Ban on crossbows

[gonzo_the_great]

Each police constabulary work to their own agenda. Mostly dictated by their chief constable.
Some like to have shooting people working on the staff, as they know when you are trying to pull a fast one on them. Others want non shooiters, as they are less likely to protest when being asked to put unnecessary pressure and impeadments on shooters.

I've had a few instances where they have given me wrong advice or dealt with things in the wrong way. But then little of what I do is 'normal', so there is plenty of scope for confusing them.

One of the main complaints, for all areas is, they are very slow.
Dorset (my area) have around 30,000 licences to deal with. That is over a hundres renewals per week. Not to mention all the gun transfers that they have to record and licence variations. And there are only a handfull of people in the office.


The next thing we are going to see, before they get around to cross-bows, is airgun licencing. No idea how they are going to cope with that?!
Though I recon there will be an unintended concequence. The airgun licence that they currenty have in Scotland, is pretty much the same process as getting a shotgun/firarms licence. And if we get the same thing in the rest of the UK, many people are going to just say, why don't I go the extra step and get a firearms licence, as well.
Our local gun club has about half the membership as airgunners. That will be a lot of extra firearms licences.

Jules

 

[Alan De Enfield]

As had been said - ban knives, ban crossbows and the hooligans will still find an alternative 'legal' tool to use.

From Sky News 5/6/18 :

A 16-year-old boy has been attacked with a claw hammer in what police have described as a "horrific" assault in east London.

The victim was hit several times over the head, leaving him nearly unconscious, after being confronted at a bus stop in Poplar Park, Tower Hamlets.

He was able to escape by getting on to a bus, as passengers barred the attacker from boarding, police said. The suspect then fled the scene.

The school pupil was left needing five stitches in the back of his head and nearly lost consciousness from blood loss.

 

[Janne]

Only time will tell if the restrictions and bans will help the situation, but something has to be done, I am sure we all agree?

 

[Chomp]

Only time will tell if the restrictions and bans will help the situation, but something has to be done, I am sure we all agree?

Something has to be done about what ???
As far as I'm aware, the country isn't in the middle of a crossbow fuelled murder spree, or even a crossbow fuelled robbing spree. We have had a recently highlighted problem with knife attacks even after the ban of 'zombie knives' in England (you can still get them in Scotland if that's your bag). Other knives including mum's kitchen knives are available. More people still die on the roads though, not that I'm trying to make light of the knife crime.

 

[Janne]

A couple of people got killed by bolts, and two MP’s call for a ban.

It is not like the police or state are planning a ban or licensing of crossbows.
I bunched together them with bladed implements.

Yes, something has to be done.

 

[Chomp]

A couple of people got killed by bolts, and two MP’s call for a ban.

It is not like the police or state are planning a ban or licensing of crossbows.
I bunched together them with bladed implements.

Yes, something has to be done.

Again, I'll toss in the driving deaths. I'm not particularly pro crossbows but if its about saving lives there are higher priorities than crossbow or knife deaths. Seeing as how you're going to lump crossbows in with knives, how are we going to restrict knife deaths by legislation. We already have laws that forbid the carrying of anything larger than a 3" non lockable knife. While I've not researched it, I'll wager my left spud that the majority of knife crime isn't carried out by Swiss Army Knife wielding thugs.

Its politicians scoring cheap points by banning or restricting the more emotive things. Arguably raising the age of driving to be inline with the ability to buy cigarettes or enter a bookies would save more lives than restricting crossbows but I can't see it happening. Sorry for harping back to the driving but for me its a perfect comparison.

 

[Janne]

They have restricted the speed over the years.
It is supposed to have saved lives.

One strange anomaly: the free speed German motorways have ( per kilometer) a better security than most of other, speed restricted, western European countries’ motorways.

The crime problem is multi causal.
I guess todays children will have to deal with a solution when they grow up.

My solution to crime is easy. Criminalise more civil offences.
Get rid if the holiday hotels and introduce prisons again.

 

[Chomp]

They have restricted the speed over the years.
It is supposed to have saved lives.

