Don't Panic!
Jan 17, 20:20
As is usual in these situations, some people are starting to panic. Do not be panicked into selling your collection. No decision has been made with regard to legislation, there is no evidence that old specification weapons are a problem, or that legislation will make an iota of difference to gun crime. Or indeed what form the legislation, if any will take. If banning legal ownership of handguns only had the result in increasing gun crime how is legislating on deactivated and inoperable guns going to help?
THE WORSE THING WE CAN DO IS NOTHING
Our aim must be to show the government that a ban is both impractical and frankly unworkable. Issuing of a collectors license while I believe unnecessary would make more sense. I am still concerned however that this would leave honest collectors vulnerable to future legislation and could make criminals of people who are too scared to stick their heads above the parapets and admit they have a collection.
The mistake the general public is making is to believe the nonsense they read in some newspapers and the propaganda spread by some anti gun groups. Sensational headlines sell papers.
It must be our job to educate and inform. We need to explain to the uneducated that we are responsible collectors. We have amongst our numbers doctors, lawyers, teachers, police officers, fire brigade officers, soldiers, both serving and retired, in fact members of all our armed services, magistrates, prison officers, scientists, members of the clergy, museums and so the list goes on.
Lesson one
Deactivated guns are not cheap
Deactivated guns are not easy to reactivate.
You would need specialist equipment, spares, extensive knowledge and access to ammunition, which is not readily available. I certainly wouldn't want to be near a reactivated gun if it was fired, as the chances are it would blow up and do more harm to the user. This quote came from a gunsmith.
Deactivated guns account for a minuscule percentage of gun crime.
When was the last time you heard of anyone using a Tommy gun in a bank hold up? Or a Vickers machine gun being pulled from a handbag and being brandished at the old lady behind the counter in the post office. All old spec, but also old weapons, which no self respecting criminal would dream of using. They want modern weapons that look cool. Generally these weapons are manufactured after 1995 and therefore if deactivated would be new specification.
Gun is a four letter word.
How many collectors openly admit to collecting guns?
We are being made to feel guilty for pursuing an interest that harms no one .
Just because some people can't understand why we collect and display deactivated weapons it doesn't mean we should be made to feel like lepers. I personally don't understand why anyone would collect plastic bags, toilet seats or stuffed toys but I respect their right to do so.
Bayonets
This is the easiest way to make your gun into a deadly weapon.
Go to any boot fair and laying in the bottom of an old cardboard box you will more than likely find an old rusty bayonet, the rustier the better (bit of blood poisoning as well as a nasty cut) If however you can't wait for the Sunday bootie pop along to your local supermarket and buy a nice sharp kitchen knife, some gaffa tape..............anyway I am sure you get the idea. If people are intent on doing harm to each other they will do so. Most violent crime is committed in the heat of the moment and not premeditated and kitchen knives are by far the most common weapon used. I have an idea ban knives.................oh no that won't work, have you ever tried peeling an apple with a spoon? The only way to prevent violent crime is to ban people..........makes about as much sense as legislating on deactivated guns.
There is a knife crime in the UK every 24 minutes.............
Enough said
Comments [49]
Welcome to the BDGCA's website
Jan 12, 09:46
In the light of recent announcements in the press, by the home Secretary concerning possible alterations to legislation covering deactivated guns, we at Arundel Militaria will be launching the British Deactivated Gun Collectors Association.
It’s aim is to ensure that our customers will have a collective voice in the coming debate, which will better enable their interests and concerns to be raised. The government and the the public need to clearly understand that collectors and owners of deactivated guns are serious about their collecting, often have a deep knowledge of their subject and are not common criminals who require to be legislated for.
This site is currently under construction but will be operable soon.
Comment [26]