The UK bans the import of replica weapons/props

The UK will ban the manufacture and importation of replica firearms (yes, even 'movie props') in October 2007. Were you aware?

The airsoft fraternity have lobbied and gained an exemption - i.e. they will be able to continue to collect replica firearms.

But what can pure collectors do?

From the "Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006" http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/60038--e.htm#36
36 Manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if-

(a) he manufactures a realistic imitation firearm;
(b) he modifies an imitation firearm so that it becomes a realistic imitation firearm;
(c) he sells a realistic imitation firearm; or
(d) he brings a realistic imitation firearm into Great Britain or causes one to be brought into Great Britain.
38 Meaning of "realistic imitation firearm"

(1) In sections 36 and 37 "realistic imitation firearm" means an imitation firearm which-

(a) has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a real firearm; and
(b) is neither a de-activated firearm nor itself an antique.

(2) For the purposes of this section, an imitation firearm is not (except by virtue of subsection (3)(b)) to be regarded as distinguishable from a real firearm for any practical purpose if it could be so distinguished only-

(a) by an expert;
(b) on a close examination; or
(c) as a result of an attempt to load or to fire it.

Your thoughts?

Comments

  • s96024s96024 Posts: 1,519MI6 Agent
    It's ridiculous. Soon they will ban water pistols. Just another case of the nanny state we live in. They should put more effort into putting away the black gangs that actually have real guns and kill real people rather than bringing in laws to stop people owning a fake gun.

    Doesn't really affect me as I don't own any or am really interested in owning one.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Did you really just say 'black gang'? Err...

    Anyway- probably for the best. Something that looks like a gun is just as threatening as a real gun. I'm curious as to how these airsoft things are exempt, though?
  • s96024s96024 Posts: 1,519MI6 Agent
    Why can't I say black gangs?
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
    I am sure the UK will be even safer come October!
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    s96024 wrote:
    It's ridiculous. Soon they will ban water pistols. Just another case of the nanny state we live in. They should put more effort into putting away the black gangs that actually have real guns and kill real people rather than bringing in laws to stop people owning a fake gun.

    Doesn't really affect me as I don't own any or am really interested in owning one.
    If such is the case, then refrain from posting.
  • s96024s96024 Posts: 1,519MI6 Agent
    edited April 2007
    If what is the case? The fact that I don't personally have any interest in owning a replica gun at this time. If that is the case that is no reason not to comment on the subject and give my own personal opinion.
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    s96024 wrote:
    If what is the case? The fact they I don't personally have any interest in owning a replica gun at this time. If that is the case that is no reason not to comment on the subject and give my own personal opinion.
    I'm only going to say this once. If you have no interest in replica guns, then go to another topic. Unless that is, you can offer a "personal opinion", which isn't another political diatribe.
  • s96024s96024 Posts: 1,519MI6 Agent
    I gave my personal opinion!
  • i expect u2 diei expect u2 die LondonPosts: 583MI6 Agent
    s96024 wrote:
    Why can't I say black gangs?

    Because thats highly generalized. Are you suggesting that its just "black" gangs that are a threat and need jailing?

    If so, then thats basically racist, and don't even try to deny it.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    edited April 2007
    s96024 wrote:
    Why can't I say black gangs?

    Because thats highly generalized. Are you suggesting that its just "black" gangs that are a threat and need jailing?

    If so, then thats basically racist, and don't even try to deny it.

    I absolutely agree.

    And, s96024, weren't it you, who suggested me not to read a topic after I gave my personal opinion here
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • s96024s96024 Posts: 1,519MI6 Agent
    It was the way you gave your opinion that made me say that.

    On the topic of racism. There was no reason to take it as being racist and it was not racist. It is a fact that the majority of gun crime in the UK is black on black. What do you want me to do lie.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    edited April 2007
    s96024 wrote:
    It was the way you gave your opinion that made me say that.



    On the topic of racism. There was no reason to take it as being racist and it was not racist. It is a fact that the majority of gun crime in the UK is black on black. What do you want me to do lie.

    I can't find anything harmful in my words.

    Well, at least, there has been no more or less obvious racism in my post and I did not defend the possession of firearms.

    What you said last, I doubt, that there is anything, which really backs your prejudices, it is the finger on the trigger, that kills, not the skin colour.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • s96024s96024 Posts: 1,519MI6 Agent
    edited April 2007
    Bondtoys wrote:
    s96024 wrote:
    It was the way you gave your opinion that made me say that.

    On the topic of racism. There was no reason to take it as being racist and it was not racist. It is a fact that the majority of gun crime in the UK is black on black. What do you want me to do lie.

    Well, at least, there has been no more or less obvious racism in my post and I did not defend the possession of firearms.

    What you said last, I doubt, that there is anything, which really backs your prejudices, it is the finger at the trigger, that kills, not the skin colour.

    I can assure you there was no racism mean't. If it's obvious to you, I don't know why. I am generally agains't people being allowed to own firearms, but a plastic toy that can't kill anyone I am not agains't. Why do you think that there is a specific police department that was set up to deal with black on black gun crime specifically (Trident). I would go get some sources and statistics but it's a well known fact so i'm not going to bother. It is of course the finger that pulls the trigger and obviously there are people from all walks of life, race, age, sex e.t.c who have guns and kill people with them.

    http://www.stoptheguns.org/whatistrident/index.php
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    Once again, s96024, you have asserted your offensive and highly judgemental opinions on some delicate subjects, and hijacked yet another thread. (You were one of the main agitators in the Virginia Tech shootings "discussion")

    In answer to the question, "What do you want me to do, lie?" Some decorum and less political grandstanding wouldn't hurt. You have already shown little capacity for discussing these subjects responsibly.

