BB GUNS UNDER THREAT IN BRITAIN

MPs stepped up their bid to ban ball bearing guns after new figures showed an increase in gun crime. The latest statistics show violent crime is continuing to rise, with more youngsters and criminals using " alternative" weapons including replica guns, air pistols and the ball bearing firing guns. Wirral West MP Stephen Hesford has been leading the campaign for a BB gun ban since his constituent David Hazel was left paralysed from the waist down after a ball bearing ruptured his spine. He said: "Urgent action needs to be taken now to ban these dangerous weapons. "My constituent suffered horribly because these guns are too freely available."

In the 12 months to last April Merseyside police recorded 483 gun crimes, excluding air weapons and imitation firearms, up from 318 the previous year. Yesterday's July- September national figures showed a 15% fall in the use of handguns, but a 48% rise in the use of imitation firearms and a 41% increase in the use of weapons categorised as "other firearms" which include BB guns. General firearms offences rose by 5% in the year to September, while overall violent crime jumped by 6%.

West Derby MP Bob Wareing said: "I hope that these figures will push the Home Office into responding to pressure from MPs by banning BB guns." Riverside's Louise Ellman said: "There should be a clampdown on those who use firearms and efforts to take weapons, including BB guns and air pistols, out of circulation. "They are not toys, but weapons which can maim, cripple and kill." Birkenhead MP Frank Field said: "These disappointing figures show that we have to put even greater effort into countering violent crime. "They are linked to a fundamental change in how people's behaviour, a lack of respect for one another, escalates to violent misbehaviour and gun crime. "We have to hold the line better but we also need to tackle the root causes of anti-social behaviour amongst young people and the irresponsible behaviour of adults."

More here




Israel: Is this the nuttiest of all? "Last Thursday, the civilian head of Hebron's security apparatus, Yoni Bleichbard, who is employed by the Defense Ministry, received a phone call from an officer in the Hebron brigade. She notified Yoni that his weapon's license, permitting him to carry an M-16 rifle, had been voided and that he was now classified as 'weapons-negated.' The reason: unknown. The source of the decision: somewhere up there -- Central Command or higher. The result: yesterday, Yoni was forced to 'return' his rifle to the authorities that be. In other words, Hebron's security chief is forbidden to carry the primary tool of his trade, that tool which is used to offer protection and defense, should the need arise, to any of the Hebron community's hundreds of residents or thousands of visitors."




Fruitcake gets his reward: "Last Thursday, Travis ran into the Ayesh Food Market at 19th and Hampton with a knife over his head like the shower scene in 'Psycho' and yelled, 'Give me the money or I'll kill you.' Store workers chose neither option. The cashier grabbed a revolver and leaped over the counter. By then, another worker had run to the back of the store with Travis in pursuit. Travis then cornered the cashier, who emptied the gun into him. Too many of these corner-store robberies go the other way. The clerks, even those who cooperate and hand over money, are killed by the intruders. Travis fell victim to an occupational hazard. Gun trumped knife. Store owners can legally keep firearms behind the counter. Anyone in need of fast cash does well to remember that."