Legalisation of .22lr pistols in the UK

[J.T. 1,843]

All this gentlemen wants is to own a small caliber target gun for competition and sport. We're not even talking about self defense or storing weapon in the home. For his purposes the pistol could be stored at the firing range, signing it out from an armory when he arrives and turning it back in before he leaves. I just do not understand how anyone could have a problem with that, although some arrangement would have to be made for him to be able to legally transport the weapon from the gun shop to the range and to other ranges for competitions.

 

This is the type of gun we're talking about just for the record.

Edited February 20, 2015 by J.T.

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

This is the first sensible thing I've heard out of UK in a long time when it comes to law.

 

No offense to any UKanese, of course.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Can't wait for this to get moved to the Debate Pit. Just look at this thread.

 

I personally disagree with the legalisation of .22lr pistols, but I'm not British so this doesn't really affect me so I'm not gonna really bother with arguing with anyone.

 

You're absolutely right.

 

By commenting on this, I've broken one of my cardinal rules of Forum conduct.

 

Just being honest to everyone, I shouldn't have gotten involved because I don't live in the U.K. and therefore have no stake in it.

 

My sincerest apologies.

[xlwpos 12]

First, it is not going to happen.

 

Second, regardless of one's feelings about gun control, a.22 pistol (especially .22 magnum) can be a formidable weapon at close range.

 

Third, the hypocrisy of the crown in regards to gun control is astounding. Declassified documents reveal that the crown armed Protestant militias in Northern Ireland during the 1980's. So there are guns on the streets of Belfast (and probably elsewhere in the UK) that are illegal, both then and now, because the UK government put them there. But a law-abiding subject cannot own a .22.       

[Twilight Dirac 721]

I feel for you Luna.  The sad fact of the matter is that once you lose a civil liberty, they become very, very hard to regain.  That is why we stubbornly refused so called "reasonable" gun control legislation here in the states.  Because once a bad law gets on the books, it tends to stay on the books.

 

 

 

Third, the hypocrisy of the crown in regards to gun control is astounding. Declassified documents reveal that the crown armed Protestant militias in Northern Ireland during the 1980's. So there are guns on the streets of Belfast (and probably elsewhere in the UK) that are illegal, both then and now, because the UK government put them there. But a law-abiding subject cannot own a .22.      

 

The BATFE pulled a similar stunt over here recently.  They basically ordered firearms dealers to sell guns to individuals connected to Mexican drug cartels.  They were supposed to follow up on the sales and perform sting operations thus catching some cartel leaders, but after carrying out the first part they never bothered to get around to the sting operation part.  So now the cartels have a bunch of additional weapons, thanks to a bunch of busybody bureaucrats. 

[VitalSpark 1,830]

No one is forcing you to own a weapen if you don't want to. Why do you feel you have the right to make that decision for other people?

If we legalized theft, then nobody would be forcing me to steal if I didn't want to.

 

Making decisions for other people is kind of the whole point of laws. All laws.

 

I happen to think that this is a very good decision to have been made.

[Twilight Dirac 721]

 

 

Making decisions for other people is kind of the whole point of laws. All laws.

 

That is a rather authoritarian take on lawmaking.  Sure, laws restrict what people can legally do, but it is more about protecting life, liberty and property than about making decisions for the populace.   

[Steel Accord 6,660]

That is a rather authoritarian take on lawmaking.  Sure, laws restrict what people can legally do, but it is more about protecting life, liberty and property than about making decisions for the populace.   

 

Ideally that's what laws are for. The problem is in how much power the people invest in the lawmakers.

[SCS 7,537]

I can't sign the petition because I'm not in the UK, I just want to comment on this issue.

 

I am all for gun rights but my main concern is national safety and preserving lives. I believe that gun rights are an important part of this, but only when done properly.

 

The cornerstone of freedom is being able to defend yourself. If you cannot defend yourself, you are not free. That being said, you don't need armor-piercing rounds, fully automatic weapons, RPGs, tanks, or IEDs to defend yourself if you live in a civilized country. 

 

I'm okay with that gun being legalized for sporting purposes, I just hope that you all will be careful about what laws you push for. To put it briefly, be careful what you wish for. People should only be allowed to have the guns and ammunition they need to protect themselves in most any practical situation, and in a way that reduces the potential for mass murder, quiet assassinations, and so on as much as possible.