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Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:04 pm
by jmc67
In a recent discussion with a work colleague the topic of shooting came up. I got the usual "nobody needs a gun" and "if they were all banned crime would go down" comments, to which I gave the usual "criminals don't care about bans" response. Got me wondering - what proportion of firearms offences are actually carried out by legal owners (and legal firearms)? I suspect it is a tiny tiny fraction, but can anyone point me towards a source document to confirm that please.
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:42 pm
by Christel
Tiny indeed, Ovenpaa read some related stats out to me the other day, I'll nudge him.
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:47 pm
by Christel
Courtesy of FirearmsUK.
Might not answer your question however it makes for interesting stats.
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:54 pm
by Christel
I am not sure the data is super correct.
A few incidents spring to mind where the firearm was legally held and a crime was committed.
Also "to date"...what does that mean? From when to when?
I guess stats like that simply prove a point and nothing more.
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:14 pm
by Laurie
It depends at least in part on how you define / classify 'legal firearms crime'. The vast majority of criminal instances refer to minor property damage and reports of anti-social behaviour involving low-power airguns. As they are mostly legally owned, (under-age owners and the new Scottish legislation - if it ever happens - aside) that creates a vast pool of 'firearms crime'.
Also, suicide by FAC/SGC holders using their rifles or shotguns also falls into the category of 'gun crime'. (But strangely, standing on a railway track in front of an approaching train isn't reported as a 'train crime' even though Network Rail works hard to reduce its incidence.)
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:17 pm
by dromia
The above stats only relate to "terrorist" defined death and injury.
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:20 pm
by bradaz11
dromia wrote:The above stats only relate to "terrorist" defined death and injury.
so it doesn't include work place disputes involving a muslim holding a gun, who just happened to be heard to say allah ackbar before pulling the trigger?
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:30 pm
by Christel
bradaz11 wrote:dromia wrote:The above stats only relate to "terrorist" defined death and injury.
so it doesn't include work place disputes involving a muslim holding a gun, who just happened to be heard to say allah ackbar before pulling the trigger?
It should do as that would be classified as domestic terrorism. Not because of pulling the trigger but because of what he shouts before he does it.
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 4:30 pm
by Christel
Re: Percentage of legal firearms used in crime?
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 5:04 pm
by saddler
Laurie wrote:...and the new Scottish legislation - if it ever happens...
Have you missed a couple of years worth of memos?
Scottish legislation re airguns is already in place....at the end of the "grace period" (end of this month) anyone* without the new Air WEAPONS (of mass destruction) certificate is committing a criminal offence....with the same penalty as an illegal shotgun or firearm.
And folk wonder why Scotland is heading towards bankruptcy!
(Police Scotland £190M in the red, councils £550M, etc)
* SGC/FAC holders are exempt for the duration of existing certificates, after which they'll need to go coterminous for AirWEPUNZ