Court gets tough
- Thread starter Bully
- Start date
If the Police, CPS and Courts are able to use the charge of an "Imitation Firearm......." and make it stick, we (Paintballers who don't behave like richards) could be in for some serious problems.
For those that haven't read it, the following thread has bearing on this case and our future:
http://67.19.5.132/vb/showthread.php?threadid=33928
In the proposed legislation that this thread talks about Paintball markers get no recognition at all (which to a degree is good) and because of the speed they fire at, could well be classed in the low powered air rifle section. However, if this case classes them as an imitation firearm then, whoever made the decsion to press the charges, was able to bend the current legislation to suit!
Which to say the least is abit worrying.
The proposed legislation does seemed to be preoccupied with 'imitation firearms' and IMHO could possibly mean the end of them or certaintly tighter controls on ownership or purchasing. If Paintball markers are lumped in this catagory now to get someone convicted, then we may have a whole load of ramifications to deal with, in the future. I would suggest that you do as Mr. Bull suggests and send your written thoughts to him for forwarding on to the Home Office.
For those that haven't read it, the following thread has bearing on this case and our future:
http://67.19.5.132/vb/showthread.php?threadid=33928
In the proposed legislation that this thread talks about Paintball markers get no recognition at all (which to a degree is good) and because of the speed they fire at, could well be classed in the low powered air rifle section. However, if this case classes them as an imitation firearm then, whoever made the decsion to press the charges, was able to bend the current legislation to suit!
Which to say the least is abit worrying.The proposed legislation does seemed to be preoccupied with 'imitation firearms' and IMHO could possibly mean the end of them or certaintly tighter controls on ownership or purchasing. If Paintball markers are lumped in this catagory now to get someone convicted, then we may have a whole load of ramifications to deal with, in the future. I would suggest that you do as Mr. Bull suggests and send your written thoughts to him for forwarding on to the Home Office.
Mikey, don't get too het-up right now, the law in itself can only touch us if imitation firearms are banned, and then you'll have tons of people going mental about it (Kids that own water pistols for a start!)
A piece of wood carved into the shape of a pistol is an imitation firearm, seriously!...All it does is facilitate the arrest of someone acting in a suspicious manner with one of these things. What we ARE at risk of, is an overzealous, potentially fascist police officer who wants to use the law as an excuse to use his power over someone.
It's not the law that affects us, it's the interpretation of that law. When a police officer arrests someone he has to arrest them under a charge which is a recognised law. In this case there are a number of laws that could be used "Behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace", "Common assault", "Reckless endangerment" (I think)...possession of an imitation firearm, however, is quite a strong charge I believe, in order to be able to bang this guy up for longer (Thank god!)
As long as we act responsibly and keep the public informed, "Possession of an imitation firearm" is never likely to affect us, unless you encounter a particularly unpleasant copper...but even then, it's no different to anything else he could do to you...you could get nicked for telling someone to "F*** off" (Common assault)...
It's all subjective really
A piece of wood carved into the shape of a pistol is an imitation firearm, seriously!...All it does is facilitate the arrest of someone acting in a suspicious manner with one of these things. What we ARE at risk of, is an overzealous, potentially fascist police officer who wants to use the law as an excuse to use his power over someone.
It's not the law that affects us, it's the interpretation of that law. When a police officer arrests someone he has to arrest them under a charge which is a recognised law. In this case there are a number of laws that could be used "Behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace", "Common assault", "Reckless endangerment" (I think)...possession of an imitation firearm, however, is quite a strong charge I believe, in order to be able to bang this guy up for longer (Thank god!)
As long as we act responsibly and keep the public informed, "Possession of an imitation firearm" is never likely to affect us, unless you encounter a particularly unpleasant copper...but even then, it's no different to anything else he could do to you...you could get nicked for telling someone to "F*** off" (Common assault)...
It's all subjective really
Sorry, just had a recall!
Common assault isn't an arrestable offence (sentence of less than five year) so you can't get nicked for it, but can get charged for it after arrest. This is possibly why the Imitation Firearms charge was used.....as it probably carries more than a five year sentence and is therefore an arrestable offence....
Apologies!
Common assault isn't an arrestable offence (sentence of less than five year) so you can't get nicked for it, but can get charged for it after arrest. This is possibly why the Imitation Firearms charge was used.....as it probably carries more than a five year sentence and is therefore an arrestable offence....
Apologies!
Thats the point I was making (badly)!
Because Paintball markers fall into a grey area they are open to interpretation as to what they should be classed as. It would be nice if we could have them classified once and for all, as a low powered air weapon realistically, and be subject to that legislation.
What my real point was, and is, is that we should keep an eye on any new legislation that could be exploited by an over zealous Home Secretary or Chief Constable to put Paintball, in all its forms, out of business.
We all behave responsibly and play at sites and tournaments that are rigoursly controlled. It only take's a few more Mr. Hunter's for someone to say enough's enough and bring the full weight of the law, even as it stands now, against us.
So true... i know someone who at age 17 got a £60 fine plus costs for hitting their mate (in a playful way) over the head with a balloon in the street.. a young zealous copper arrested them for " Using threatening behaviour whereby a breach of the peace MAY have been occasioned!!! No breach WAS occasioned of course but apparantly because the copper thought it MAY have been then that was enough to be arrested and go to court!!
And re the guy pulling his girl down to the ground upon hearing 'gunshots' i think you're being a bit harsh guys. Upon first reading it does sound daft but tbh when i first moved back to London after 13 years living just outside of Belfast during the hungerstrike era, the sound of a car backfiring or running over a loose manhole cover was enough to make me duck on pure reflex! It's a sort of involuntary conditioning!
