Lunacy in Public. Man Points Bb Pistol at Police.

[ImTriggerHappy]

Weapons used in crimes always have their serials ground out.

The only way illegal guns are monitored is by ballistics.

But people are less likely to sell an airsoft gun improperly if there is a paper trail of ownership.

Most guns used in crimes won't be legally obtained.

 

[EDcase]

But people are less likely to sell an airsoft gun improperly if there is a paper trail of ownership.

Most guns used in crimes won't be legally obtained.

Yeah, I was thinking of real guns as they're the only thing that can really do harm.

A legitimate owner might be temped or coerced into selling their legit firearm for enough money since it won't be traceable back to them.

As for airguns/airsoft being used then as I said, they should be treated as real and deal with the consequences.

 

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Of course restrictions on ownership would help as if ownership requires registration then people can't sell them through the free ads and if they did and it was used in a crime it would traceable.

Most airsoft guns don't have actual serial numbers, and even if they did removal of them would be easy.

It wouldn't make any difference if they did though. It's a trivial task for anyone to create something that looks realistic enough to pass as a real firearm for criminal purposes. Especially given how dodgy the appearance is of many real improvised firearms that have been confiscated by police. It could be as simple as a carved block of wood coated in black paint, or a table leg in a black bag, or a gun-shaped piece of 3D-printed plastic (or multiple pieces fit together for an even more realistic design). Could even be papercraft... or a combination of things.

In the heat of the moment it's doubtful anyone would take a moment to so closely scrutinise a criminal's weapon while they're being threatened with it.

Comparing our gun control issues to to america doesn't quite work as guns over here are still relatively rare compared to the USA.

So it stands to reason that the majority of guns our police are likely to encounter are fake even if they look real... but nevertheless, if someone is being threatened with one they must still treat them as real until they're 100% certain that it's fake, even if it's in an "unrealistic" colour or shape.

Nothing would stop the issues completely but if shit like this keeps happening then anything to lessen it is a step forward. The only ones to disagree are those so wrapped up in the toy soldier fantasy that the real world comes a distant second.

It wouldn't make the situation any better though, for the reasons I've already stated.

 

[mbea61]

There’s any number of reasons why the officer didn’t fire, anything from not having a clear background for over penetration or a miss, to information being passed that it was likely a replica firearm. But that said, from that picture I think he would be totally justified in taking the shot. Although whether the IOPC, press, social media and 5 to 10 years of inquests and court cases would think the same is another matter. Massive credit to the officer though for the bravery and restraint shown.

Stuff like this shows the stupidity of the laws around replica firearms in this country. You have to prove a defence in order to buy a black or realistic coloured airsoft gun, but you can walk into any outdoor activity shop and buy a black pellet gun which looks exactly the same. I can just imagine the comments from people seeing this wanting anything that looks like a gun banned, regardless of the fact that the only person who’s life was at risk in this situation was the idiot with the BB gun.  As far as I’m concerned you should be able to buy what ever replica you want and if you’re stupid enough to act like this idiot with it, then so be it. Let Darwin sort everyone out.

I've never understood the fact I can walk into a sporting/shooting dealership and buy a umarex licensed copy 177 co2 pistol or rifle and yet can't buy exactly the same gun that fires a 6mm plastic bb there's been quite alot of incident lately with people pointing airpistol around but it always seems to be airsoft players and ownership of rifs who get the finger pointed at them as for why the officer dint fire 98% of people with a hand gun in street etc are carrying either a pellet gun or a bb gun and police know this as for the others it's mainly inner city gangs or organised criminals and police know how to tell that 2% apart and would deal with them straight away