Domestic abuse

[Michael Rolls]

I found this, gleaned from the BBC News website, worrying:-

>>Dozens of gun-owning domestic abuse suspects have had their weapons returned by police over the past three years, the BBC can reveal.
The data has been released six months after a man with a violent history shot dead five people in Plymouth shortly after police gave him his gun back.

The BBC found more than a quarter of gun licences returned between 2019 and 2021 went to people who had faced allegations of domestic abuse.<<

Knowing how strict the Met were when I owned firearms, I am surprised, but on the other hand it isn't the only instance of apparent police laxity over firearm certificate holders.

The most notorious instance must be the Dunblane massacre, carried out be Thomas Hamilton, who, despite a history of 'inappropriate behaviour' in a number of different settings had a firearm certificate allowing him to own two 9mm Browning Hi-Power semi-autos and two 357 S&W Magnum revolvers.

This was despite in 1991, complaints against Hamilton were made to the Central Scotland Police and were investigated by the Child Protection Unit. He was reported to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration of ten charges, including assault, obstructing police and contravention of the Children and Young Persons Act 1937. No action was taken
Mike

[klondike]

Blame him for losing your Webley.

[Michael Rolls]

true - mine was S&W - I did mention a Webley in another thread but it wasn't mine
Mike

[crabbyob]

i still dissagree with any civillian having a handgun at home, by all means have them locked in the shooting club premises... but bad as handguns are i feel shotgans are worse... a lot of years ago i lost a childhood friend when her hubby came home drunk and collected his shotgun to go out shooting pissed up, she put her foot down and barred the doorway telling him there was no way he was taking that gun out, it ended up in a struggle, her trying to take the gun off him, taking the 'loaded' gun off him.... it went off killing her instantly... i have no idea what happened to him

[klondike]

Handguns are already banned post Dunblane. Of course laws only apply to the law abiding...

The problem with "locked in the shooting club" is that ranges are (obviously) in isolated areas and if all the guns are stored there guess where the first port of call would be for the local criminal fraternity seeking firearms.

[Michael Rolls]

Being my usual pessimistic self, depending upon where you live, I can see a very good case for civilians having handguns for home protection, but it is never going to happen. After all, criminals always obey the law, don't they?
OTOH for the life of me, I cannot understand how Hamilton legally owned FOUR handguns. These weren't collectors' items, which would have been understandable. They were working tools and they weren't target pistols
Mike

[crabbyob]

there will always be exceptions Mike and sadly the laws are often knee jerk reactions to what individuals have done... i have used a lot of weapons [trained to....lol] the single weapon that terrified me was the old Mills Bomb AKA the hand grenade... and while i admit todays handguns are possibly easier to use than the heavy guns we had to use, i feel that anyone found in possesion of one should get an automatic ten years with no remission... by the way, it is my opion that when one partner has to use violence on any member of the household they should be arrrested and charged with assault...

[Michael Rolls]

Agree with your last sentence - absolutely. Possession of an unauthorised handgun already carries an automatic five year penalty, not that that seems to deter the ungodly
Mike