Gun Culture

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

FCC 12th Annual Report

Can’t sleep?
Then I recommend the 12th Annual Report of the FCC now available here (55 pages worth of pdf)
There are high points though

1.4 The opinions and views expressed in this report are rarely
unanimous. It should be noted that dissenting voices, particularly that
of the Gun Control Network, are not always recorded in the text of the
report.

For most of the points in the report there is a mention of opposition by the Gun Control Nutters to a sensible position, so the mind boggles somewhat at just what form this dissent takes.  Perhaps the mad witch bangs on the table and rants about how evil toy guns are at every turn.

Also worth a read is some of the previous recommendations of the FCC.  A scan through those may challenge the conventional wisdom that the FCC are a level headed committee (mad witch excempted!).

10.41 The prohibition on full-bore pump-action rifles in the Firearms
(Amendment) Act 1988 should be retained. [Paragraph 15.14]
Firearms Review

Why?  What is the justification for this?  Were recent shootings carried out with pump action rifles perhaps?  Thought not.

11.2 The FCC recommends the Government should take steps to
prohibit certain powerful (materiel destruction) rifles, based on their
muzzle energy and not by name. Any prohibition should make
exceptions for certain rifles as indicated at paragraph 2.6 herein.
[Paragraphs 2.4-2.9].
Legislation

Again, what is the public safety benefit?

11.3 The FCC recommends that the Government should seek to ban
those revolvers which have wrist braces or similar extensions to the
pistol grip. It is further suggested that such a ban might be extended to
all those revolver guns without a permanently attached shoulder stock

Public safety benefit of zero again.

11.41 Where the police have been called to an incident, which
involved the misuse of an air weapon, the FCC recommends that the
forfeiture of the weapon should be considered irrespective of whether
criminal proceedings are instituted. [Paragraph 9.22].

Wow.  What a doozer.  So regardless of the validity of any complaint the plod could walk away with your airgun?
There is a world of difference between some thug smashing windows with a knackered old springer and a hunter taking bunnies with a PCP, yet this suggestion would not protect the hunter from a malicious bunny hugger calling in a complaint and a gun grabbing copper confiscating the airgun.