One strange anomaly: the free speed German motorways have ( per kilometer) a better security than most of other, speed restricted, western European countries’ motorways.

The crime problem is multi causal.
I guess todays children will have to deal with a solution when they grow up.

My solution to crime is easy. Criminalise more civil offences.
Get rid if the holiday hotels and introduce prisons again.

You can limit the speed to 10 mph (or kilometres, what ev's ) it doesn't mean that people won't do more. I suppose the same could be argued for my point about upping the driving age to 18, its not going to stop 17 year olds (or younger) driving a car. We have to accept that 'sh1t happens' and while each death is a tragedy, there is a chance it will happen regardless. Politicians using scare tactics to restrict fringe activities is a different issue, 95% won't give a crap about the banning or restricting of crossbow use, to be honest, I fall into that category but its not about the crossbows as such, I'm trying to highlight that there are much better ways to save lives but they would be more unpopular.

While I share your view on removing people from society, I'm not sure that it works either, Devils Island wasn't a deterrent, again, sh1t is going to happen, especially when you factor in why a lot of crime is committed.

 

[snappingturtle]

Plenty of laws already in place, police on beat I would say works better because it prevents crime, on paper it dose not look as good but as an idea it closes down windows of opportunity and puts an officer on hand quickly, but also they get to know the bad apples in there area and keeps pressure on those that take advantage of us that just want to go about life in a peaceable manner, it can lead to the victimising of criminals in that they can end up being hauled in on suspicion due to local crimes well then that would be a good incentive to change there ways, the criminal should be victimised, at the moment society just looks to becoming more and more a gilded prison with no end to the ramping up of ineffectual laws with no real targeting of the small criminal element, what I see happening is are society is going to unglue itself and very likely in a very bad and violent way.

 

[dwardo]

Plenty of laws already in place, police on beat I would say works better because it prevents crime, on paper it dose not look as good but as an idea it closes down windows of opportunity and puts an officer on hand quickly, but also they get to know the bad apples in there area and keeps pressure on those that take advantage of us that just want to go about life in a peaceable manner, it can lead to the victimising of criminals in that they can end up being hauled in on suspicion due to local crimes well then that would be a good incentive to change there ways, the criminal should be victimised, at the moment society just looks to becoming more and more a gilded prison with no end to the ramping up of ineffectual laws with no real targeting of the small criminal element, what I see happening is are society is going to unglue itself and very likely in a very bad and violent way.

Ahh but that costs money ye see and is no where near as much headline grabbing as "Ban this!!!" wont someone think of the children!!!!

Cops numbers reduce rapidly, crime goes up. Wonder if they need to have it plotted on a chalk board...

If there is little or no presence on the ground then the chimps feel safe. (apologies to real chimps) Its not just the presence as you said its the human knowing the local area and the local people.

 

[snappingturtle]

Ahh but that costs money ye see and is no where near as much headline grabbing as "Ban this!!!" wont someone think of the children!!!!

Cops numbers reduce rapidly, crime goes up. Wonder if they need to have it plotted on a chalk board...

If there is little or no presence on the ground then the chimps feel safe. (apologies to real chimps) Its not just the presence as you said its the human knowing the local area and the local people.

Yer I know I'm trying to reason it out with some logic...daft of me really its the English government, God how the hell did we come to this??

 

[Chomp]

Ahh but that costs money ye see and is no where near as much headline grabbing as "Ban this!!!" wont someone think of the children!!!!

Cops numbers reduce rapidly, crime goes up. Wonder if they need to have it plotted on a chalk board...

If there is little or no presence on the ground then the chimps feel safe. (apologies to real chimps) Its not just the presence as you said its the human knowing the local area and the local people.

