From: Norman Bassett, [EMAIL PROTECTED] In Palmer's Index to The Times 1790-1905, a CD-ROM to accompany the Times microfilms at Manchester Central Reference Library, it gives the references to "Pistols Bill" (not a nickname, boringly!) as starting at 25 July 1893 and ending (with the passing of the Bill as an Act) on 5 August 1903. A ten-year effort. My uncle's comment was that there were forces in Parliament at the time trying to get enforcement of the law in the UK out of the hands of local magistrates and into the hands of the central government via the expansion of police forces. That was because the Prime Minister had extensive interests in mining and some of the local magistrates enforced the mining health and safety regulations and stopped the mine-owners engaging in thuggery when dealing with their employees. The idea of putting restrictions on pistols was to make people less able to defend themselves and thus to make them more dependent on the police forces and the central government. I'm unsure why you'd blame Churchill for this, he was born in 1874, which would make him 19 when the first anti-pistols efforts began. The real question is why is there any crime at all. The answer is that the police and government prey on us instead of working for us doing a reasonable job of social administration. Their repeatedly demonstrated incompetence is proclaimed as "proof" that more of their efforts are needed when the truth is they should be sacked for them. Regards Norman Bassett drakenfels.org -- Okay, I'll say it again, Churchill was Home Secretary when the Pistols Bill 1911 was conceived, undoubtedly he had something to do with it. The Pistols Act 1903 was a very modest measure and neither Richard or I said Churchill was responsible for the first effort. Steve. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
