The Violent Crime Reduction Bill
This new bill, currently passing through Parliament, represents a devastating threat to re-enactment, living history, the TV, Film and theatre industries, military vehicle and even military aircraft owners, as well as “Airsoft” players. It will destroy harmless, legitimate activities enjoyed either directly or indirectly by millions of people. It will probably do nothing to reduce crime - and indeed, may actually increase the number of crime-related injuries (see below). Government consultation with interested and affected parties is scheduled to take place after the bill has passed into law, rending this process largely worthless.
What the bill will do: Amongst many other clauses, the bill would ban the manufacture, modification, import, sale or acquisition of all replica and deactivated firearms, including blank firers. Only a few strictly regulated replicas (yet to be defined) would be allowed (e.g. bright orange water pistols). It will also ban certain types of percussion cap primers used in blank firing weapons, as well as banning military vehicles with any sort of weapons mounted on them, such as the M8 Armoured Car, Sherman tanks, Jeeps with .30cals and the like.
The effect: No-one could update or sell their collections, so no new members of re-enactment groups would be allowed to obtain any. This would lead to the slow death of C20th, some C19th and other re-enactment eras as members leave/retire, and can’t be replaced. Military vehicles with integral guns (e.g. tanks) would become worthless as no-one could buy or sell them.
Outdoor “heritage” events including official military festivals and tattoos featuring any of the ones we visit and take part in would be severely hit.
The theatre, TV and film industries will be devastated as actors wouldn't be able to even pick up (i.e. "acquire", in legal speak) a replica/deactivated firearm, nor would production companies be able to hire or obtain any replicas of new weapons. It would leave James Bond disarmed, except for a child’s toy or, bizarrely, real guns, which are not affected by the bill. Even if dispensation was given to allow actors to handle existing stocks, no drama involving these could be set after the year 2005 as new replicas needed couldn’t be hired or bought.
a) Film, TV, theatre (including corporate and other live entertainment) and re-enactment (including military vehicle owners with fixed or removable replica/deactivated weaponry).
b) The Heritage industry including historic houses, castles, museums and the like e.g. Historic Houses Association members and other private owners, English Heritage, Royal Armouries, The National Trust etc*.
c) Clients, organisers and directors of (a) and (b), eg (again) English Heritage, Royal Armouries, The National Trust, plus EventPlan Limited, Stunt Action Specialists, and others
d) Those engaged in education such as historical interpreters, and the schools/colleges themselves.
e) The armed forces, since they too own deactivate weapons such as those carried on aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
f) Specialist suppliers and armourers to the above, for example, Bapty of London
g) Airsoft and associated sporting activities (to include bank firing race starting pistols).
Explain that these activities are legitimate, give pleasure to millions (especially if you include film & TV, but let's not forget over 1 million people visited English Heritage historical re-enactments and events in the year 2000 alone) and harm no one. That the above represent a vital part of the UK heritage and entertainment industries, for which Britain is rightly famous. That live interpretation and re-enactment is an important educational tool.
Also ask your recipient if he or she really believes that it is a good idea that criminals should no longer have any incentive to use replicas and might as well upgrade to the real thing. The government could be causing murder and serious injury to increase.
To read the bill on line, click onto http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/010/2006010.htm
Help us to keep the memory of Veterans everywhere alive by allowing us to portray, educate and honour them in the way we have always been doing.
Thank you for reading this, and in advance for acting to help influence this very poorly thought out legislation before it is too late.