Journalists break laws to buy guns - should they be charged?

[Chuck]

Has this not happened here too?

Whatever, the inital story is in GOM but basically this woman did a hatched job (as is thir way) on guns and gun owners etc etc.

Well seems she broke federal law: chances of an anti gun nutter doing time - pretty small I'd say.

Journalists anywhere should not be immune from firearms laws.

http://thefederalist.com/2016/06/06/kat ... qus_thread

[DaveB]

Something similar happened recently in NZ. A 'journalist' decided to do a story about a loophole in NZ's mail-order gun laws which allow us to buy sporting firearms by taking the order for m to the Police to have a constable sight our firearms licence and sign the form.

She forged a police officers signature on the form and sent it in - an duly received a .22RF rifle which she unboxed on national television. The police have changed the rules now, and she was not charged, in spite of outcry from many quarters for her to face the full weight of her offending.

[TattooedGun]

As if the acquisition of the illegal firearm wasn't enough she should be done for forgery. Sickening. Not to mention PUBLICISING a loophole that nefarious people could be unaware of. Yes, great public service that one!

[Laurie]

There have been a few cases here too, but none that I can remember recently. Channel 4 TV journos bought a BP pistol and revolver plus various others illegal in the UK things in France where they were (still are?) uncontrolled sales and brought them into the UK via the Channel Tunnel.

This was shortly after the pistol ban and some anti-gun MPs and the GCN were claiming that Parliament had never intended any handguns to be exempt from the ban, so there was a 'ban cap & ball revolvers' campaign on the go. (When people are arrested with boatloads of illegal immigrants, AKs and Czech machine-pistols, doesn't it seem trivial now to be terrified of a British public 'armed' with 19th Century black powder technology? There were other nonsenses too such as believing pre-loaded and capped cylinders could be swapped for fired ones in seconds because Clint Eastwood did that in some Hollywood western or other!)

Anyway, the TV channel claimed the illegal pistols had been 'deactivated' in France before they were smuggled in so the journos and the producer weren't breaking the law, but of course they were. The CPS declined to prosecute as it 'wasn't in the public interest'.

[jmc67]

"Journalists break laws to buy guns - should they be charged?". Yes, in a nutshell, to the full extent of the law possible. 'Oh but it's my job your honour to find out these loopholes and raise awareness of them to the wider public' is not a valid defence.

[Chuck]

jmc67: 2100% agree. if they see a loophole they should report it NOT exploit it!

Press Freedom does not extend to criminal acts!

[Daryll]

..........This was shortly after the pistol ban and some anti-gun MPs and the GCN were claiming that Parliament had never intended any handguns to be exempt from the ban, so there was a 'ban cap & ball revolvers' campaign on the go. (When people are arrested with boatloads of illegal immigrants, AKs and Czech machine-pistols, doesn't it seem trivial now to be terrified of a British public 'armed' with 19th Century black powder technology? ..............

I've seen today, a proposed EU regulation banning muzzle loading firearms "in the name of defeating terrorism..."
https://www.all4shooters.com/en/Shootin ... ooters.pdf

WTF ?!?!?!

How is this going to beat terrorism..???

[Sim G]

Close EU borders would go far further than some cockamamie idea of a European politician...

So in the spirit of the thread and journalists breaking the law for a "public interest" story, how does punching a politician or journalist in the mouth to see if they really bleed green.... A public service?

[Chuck]

How can they bleed green when they're mainly full of broiwn stuff Sim..?? I guess we need to keep punching them till we find one that does to prove our point?

I've seen today, a proposed EU regulation banning muzzle loading firearms "in the name of defeating terrorism..."
https://www.all4shooters.com/en/Shootin ... ooters.pdf

WTF ?!?!?!

How is this going to beat terrorism..???

It isn't, it's just another liberal loony idea that conveniently fits in the "fight against terror" nonsense...any excuse will do for them. Terrorism cannot be "defeated" because terrorism is a tactic not an organisation.

Banning guns foo;ls the fools, nothing else..

[DaveB]

I can see it now: Terrorists abandoning their AK47s for .36 Navy Colts. Of course to make up for the lack of magazine capacity they will have to carry 12 revolvers. Be afraid! Be very afraid!

Is everybody in the EU government a complete idiot?