New York Bikers A Deep Op?

[Peter Presland]

This is an interesting thought Tracy. I noted (and indeed anticipated) that when handguns were banned in the UK in 1997, in the wake of the Dunblane massacre (another deep political episode btw), that only those who would have access to, and use them in the future, were the authorities and the underworld.

And so it came to pass:

Despite the handguns ban imposed under the 1997 Firearms Amendment, research carried out following the implementation of the Act saw a 40 per cent increase in the number of gun crime incidents in the UK.

And here's a 'close-to-home' example of what the use of legal sledgehammers to crack ridiculous 'shock-horror-fear' nuts does to good salt-of-the-earth people:

Conviction for possession of an unlicensed firearm in the UK attracts a mandatory custodial sentence with hardly ANY room for Judicial discretion. In the following case, the judge stretched his discretionary powers to their absolute limit by reducing a mandatory 5 year custodial sentence to 2 years:

Graham Key was a gamekeeper who live about 8 miles from me. His widow was a work colleague of my wife. Our beloved Orwellian 'RSPCA', with it's visceral hatred of UK rural culture and quasi-police powers, suspected Mr Key of illegally killing badgers. They organised a police raid on Mr Key's home. The police discovered 2 unlicensed firearms (an old rusty and unserviceable WWII vintage rifle and an ancient Bruni semi-auto pistol) and a few rounds of ammunition, none of which was suitable for either firearm. Mr key's explanations for possession were not challenged by anyone and seem reasonable - but reasonableness cuts no ice where legal crusades are concerned.

No charges were brought on the RSPCA badger complaint but Mr Key was charged with possession under the Firearms Act and convicted - having pleaded guilty with mitigation. After sentencing, he was taken down to a holding cell where he ingested strychnine hidden in his sock and died a few hours later.

Matter of fact local newspaper reports here and here