From: "Gregg Mitchell", [EMAIL PROTECTED] Found this in the Sun (euck!) TOY GUNS THAT KILL -By Chris Pharo Shocked cops call for ban REPLY. The article originates from Bristol and is only the tip of the iceberg. The Bristol Evening Post ran a series of articles, written by a "reporter" called Lockett. The Evening Post was intent on an expose of the deadly weapons available to children without licence. It was sensationalist, ignorant, inflammatory & badly researched. They were campaigning to make Bristol "safer" and sell papers in a quiet period. If you thought the Sun article was bad, you should have seen the preceding ones in Bristol. The Evening Post was unable to distinguish between air rifles, air pistols, BB guns, co2 & airsoft. One of the spurious claims made was that an airsoft could shoot "PLASTIC BALL BEARINGS WITH DEADLY ACCURACY AT UP TO 75 METRES". A firearms dealer of my acquaintance was incensed at the style of Mr. Lockett & wrote offering a challenge. If Mr. Lockett could hit the dealer accurately at 75 metres with an airsoft, then the dealer would pay L500 to the charity of Lockett's choice. Conversely, Lockett would have to pay L500 to the dealer's choice of charity & print a retraction. The dealer has never received a reply. I also wrote to the Evening Post. Nothing has ever been printed, nor any acknowledgement given. Subsequent articles reiterated alarmist trash, each time dragging in comment from Avon & Somerset Police, notably a Brian Schofield (Inspector level at least) and Dave Cannon, Deputy Force Armourer. The Sun article is a condensed version of the last Evening Post article. I presume that the Post managed to sell this garbage to the Sun. The Evening Post has obviously found its editorial level, ably assisted by the Avon & Somerset Police. May both be happy playing in the gutter. The unfortunate in this affair are the general Public, shooters, ordinary police officers and, in particular, Dave Cannon. The Public have been led by the nose, shooters have again been daemonised by implication and a solid sector of the community regards the Police with even greater suspicion. In the original article, Dave Cannon comes across as a complete prat at worst and a cynical ACPO mouthpiece at best. Neither is true. I have met the man. I do not believe that he would have willingly contributed to this load of bo***cks. He is knowledgeable, a good armourer and nobody's fool. He shoots for recreation. I can only presume that the Evening Post has vastly distorted his interview and that his masters have deliberately permitted this corruption for their own ends. Incidentally, Avon & Somerset Police' motto is "Working with you - working for you". Despite glib assurances at consultation meetings with shooting organisations, in a variety of shooting circles this motto is frequently & wryly quoted as "Working with you - working it up you". Avon & Somerset Police' involvement in the articles will do nothing to dispel this unfortunate perception. The interviews and style of the articles should have been ringing warning bells @ Headquarters in Portishead. Presumably in the rarified atmosphere of upper echelon policing, the complete truth is not a major consideration, nor is policy always determined by the needs of the community. By the way, I have not fired an air rifle in 35 years, but I do get hacked off when someone p**ses on my back and tells me it's raining. G.Mitchell. -- A&S firearm licensing have a very bad reputation, largely as a result of all the additional forms they have made up. Steve. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
