Nicola's crime free Scotland

[David71]

Remember Dunblane. Handguns are a sensitive topic up there.

The murderer at Dunblane had his pistols seized by the local firearms licensing officer after he had received information from the murderers EX gun club that he had no reason to keep his pistols as he was no longer a member of a registered club (a requirement back then and still a requirement now). The murderer was also on the police radar due to complaints made about his 'interest' in young children.

For some reason still publicly unexplained, a senior police officer who later left the force and then (I believe) emigrated told the firearms licensing department to give the murderer his guns back - this decision has never been explained. The enquiry has been sealed for 100 years and a minimal redacted report issued with the unbelievable excuse that it was to shield families from further distress, a reason that I don't think has ever been used before regarding a so-called public enquiry.

Same with Hungerford (gun club told police NOT to give the murderer a license), the Lake District shootings (murderer had domestic violence markers) and the recent killings in Plymouth (murder had a violence conviction and notified mental health problems) - if existing laws were enforced the murderers would not have had legal firearms, but to deflect from the police failings the legal shooting community ends up vilified.

[ladymuck]

The more licensed guns there are, the easier it is to get hold of one for non-licensed purposes.
Don't see the relevance of nail-guns to the discussion. Not something your casual criminal is interested in.

As Lost It said, a nail gun used incorrectly / with illegal intent can really ruin someone's day. It's a marginally grey area where it's a device with the power and potential effect of a handgun that isn't regulated.

Then there's the improbable scenario that Final Destination 3 came up with. (loved that series of films!)
NSFW, maybe

[malvolio]

Yes and all of his guns were legally owned - your point being?

Well if you can't work that out...

[Zigenare]

Remember Dunblane. Handguns are a sensitive topic up there.

Yes and all of his guns were legally owned - your point being?

[David71]

Rather odd pistols but I'm sure the recoil on a .44 mag with a 12" barrel is rather softer than the 4" S&W 629 used to be.

Apparently.

This sort of thing:

https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/pistol...aurus/revolver

Not really any recoil reduction on a LBR (Long Barrelled Revolver) over a 4" barrel. The longer barrel gives more time for the powder to burn before the bullet leaves the barrel, this leads to an increase in pressure and, theoretically, an increase in recoil.

In practise I can manage 25 rounds out of a .44 Mag LBP but end up with quite a sore wrist and palm, while back in the 'good old days' 25 rounds out of a 4" 686 (admittedly 'only' a .357 Mag) wouldn't cause any discomfort at all.

[DoctorStrangelove]

This law created a new market for "Long-barrelled revolvers" and "long-barrelled pistols", firearms with a permanently attached extension to the grip, making them long enough to fit under the legal definition of a rifle.

Rather odd pistols but I'm sure the recoil on a .44 mag with a 12" barrel is rather softer than the 4" S&W 629 used to be.

Apparently.

This sort of thing:

https://www.guntrader.uk/guns/pistol...aurus/revolver

[d000hg]

The more licensed guns there are, the easier it is to get hold of one for non-licensed purposes.
Don't see the relevance of nail-guns to the discussion. Not something your casual criminal is interested in.

[Lost It]

It's been said many trimes, fairly rarely (unless you are a farmer being tagetted by travellers) that a licenced hand gun owner uses it for crime over here, Dunblane was an exception as was Greenham but they are few and far between.
I have a mate who has a few secure cases with Black Powder six guns, one a cartridge type, an old original Colt Dragoon thing, an Enfield rifle, he alays wanted an SMRE but there's not much chance of that yet the local Gun club has one. For target use only.

I know it's old news, but back when we had a civil defence force, even back then there were very few incidents.

In the trade I'm in, there are a few Hilti guns that are technically Class One used for firing nails into steel. Hired out without anyone asking to see a licence, and you could buy the cartridges over the counter not so long ago. A nail gun used improperly could really ruin someones day.

[David71]

And how did they know it was 'Handgun Free'?

The changes after Dunblaine only removed target shooting as a justification for having a (non-muzzle loading) handgun on a Section 1 firearm certificate.

There's still plenty of muzzle loaders held on Section 1 FACs and a good number of metallic cartridge handguns i.e. 'normal' ones, held as Section 5 humane dispatch pistols, I'd think this is especially true in Scotland with the number of Deer stalkers etc.(there are other reasons for a Section 5 certificate but they rare)

Then we get onto Section 7.1 and 7.3 firearms certificate 'historic' or 'heritage' handguns, (which incidentally can include modern handguns such as your Glock).

The world of UK firearm licensing is a complete mess!

[NotAllThere]

According to this the signs have gone.

Former mining village, used to have signs on it's entrances proclaiming it to be a "Handgun-Free Village". These signs have now gone after residents in the village thought they made it seem unappealling.

The local council meeting where removal was first discussed was in 2009. So I guess they've been gone for at least a decade.

[malvolio]

Remember Dunblane. Handguns are a sensitive topic up there.

[northernladuk]

How do they actually know that? The whole point having an illegal firearm is to not let anyone know about it. You aren't gonna tick yes on the census question asking 'Do you own an illegal handgun' are you.

That said if it's a rural place every third house will have his n hers matching shotguns which I assume is OK.

[Gibbon]

Nicola's crime free Scotland
Handgun free village' sign; Blackridge; West Lothian; Scotland, Stock Photo, Picture And Rights Managed Image. Pic. UIG-912_14_1114065 | agefotostock