Posted on 04/10/2005 8:58:10 PM PDT by 1066AD
April 11, 2005
Country homeowners take up arms By Stewart Tendler and Daniel McGrory
AFTER a neighbour was robbed and beaten at home, a Sussex businessman decided to take crime prevention into his own hands. The wealthy, self-employed father of two bought a stun gun during a working trip to France, which he sent in the post to his home close to Brighton.
He is among an increasing number of British homeowners arming themselves against the risk of attack from intruders.
Most have used the internet to make their illicit purchases from France and Germany. As well as stun guns, these include CS gas canisters and replica handguns, which, using materials that can be bought at any DIY store, can easily be converted into lethal weapons.
Customs officers say that they have seen a six-fold increase in the number of stun guns being seized at ports and airports. Last year, Customs intercepted 672 stun guns, which can paralyse victims with a 50,000-volt shock. Those found carrying the weapons all told officers that they wanted them for their own protection.
A Scotland Yard investigation into a French company selling arms on the internet found that many of its British customers were not underworld figures but respectable mortgage-payers from the shires. Raids on customers’ addresses took officers to stockbroker belts, gated private estates and properties costing several millions. The weaponry seized included shotguns, ammunition and automatic pistols. A number of the weapons’ owners are still under police caution while prosecutors consider their next move.
Senior police officers admitted that they were suprised at the numbers of homeowners who were contemplating taking the law into their own hands. The buyers were not only confused over what the law says about their own protection, but also did not realise that some items that are freely available and legal in France and Germany are not permitted here.
The Sussex businessman who, realising that he was in possession of an illegal weapon, did not wish to give his name, said: “I don’t consider myself a criminal. At least three homes in my neighbourhood have had intruders while the occupants were there, and I thought this would be a deterrent.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said that police had no idea how many of the replica weapons were in circulation.
Some internet servers have blocked websites selling weapons, but police sources say specialist publications on sale in Britain carry more obscure outlets that supply weaponry legal in many European countries but banned here under the Firearms Act.
A police spokesman said: “Those homeowners we found in possession of weapons told us they purchased them online by simply typing the word ‘gun’ into a search engine.”
The Scotland Yard report came after Operation Bembridge, the first national crackdown on illegal firearms and weapons bought on the internet. Details of British buyers were obtained by the FBI after a request by the National Criminal Intelligence Service.
French police also acted against the company supplying the weaponry. In London, 11 men were arrested after raids on 18 addresses. More than 20 weapons were seized.
Illegal possession of firearms carries a minimum five-year sentence.
"we won't protect you and if you harm a poor intruder - who, after all, is only trying to make a living - YOU will go jail. YOU are allowed no way to protect yourself and YOU will go to jail if you try and the thieves now know we're stealing all your guns - so no worry" - and they're wondering why crime is up and people want to have a weapon for protection?
This stuff scares me because it's only a matter of time? I could not believe, a few years ago, when the powers that be in Australia convinced the people on gun control.
Well, I'll be the little, white-haired ole lady sitting on her stoop with her 6 shooter, holding off the gendarmes. Not MY gun, ya don't.
definitely written by a lawyer - good grief, just what IS the meaning of IS?
Wow. The Brits are catching on again.
Trouble is, it's been cumulative across governments of all stripes for the last 60 yrs or so ...
When I hear about this stuff going on in Britain, I think of the scene in Braveheart where Wallace's father pulls out swords hidden in his roof before going off to battle...
Sometime in the future everyone will be a criminal, the only difference between criminals will be that some of them are employed by the government.
That makes the British government illegitimate, since it fails to protect the citizens.
Pitiful.
NEVER let it come to this in the USA
whatever it takes .....never !
Heck, if you're going to be illegal anyhow, why stop at a replica? Me, I'd go for an RPG. "The perp? Why, he's over there, constable. And over there. And there..."
Mind boggling the way scottland yard persues legitimate citizens for defensive weapons possession and basically ignores the perps. Sadly the US is not far behind.
Your remark reminded me of a little quote:
"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. When there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."
- Ayn Rand
A government that doesn't trust it's people is a government that cannot be trusted.
stun gun???....go pick up a real "stun gun"...go find a genuine 45....
Legitimate citizens are easy targets for lazy law enforcement. Quicker results with less effort.
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