    Besides, there are numerous places for these sorts of "discussions" on the web. Absolutely James Bond is not one of them.
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
    All the anger results from the fustration and failure of any "law" to stop bad human behavior.

    People who choose to live outside law by definition fail to respect any legal constraints on their behavior, and will continue to make and aquire real or plastic guns, knives and other weapons and use them with abandon, and without conscience - disregarding the "Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006"

    The only people affected by these laws are the honest fans, collectors and shooters like those on this forum who observe the law and act with conscience.

    No one can guarentee our safety 100% of the time. I am sorry to see laws like these inflicted on our friends in the UK.
  • EagleEagle UKPosts: 261MI6 Agent
    edited April 2007
    Thanks. Mods please lock - we'll start again, shall we?
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    7289 wrote:
    All the anger results from the fustration and failure of any "law" to stop bad human behavior.

    People who choose to live outside law by definition fail to respect any legal constraints on their behavior, and will continue to make and aquire real or plastic guns, knives and other weapons and use them with abandon, and without conscience - disregarding the "Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006"

    The only people affected by these laws are the honest fans, collectors and shooters like those on this forum who observe the law and act with conscience.

    No one can guarentee our safety 100% of the time. I am sorry to see laws like these inflicted on our friends in the UK.

    Why? They're only toy guns. It's not really harming anyone to stop them having a toy gun, is it? It's hardly a human rights violation.

    And saying 'the ones who want to break a law will do it whether or not it is there' isn't really a way out- you could say that about any law. Might as well legalise burglary as burglars are going to do it whether or not it's illegal. This way, at least the likelihood of obtaining a replica gun (which is a dangerous and threatening object) is reduced. Can't see the problem, myself.
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    Emtiem, you make that argument with burglary, but you could make it for driving cars, as well. Just because some people drink and drive illegally, let's ban all driving and stop people from using cars. I'm just saying, the extremes work both ways.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Hmm.. but cars are extremely useful objects that society would find it very hard to do without. They have many, many pros which arguably outweigh the cons. Burglary is only a bad thing- it has no pros. Owning replica guns doesn't help society; it's just something which some people do for fun and a means by which some people can commit serious crime. So the cons outweigh the pros in that case. There's no black and white, but you've got to be sensible and weigh things up. They're only objects which sit on a mantelpiece- the world isn't going to stop revolving if a few people can't get the ornaments they want.
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    Well, let's look at a certain kind of burglary, then- how about music sharing? The big DRM issue as of late. That IS burglary, it IS illegal, and TONS of people do it anyway, so you know how they want to combat it? They want to get rid of DRM (or at least Steve Jobs does, as well as some of the labels). So, again, just bringing in another perspective. Does music really help anyone more than a toy gun does? Honestly, they both are pretty meaningless, and I love music.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    edited May 2007
    That sounds like a different issue altogether. I'm not sure of the parallels at all- perhaps it's too late at night for me! Surely Steve Jobs stands to make money if DRMs are done away with- he's hardly the government (although Mac fans would seem to see him as God!) striving to improve society.

    Can you threaten someone with an mp3? :)
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    We're talking crime, and honestly, file sharing impacts a lot more people than replica guns do, economically speaking. I don't feel like finding figures, but I know it has put many stors out of business, in my city alone.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,686MI6 Agent
    Right- but what are you trying to say? That file sharing should be made illegal? Because it is. Removing DRM is something which Jobs wants to do so he can make money; and he'd still be against file sharing in principle.
    And more people get pleasure from music than do from owning things which look like guns; so it's pros and cons again. And there's something pretty abhorrent about violent crime which outweighs a few people having ornaments, isn't there? There's a direct effect on people from that: from removing DRMs (has any government said they're for that? Is it up to them?) to shops going out of business is a bit more indirect. It doesn't seem like the same thing to me.

    But anyway; folks around here tend to go potty if I have a conversation of more than two posts in a thread, so I'll have to sign off before I get a load of names hurled at me. Don't ask me why, but it seems to be a rule around here.
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    Violent crimes are awful, but people losing their jobs isn't great either. My point is that why make something illegal when it doesn't have to be? I've run out of steam as well, I'll regroup and re arm, so to speak. :p
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
    I'll wager that even in the UK 99% of crime is committed by 1% of the general population. No one advocates doing away with ALL the laws because some people will disobey them. Wrongdoers should be punished and removed from society, not just put into a system that continues their criminal education and then lets them out to prey on society. That is and has always been the center of the problem.

    Focusing on tools and toys, no matter how apparently useless to society they are, will never work.

    I'll agree this is an endless political debate, not really on target for Bond fans. But it does look like some collectors in the UK will become criminals this October! Just doesn't seem right, they did nothing wrong. Prehaps that what we should be discussing?
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited May 2007
    Does music really help anyone more than a toy gun does? Honestly, they both are pretty meaningless, and I love music.
    Night, you lost me there. I'm sorry,but how can you call music meaningless? :# Yes, it's not as important as food or air, but as human beings, we require more than the bare essentials. Cinema, literature, music and art is what provides our lives with meaning and is what makes life worth living. Music may not be necessary but meaningless? Not on your life! :D
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    Seeing as Eagle has posted this conversation once more and expressed a desire to start anew, this one's locked.
This discussion has been closed.