Grrrrrrrrr.

[tac]

tac here in yUK - Just had a letter from our county firearms department after applying to get another Swiss rifle to make up a set. Here in THIS county we have a locally-imposed limit on the number of firearms we are allowed before we have to install a higher level of home security.

Although there is no basis in the law, the figure they have arrived at is sixteen.

I pointed out that I already have my firearms secured in suitable standard safes, spread out in three different rooms in the house, all separately alarmed, with bolts removed and store separately where possible, ammunition stored separately and nowhere near the guns, and the main keys in an ex-MoD combination container. Add to that that like many folks here in UK, we have very high-grade home security with triple-glazed deadbolt windows and double locked doors - no porch doors here.

This has been ignored.

The letter points out to me that I already have eighteen [WOW], but that I have been 'allowed' to go over because four of my firearms are black powder percussion rifles and pistols - not exactly top of the thieves' hit-list for stolen weapons.

Nor are a bunch of old Swiss rifles with hard-to-find ammunition, and another bunch of pre-WW2 .22 rifles of all kinds as well as Boer War Mausers...

So my plans for another K31 are on hold unless I sell at least three guns.

Not going to happen.

Over in the next county there is no limit to the number of firearms you can have - 'within reason' - whatever THAT means. Many of my fellow shooters there have 30, 40 or even 50 rifles...

Anyone need a hard-working lodger with clean habits and a stuffed vulture?

Fergot to mention - MUST be a kosher household.

Not holding my breath, me.

tac in yUK

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[westernsky20]

I take there is no way you can get an exception?

 

[tac]

I take there is no way you can get an exception?

Nope.

I've been talking to the BASC [google] who tell me that although there are no such limits in law, the final say is down on how many firearms the county Chief Constable is prepared to permit to any law-abiding individual. His is the signature on the firearms certificate.

There IS an answer, I was told, but it involves upgrading my home alarm system to the same level as that of a firearms dealership premises - a cost of around $8K of my own money. This would extend my alarm [which is already industry standard] by radio to the local police house - some seven miles away in a nearby town.

I made a point of asking if this would shorten the response time in the event of a break-in, and was told that it would not have any effect whatsoever.

I then asked - what was the point of the upgrade?

Silence at the other end of the phone, and I was then told that making sarcastic remarks would not solve the problem.

At that point, fighting hard not to ruin her whole day by saying something I might later regret, I thanked her and hung up.

Sadly, I don't have the $$$$$$$ to go to court and fight this injustice.

tac - p*ssed off.

 

[Wheeler44]

tac - p*ssed off.

Sorry to hear of such foolishness.

I hope that when you cross the pond in May you will regale us with tales of slaying a BASC dragon.....or at least of a good fight...

 

[MarkSBG]

Arg. That would be frustrating!

 

[tac]

Sorry to hear of such foolishness.

I hope that when you cross the pond in May you will regale us with tales of slaying a BASC dragon.....or at least of a good fight...

Nossir!! The BASC is on MY side, but their paws and tied with this one as it is the police decision...

The British Association of Shooting and Conservation is a shooters' support organisation - lool it up...

Best

tac

 

[Wheeler44]

Nossir!! The BASC is on MY side, but their paws and tied with this one as it is the police decision...

Sorry...Pre-coffee post.......Good luck anyway...

Wheeler44, who often tilts at windmills and has occasionally mistaken a RINO for a dragon.

 

[elsullo]

Where is Chief Inspector Frost when you need him! He'd give them a severe eyebrow wagging!.....................elsullo

 

[soberups]

I made a point of asking if this would shorten the response time in the event of a break-in, and was told that it would not have any effect whatsoever.

I then asked - what was the point of the upgrade?

.

Not to mention the fact that, if a criminal does break into your home to steal your guns, the alarm will go off and the police will show up....armed with sticks.

 

[tionico]

One more reason for we lot this side the puddle to be ever vigilant against British style gun registration and confiscation. If there were no registry, they'd not be apprised of your continuing acquisitions.

