Extracts from Committee stage (Lords)(day 2) of the Offensive Weapons Bill - Mar 4
Tuesday, 5 March 2019 07:05
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab):...That is pretty all-embracing.
This is not just a handful of individuals putting this forward. We
are talking here about representatives of 43 police forces in the
United Kingdom, the Secret Intelligence Service, the Security
Service, GCHQ and the National Crime Agency. Their distilled
view and wisdom was that if these weapons were to fall into the
hands of criminals or others with malign intent, they would have
particularly dangerous effects... The...Request free trial
(Lab):...That is pretty all-embracing. This is not just a
handful of individuals putting this forward. We are talking here
about representatives of 43 police forces in the United Kingdom,
the Secret Intelligence Service, the Security Service, GCHQ and
the National Crime Agency. Their distilled view and
wisdom was that if these weapons were to fall into the hands of
criminals or others with malign intent, they would have
particularly dangerous effects...
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl
Howe) (Con):...The Government originally included in the
Bill the prohibition of high muzzle energy rifles because of the
concerns raised by the police and the National Crime Agency about the
potential for damage, serious injury or fatalities if these rifles
were to fall into the hands of criminals or terrorists. They are
larger and more powerful than the typical rifles that are licensed
by the police for civilian use under our existing firearms
legislation...
...As has been made clear during previous stages of this
Bill, the Government are concerned about the potential risk to
public safety if these rifles were to fall into the hands of
terrorists or criminals. At present, these rifles are available to
target shooters who have obtained a firearms
certificate from the police, for which they have been vetted.
However, the police and National Crime Agency are concerned
about the rate of fire of these rifles and consider that stricter
controls are needed...
...My Lords, my understanding is that the evidence provided
to the Government by the National Crime Agency is already in
the public domain...
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