VCRA mentioned in the House of Lords (specfically airsoft)

Rubbish reporting with all sorts of errors Just a few statements from the BBC narrator:

It's illegal to buy and sell RIFs?
Only museums and theatrical productions can buy? (Contrary to the first statement, but still wrong).
Skirmishers are "licenced" to use "plastic" imitations?

Typical lazy journalism from the BBC Thank goodness the lords have a firmer grasp on what they're talking about

Indeed, but it sounds like Lord West has his head screwed on, despite the typical "OMGZZZ won't someone think of the children?!1!?!111" from some of the others.

Spot on. The lords aren't all stupid. My issues are with the lazy, sensationalist, tabloid journalistic style used by the BBC reporter, who some of the denser ones seem to have been listening to. Facts wrong, but who cares if it makes for an entertaining news bulletin?

Worse still is other Lords perpetuating complete fabrications that BB guns can be and have been converted to real guns and are responsible for several murders - and implying that under 18's can buy them too.

"It is indeed very easy on the internet for under 18 year olds to buy and buy cheaply such imitation firearms. Imitation firearms that are scarcely indistinguishable from real weapons despite the requirement of the 2006 Act that 51% are made of plastic.... Many of these weapons are able to be activated into real weapons as was documented in the case before the Reading courts in 2004 where 51 shootings had resulted in 8 murders with these imitation converted firearms."

"scarcely indistinguishable"

Obviously appalling grammar is no barrier to getting a Peerage.

I'm afraid they don't even know where actually live most of the time so correct grammar would be a little taxing for them, I'd venture to suggest.

Heh, I needn't have transcribed - I just discovered the Hansard transcript:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldhansrd/text/100323-0001.htm#10032376000521

I wonder if the "case before the Reading courts in 2004" involved a converted Brocock airgun?

The buffoon is both out of date and inaccuratee in his speech. Anything that could be converted (Brococks) were made illegal, bb guns can't be converted in any way shape or form, selling anything that looks like a real gun (even if bright yellow) to an under 18 is illegal, it is illegal for an under 18 to buy anything that looks like a real gun (even if bright yellow), it is illegal to sell a realistic imitation to over 18s (unless they fall within a closely prescribed set of groups).

No need for Lords or MPs to revisit legislation as it is pretty well sewn up. They might ask the question of Police and Trading Standards about why they are doing bugger all about laws already in place!

Anyhoo, Lord West seems pretty content with the status quo (and made this clear) so I don't expect further moves for a while...

Hmmm interesting...

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/o ... alan-west/

Lord west is ex forces. An ex-Admiral and Sealord in fact.

Bet he's a secret airsofter

I wonder if the "case before the Reading courts in 2004" involved a converted Brocock airgun?

Blank Firing MAC-10's

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/aug/27/ukguns.ukcrime - only given as an example of media coverage

Hmmm interesting...

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/o ... alan-west/

Lord west is ex forces. An ex-Admiral and Sealord in fact.

More interesting than you think. West retired from the Navy, got his honours, then took up a seat in the HoL on the Labour side of the benches in a very short space of time (Gordon Brown also made him a PUS as well) - so dont start thinking he's an independant, he's very much "company line". As an aside, Yes, the same Labour lot that got very mouthy about Dannatt retiring from the Army then acting as an advisor to the Conservatives....

Still, he has his head half screwed on for a fish head....

.....which isn't saying much considering some of the complete tools i had to deal with in my former career

He is the one who in the 80s leaked the proposed Navy Cuts - took a rap on the knuckles and assured his career progression as a result..... read up further on him - Usually a person removing secret documents and dropping them on the street to be "found" by a tabloid journalist would be cashiered. On this occasion however......................