Any chance the local Scroogs Constable might be standing for office again any time soon, and couild be displaced in the ensuing election? Betimes, such a "tragedy" occuring has brought significant change to a recalcitrant and unpleasant jurisdiction.

 

[coctailer]

Time to move to France.

 

[tac]

One more reason for we lot this side the puddle to be ever vigilant against British style gun registration and confiscation. If there were no registry, they'd not be apprised of your continuing acquisitions.

Any chance the local Scroogs Constable might be standing for office again any time soon, and couild be displaced in the ensuing election? Betimes, such a "tragedy" occuring has brought significant change to a recalcitrant and unpleasant jurisdiction.

Our police do not operate anything like yours do, with your hiring-on system. Unlike the USA, our police officers are not elected to their office, they are appointed, just like the fire chief or chief medical officer, by the home office for a period of three years, then they move on somewhere else, usually upwards. Chief Constables only serve one or two appointments as Chief Constable.

The rank-boards of our police officers are very military in their appearance -

Sergeant is the first grade to wear rank - three stripes on the upper arm just like the military.

Then inspector - two stars on the shoulder like a Lt in the Army.

Then Chief Inspector - three stars [Army captain]

Then Superintendent - crown [Army major]

Then Chief Superintendent - crown and star [Army Lt Col]

Then Assistant Chief Constable - wreath around star [no army equivalent]

Then Chief Constable - wreath around crown...and so on...

All are ranked and graded by military style examinations and assessments on a yearly basis - sergeants are allowed to try for inspector. There are so-called 'fast track' officers, those with degrees on entrance. The CID [Criminal Investigation Department] are the detectives - they are usually, make that always, drawn from the uniform branch. There are also special units like TFU's [tactical firearms units] who are uniformed officers with firearms training - your SWAT teams, Special Branch [shhhhh] and SO19 [counter terrorist group and double Shhhhhh]. As well as others, I have no doubt.

Hope this clears things up.

tac

 

[tac]

Time to move to France.

You are, of course, jesting.

My mother's family left France only because they could run faster than the death squads who had already slaughtered around 16,000 Jews, according to documentation of the day. Flaying alive seems to have been favourite, followed closely by pouring molten gold or silver from coins [most Jews were involved in banking] into the open mouth, if the engravings in the louvre are anything to go by.

The lasting legacy of our 'French connection' is my bunch of French names, the fact that all my mother's family remained French-speakers [I'm the only member of my large Canadian family who still does speak French] and a strong determination to remain as far away from France as I can be without actually coming back from the other direction.

tac

 

[tionico]

Time to move to France.

are you up to speed on how things go in that insane nation? They have ceased replacing their own population, thus a dearth of workers to "run things" (though never a shortage of drones to "work" government). Thus, they import foreigners by the millions.
Short work week, meaning lower pay per month, very socialistic society, expecting all from the government... but that, of course, comes at a cost. A very high one. Estimates I've read is that citizens pay out over sixty percent of their earnings for low-grade service inn "benefits". The actual days worked to feed government before putting food on one's own board is higher. Government control EVERY aspect of life, commerce, finance... including health care. Labour unions have industry well-throttled, assuring the fatness of all union workers (and particularly the union management) but at the expense of the economic stability of industry.

Napoleonic Law is the founding basis of all law.. guilty until proven innocent. The accusation must be proven false by the accused before he can go free. Oh, and no public money for solicitors, who come VERY dear. Franz Kafka wrote about that some time back... perhaps a century or so. If anything, the situation has worsened in the interval.

No, the Brits have gone a long ways down that road, but have not yet regressed as far as the French. Our man is far better off in Merrie Auld than across the Channel to France. The ONLY possible advantages would be their amazing food, and their yet-decent wine industry.

 

[rdb241]

Time to move to France.

That country is full of whimps..............

 

[Redcap]

Sounds like an absolutely horrible place to live. I would move.

 

[coctailer]

That country is full of whimps..............

Ya, but they can have cooler guns than WA residents.

 

[rdb241]

Ya, but they can have cooler guns than WA residents.

very true! They work so well also..............................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCB6PLu8G8M