harpo_the_bad

hut oh! I've been found out!

Well... Thomas Watt Hamilton and Michael Robert Ryan might disagree with you there, but that's not the point. We're talking about licensing CCWs and handguns here Bob, not restricting existing legal firearms. I agree with you that; that would be pointless. Personally, I accept that criminals will always have access to just about anything they want. The police should continue to crack down on them as they are. But I think it's about time us law abiding citizens reclaimed firearms from the criminals and had the rights and means to protect ourselves too.

Hello Starlight, I'm a design engineer for a company that produces quality precision tools for industry. A mystery thread that doesn't match anything or appear to conform to any standard doesn't always mean poor quality. Many of the tools we make have BIZARRE threads. Stuff like 35mm-12UN. Metric size, imperial thread form. It's not metric or imperial, it's both! We often make a point of mixing them up too. As you have mentioned, the Hatsan threads, like ours, are probably screw cut. Many companies do this on their tools. The usual reason is to prevent any competitor or client from making anything that will screw on securely (i.e. accessories or spare parts) in order to increase safety and more importantly: stifle competition. Dirty trick, I know... and I wish companies wouldn't do it because it makes things harder for everyone... including us designers and the machinists who have to cut these threads. Chances are though: it's not a case of low quality, more a case of preventing people like Matt from doing what he's trying to do!

Some people would be in favour of that yes. And yes it would solve some of the problems in this country. It'd probably even solve more than it would create. But no... I would not be in favour of this. Personally I'm in favour of a similar system to the one we have now for FAC but much stricter. In a perfect world I think that free citizens with a clean bill of mental health, no police record of any kind, not even motoring offences should be able to own and carry a firearm for personal protection. I see nothing wrong with this. I'd also be in favour of annual (or even more frequent) vetting by a psychiatrist in order to keep your licence. Normally I'm not in favour of elitism and pricing people out of anything, but in this case I also think it'd be a good idea to make maintaining a CCW licence expensive (which seeing a psychiatrist every few months would definitely do!) because it'd ensure that only people with full time employment (and a few silver spooners) can get hold of one. Before you bombard me with "what about dodgy people who get through the system?", first ask yourself how many of the perfectly respectable shotgun owners on here would pass the test? Not all of you, that's for sure! I just think that the streets have become so dangerous and inhospitable that something more has to be done for the safety of our respectable law abiding citizens than paying policemen to patrol the pavements even though it's clear to all that they can't be everywhere and almost certainly won't be anywhere to be seen when you need them. We KNOW that millions of criminals already have the right to carry any firearm that they want. And just look at the recent cases like Sophie Lancaster and that father that was kicked to death outside his own home for confronting a group of youths. It's not right, it's not necessary and it's not going to solve itself.

You make a fair point... still... we have to try, don't we?

The gun is for my dad who is a veteran with 12, 16 and 20 bores. He's looking for a .410 to take care of rabbits. Preferably he wants a NEW gun. Not second hand. Doesn't really matter if it's S/S, O/U, Pump, Auto... He's undecided so far as to what type he wants. It just has to be a good reliable gun that's available new in the UK on a SGC. It also doesn't have to be ultra small or ultra light. He actually likes the new Baikal O/U ones... dunno why personally as I've always thoughts that the idea of a .410 is to be effortless to carry... but it's for him, not me! So can anyone recommend a good model? If you can give a rough price estimate than that'd be helpful too. Thanks! Harpo

I'd just like to bring to your attention this website that I have found: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ It's been set up by our infallible Masters here in the UK in order to give us commoners a chance to be heard. Apologies if I'm the last one to find out about this, but I think it's important that as many of us as possible stand up for what we believe in! There are already a few shooting related petitions on there. I'm sure that in the coming months there will be more. So far, I have found: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Deactivated/ - Petition to prevent the forthcoming ban on replicas and deactivated guns http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/leagliseguns/ - Petition to allow UK citizens to own and 'bear arms' (pardon my Americanism) I know some of you may not agree with these petitions. But if you do, please sign yourself up. Your email address and actual address will not be published. Any petition that reaches 200 signatures before its deadline will be put forward to the PM. I think it would be wise for us to keep an eye on this website so that we can stand up for what we believe in. Just bear in mind that if you are going to create a petition that it may already exist on the site in which case you're just dividing our efforts. So do a search first! And if you do create any, let us all know! Thanks, Harpo

Take a look at this: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wimbledon_Offi..._shooting_birds http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime...ons-853509.html It just goes to prove that some of the city folk really have NO idea about what happens in the real world! There's a comments page on that Wikinews article for discussion of the topic. Feel free to leave an anonymous note telling these dingbats how ridiculous this whole thing is! Harpo

Couldn't they just point it at the mud and threaten it with apple sauce?

Hatsan Escort - They're practically giving the things away! AND they do everything I'd expect from a much more expensive gun. Since breaking mine in it has been perfect. And contrary to what some people say, the 3.5" magnum WILL cycle with normal loads... as low as 32g anyway. I don't use anything lower.

Thanks for your input Malk, Yes, a car did hit her from behind. A driver pulled out in front of my girlfriend in a residential zone forcing her to either hit the other driver or slam her breaks on... my girlfriend did the right thing and stopped safely and in time... but as no good deed ever goes unpunished, the driver behind wasn't paying attention and ploughed straight in to the back of our stationery car. I'm sure that we could have claimed/sued and got a specialist to see to it, but my future mother-in-law (as I was at work and my girlfriend was in no fit state) called the insurance company and snatched their hand off for a paltry offer of £300. End of. Because she agreed that the matter was settled, we now have no case against anyone. Don't you just love mothers in law?

Hello Hanser, yes definitely Norfolk... last time I checked anyway. Our local surgery is mainly staffed by Indians, Poles and Germans. There is one English doctor but he's next to useless as well - he's actually caused me a fair few problems. From what I hear other people saying about the NHS, if your experience is any different then I'd hazard a guess that you're going private or you're one of the lucky few! I'd just like to point out that I'm NOT racist... I usually ask to see the German as a matter of fact... but it's not so great when a language barrier is added to the already difficult task of diagnosis! But I digress! I've heard about recoil reduction systems. Alas, my auto is more of a workhorse and doesn't have the fancy features that your thoroughbred does! My auto kicks harder than my O/U. Maybe if she gets in to shooting then we could invest some money in to something like you have. Thank you for the suggestion! We certainly will do that. I don't expect that any doctor will 'put his neck on the line' (no pun intended) by saying yes, but we will see! Thanks!

I suppose so... although it's hard enough to find someone that speaks English at our practice let alone someone who is willing to help. Add to those odds a doctor who knows anything at all about guns and I'm starting to think the odds of winning the lotto this week are pretty good! Still, doesn't hurt to try. Just hope we don't get an anti! Thanks.

Have done. She (the doctor) doesn't seem to care... she just keeps saying that given enough time it will heal; but it doesn't and hasn't. What's more, she has no idea about guns. Does anyone have any experience with this? Or even any experience with letting a woman use a 12 gauge? Is the recoil too much? Thanks

Hello, My girlfriend sustained a whiplash injury over a year ago but it will not fully heal. Does anyone know if it would be safe for her to have a go with either of my shotguns? And would it be safer for her to use my O/U? As it is a much heavier gun than my auto? Thanks guys!