It's the law don't you know

Apparently the peasants are preparing to take the law into their own hands. The unfortunate thing about this is that these particular peasants, feeling the need to arm themselves against a threat they believe to be all too relevant to them, have been purchasing various items which, to their surprise, are illegal to own. Some come with a mandatory minimum five year prison term.

”How can it be so?” they wonder. ”I certainly don’t feel like a criminal” they say. But that’s the thing isn’t it? It’s all well and good turning a blind eye or presenting a completely disinterested front when the state shakes its warn out ban stick at one group or another from a window in Westminster, after all it’s no skin of your nose. But it sure grabs your undivided attention when all of a sudden there’s a policeman in your face for the first time in Lord knows how long and he’s staring at you. Pointing, even.

”Sorry sunshine, that’s illegal.”

”But……”

”Don’t you but me matey. You’re nicked!”

”But……”

”Tell it to someone who cares.”

”But…….”

”Look, both ACPO and the government have been campaigning for years to ensure that this kind of stuff does not find its way onto the streets….”

”It was for my bedroom.”

”….onto the streets, or into your bedroom. Years I tell you. This kind of stuff is for the police only.”

”Who are ACPO? I didn’t vote for them.”

”Now let’s not have any of your cheek. Mind your head when you get into the car.”

And so it goes on. I suppose these criminals can take solace in the fact that the number of policemen they are about to see in their daily lives will improve immeasurably. After all, low numbers are something they’ve been complaining about for years.

As an aside, did you know that the experts at the Times say replica handguns, which, using materials that can be bought at any DIY store, can easily be converted into lethal weapons? I have a number of replicas at home and have been giving this matter some thought. I’ve come to the conclusion that if I strap an iron mallet to the side of one of my replicas these Times reporters could well be right.

The Times feels it neccessary to clarify the law regarding the legal use of an illegal firearm.

Also, I'm wondering, are these the first signs of an emerging gun culture in the UK? No, not that gun culture, this gun culture. I doubt it.