OK. Here's Mike trying to defuse the thread over in the Ready Line with the UK banning airsoft, props or whatever. Typical government knee jerk reaction to gain votes in some election down the road "Look at how our Administration fights crime". So here's where you can debate having guns/airsoft or whatever carrying concealed, in the open or while hunting. Me? Being a redneck from Alberta (yes, I like Country & Western music), I own lots of guns including a converted to semi- auto only MG34. I've owned guns ever since I was 16 and am now 46. I've been handloading (making my own ammo) for everything I shoot except .22lr for almost as long. I have numerous pistols, shotguns & rifles from .22lr to .308 Win. I only own one Airsoft, my G&P M41A and well it's "OK", it's not a real gun so I can't seem to get into the excitement of Airsofting. It will have to do for conventions. I believe I should be allowed to carry a pistol concealed or even strapped to my side while in the bush but the government won't let me. Sucks to be me. I envy my US lower state cousins as gun laws are state legislated. In Canada, it's federally legislated so the yuppie in Toronto is under the same laws as the trapper in the Yukon, the hunter in P.E.I. or the IPSC shooter in British Columbia. I wish the gun laws were provincially/territorially legislated. Maybe when the Conservatives get a majority in the next election, we can pursue that dream of mine.

This is Mike's thoughts on guns from a western Canadian attitude. What are your views. Fire away!

Mike
A06/TQ0.0.22134E1
There is nothing more impressive than a bloody big Alien
wiggling on the end of a sharp stick!

Nice going Mike to start this thread & also a different spin on the International scene of firearms/Airsoft/Prop Replica`s.

Well for me I used to shoot fire arms at shooting Ranges & some shottie (shotgun) hunting too prior to Dunblaine.
After that alas a LOT changed.
Also for almost 20 years too I`ve owned Airsoft weapons of various types,going wayyy back to the original kit forms then onto TM & other makes Springers then AEGs when they hit the scene.
The Airsoft was If honest the closest to getting to "PLAY" with these without being Military. Though I did work for the MoD & have used some of the real deal versions.

I think it`s as you said "Knee jerking" reactions from Politicians,who lets face it NEVER have ANYONE`s interests at heart apart from their own back pockets (No Matter the Country).As to why many countries have suffered where firearms are concerned.

Now as for concealed weapons (holstered on your person). I`m not too sure where I stand on this. I can see the validity & the negatives of both.

I know we hear LOTS of foul gunplay in the US more than anywhere else. Though I think that`s moreso as the media would love to do anything to discredit the US &/or it`s Laws. Look at Russia/Other Eastern Block/Third World countries on the amount of guncrime that Exceeds the US. It`s just not covered as it`s too frequent & usually more violent.

For me the US has the gun ownership covered in it`s foundations & I don`t think any Goverment has the right to change that.

Now as for Canada,I`m with you on that Mike I don`t see why a trapper is governed by the same laws as someone in Toronto,that`s plainly stupid.
We maybe in the 21st Century but out in the Great Northern Wilderness it may as well still be the 1800s.

Well that`s the attitude of this Brit anyway.

Jason
PVT.
STEAD,J "Axeman"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1
UKCM

An interseting aside.. This is stuff Ive heard. Ive not checked into it myself so it may all be incorrect or partially incorrect.. So bear that in mind.

The UK used to have a right to bear arms (The Assize of Arms of 1181), it alng with other laws was the basis of the US constitution. The UK, unlike the US does not have a fixed constitution. This basically allows any in-power government to legally suspend or restrict the rights of any citizen at anytime, as long as it follows the current proceedures. But I digress..

Oliver Cromwell used soldiers to take control of the Parliment. Essentially a coup d'état. He repealed laws to prevent private arms ownership to try and prevent the people from taking their country back. Politicians eh?
-----------------------
My WebPage... Of d00m!

It's the 21st Century and where are the flying cars...??
-I was *promised* flying cars.....

Yes. We should have them.

I agree with mike in that i'd love for gun laws to be provincially legislated. Living in a boonie province isn't the same as living in say, toronto as mike suggested. Granted I have no firearms at the moment (i've been too lazy to send off my firearms paperwork) but i'd love to have something to look forward to in the near future (I'm hoping to send off said paperwork this month (june))

I live in probably one of the most liberal states of them all...maryland. Here there is NO FRIGGIN WAY you can get a carry permit, for any reason.
And apparently the people running for president (and a lot of others like them from previous years) feel that, if they make a gun ban, and take away all gun owning priviliges, then crime will decrease...

hmm

the sad truth is, this will only increase crime in my eyes. Your taking the guns away from the good guys, the law-abiding citizens who need to defend themselfs. The Bad guys are always going to get the guns, no matter what...you want crime to go down? issue carry permits.

IT has accually been proven in a few states that since the issue of carry permits, violent crime had decrease between 20 and 60%.

And those folks...are my 2 cents
Such as Life
[img]http://aliens.humlak.cz/aliens/Aliens_papirove_modely/papercraft/m41.gif[/img]

Eric,
what you have said is the same argument that politicians in the UK are using, ban guns and gun crime will go down..

90% of gun crimes here in the U.K. are from illegaly held weapons.... so banning guns will do what exactly? crimials will still get the guns and we will be the one suffering