From: "mbwood", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Gun owners forced to join national register
by David Bamber - Home Affairs Correspondent
The Government is to set up a compulsory national register of all gun owners
and firearms and introduce stringent security arrangements before owners can
keep firearms in their homes.
There will be stricter controls, too, on replica and de-activated
historical guns such as flintlocks, to prevent them being restored to
working order.
Ministers insist that the plans are aimed at keeping guns out of criminals'
hands, but some owner, who have already faced new restrictions under Labour,
think the measures could further undermine the legitimate use of weapons.
Charles Clarke, the Home Office minister, confirmed that a national
strategy to reduce the availability of illegal firearms was being drawn
up.He said: "The Government is committed to supporting the police and HM
Customs in their work to combat illegal firearms. Measures that form part of
our strategy include the security of legally held firearms to prevent them
being stolen."
He said that the Home Office was planning a national database of
certificate holders, with the possibility of recording the registration
details of all legally held firearms. There would also be stricter controls
on de-activated weapons.
Under a planned amnesty, illegally held guns could be handed over to police
with no questions asked. Ministers say that the action is needed because of
the small but growing use of guns by criminals, especially in the drugs
trade.
Mr Clarke is also considering how reputable gun traders could help police
by passing on information on suspected criminals attempting to buy firearms.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service is linking intelligence on
criminals using guns with the work of the Forensic Science Service which
examines seized weapons for DNA.
Gun enthusiasts insist that they will do everything to assist the handover
of illegally held weapons but feel the introduction of bureaucracy and red
tape further undermines gun owners.
When Labour came to office, ministers introduced a ban on handguns which
led to Olympic and Commonwealth shooters training abroad.
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