robbery, then you obviously intend that the assistant thinks it's real.

Tough sh*t on you if you also manage to convince an armed response team that it's real....

This too is my view. However, if Tone & Co. ban "replicas" then people will use "toys" (i.e. chuff-all has happened but we have shelled out millions for new legislation and given crims a new argument to string out the legal aid lawyers..)

Surely the act of menace is what makes the "item" a weapon? A dive knife is a tool for cutting oneself free underwater. Wave it in the face of the barman and it becomes a weapon. We already have bullshit, ineffective legislation about knives here comes some more about toy guns.

Chris

[NeilB]

Here in Oman you cannot buy toy guns. You cannot bring them in through the airport. Hurrah you shout, that's sensible. But I can pop down to the local souq and buy a real Lee Enfield for £50 with ammunition........

I have a Martini-Henry hanging on my wall at home. Wouldn't like to fire a 100 year old rifle but I can buy ammunition for it still.

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by NeilB

Here in Oman you cannot buy toy guns. You cannot bring them in through the airport. Hurrah you shout, that's sensible. But I can pop down to the local souq and buy a real Lee Enfield for £50 with ammunition........

At least there's no confusion for the police

[RickW]

what about spud guns? they were cool - fired bits of spuds, water AND caps

can I shoot TB with a spud gun please

[Gavin Smith]

Originally Posted by RickW

what about spud guns? they were cool - fired bits of spuds, water AND caps

can I shoot TB with a spud gun please

In my dim and distant past I carried two metal spud guns into the UK (in hand luggage) from the Middle East.

Ah the innocence of youth and the lack of concern for airport security in the early 80's.

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by RickW

what about spud guns? they were cool - fired bits of spuds, water AND caps

can I shoot TB with a spud gun please

Yes. Hell, I'll even sponsor you a tenner for the lifeboats.

Chris