This is the problem, its all emotive, its the reason the air gun licensing came in in Scotland. Tragically a tot was killed about 10 years ago, it wasn't some middle aged guy who pulled the trigger, it was a wee drug dealing ned who was doing it. Still, the politicians who brought the law in can high five and back slap that they've done something about it. In principal I don't have an issue with licensing but the logic behind it scares me, I've had no issue becoming registered, it cost me money but I can live with that, its the 'tears and snotters' pandering that frightens me.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uk...illed-boy-2-with-air-gun-jailed-for-life.html

My bad, it was 2005 and he was an addict, not a dealer. He was a ned though. I think we can all sleep safely knowing that nobody else in Scotland will die by air rifle now.
If you want to seriously deal with an issue like (lets say knife as opposed to crossbow as its pretty minimal) crime then dealing with the cause rather than the effect would be more pertinent, you can never deal with the effect as you can't legislate for everything.

 

[Janne]

Step by step, however tiny, the states do ban/ license lots and lots.

Look on the changes since the year 1900.

 

[Chomp]

Step by step, however tiny, the states do ban/ license lots and lots.

Look on the changes since the year 1900.

Yup, its a lot sexier to make laws than repeal them I don't know what its like where you are but there seems to be an awful lot of drama involved with running both Scotland and the UK. Egos need to be placated and jobs justified.

Cynical, moi ????

 

[Janne]

Drama is everywhere. Having lived in several countries during my life, I think Italy has the best politicians.

Comedians the lot of them! Berlusconi, Ciccolina.....
Or is Tragic Comedy a better description?

It is weird how things change. When I lived in Sweden, silencers were banned, and you would lose your gun permits, get a heavy fine, etc.

Now they are legal. What has changed to make them suddenly fine to own and use?

Will the British Government take lessons in our local gun permit system and allow handguns again?

They should. It works.
( crossbows and bows are illegal here though.)

 

[Chomp]

Drama is everywhere. Having lived in several countries during my life, I think Italy has the best politicians.

Comedians the lot of them! Berlusconi, Ciccolina.....
Or is Tragic Comedy a better description?

It is weird how things change. When I lived in Sweden, silencers were banned, and you would lose your gun permits, get a heavy fine, etc.

Now they are legal. What has changed to make them suddenly fine to own and use?

Will the British Government take lessons in our local gun permit system and allow handguns again?

They should. It works.
( crossbows and bows are illegal here though.)

Sorry I liked then unliked your post by accident instead of quoting.
Things do change and you're right about the drama, I can understand why those involved want to bandstand but its got nothing at all to do with the day to day running of a country. This seems to have been forgotten in the whole thing.I'm glad that we can influence our politicians but unfortunately our politicians seem to have a big influence on us with their 'razzamatazz' and pushing of issues. Even if I agree with the issues they're pushing.

 

[Janne]

I just hope they take decisions that will benefit the majority of us.

And that they have b&lls big enough to reverse decisions that do not work, or where the benefit is so small that the negative outweights it!

Utopia.

I am not negative for a well designed license/ permit system. On the contrary!
Many countries have developed excellent systems, well documented, Britain have just to look around, and follow.

 

[Chomp]

I just hope they take decisions that will benefit the majority of us.

And that they have b&lls big enough to reverse decisions that do not work, or where the benefit is so small that the negative outweights it!

Utopia.

I am not negative for a well designed license/ permit system. On the contrary!
Many countries have developed excellent systems, well documented, Britain have just to look around, and follow.

Good luck with that, people have egos and we need to justify our existence. We have professional politicians in the UK, its a gravy train that comes with a massive pension. Not sure what the right answer is, we have the House of Lords which isn't exactly democracy. I think its just the UK and Iran that has clerics in the government system, maybe wrong on that but I know both countries do. I certainly don't want a country run by people who can afford not to have a day job but I'm not fond of the party system either. Reckon a better mind than mine will be required to sort it.

Anyway..... crossbows....

 

[Janne]

Yep, crossbows.

Wonder if anybody here has done any hunting with one ( where lrgsl, of course)?

 

[gonzo_the_great]

If we put up a legue table, showing numbers of serious crime/accidents, per item. I bet all the things that catch the headlines, would be soo far down, it would be a embarassing.

The archery club, at my local sports and social club, have a cross bow section. They tend to practice in the smallbore rifle range.