TOO MANY REVOLVERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

TOO MANY REVOLVERS

" ROUND-UP " IN BRITAIN FIREARMS AND PERILS Police were to concentrate all over Britain in August on a " round-up " of revolvers and automatic pistols in possession of unauthorised persons. There are thousands of these guns in existence. Behind their possession is a preventive reason for the ever-increasing number of tragedies due to accidental and other shootings and armed hold-ups. Inquiries made by the Sunday Chronicle indicate that ail alarmingly small of firearms in possession of people—excepting sporting guns and similar weapons used for legitimate purposes—are registered under the Firearms Act. " There are undoubtedly hundreds, if not thousands, of old army revolvers hidden away in drawers and cupboards," said a police authority. " Every one of these is a source of potential danger, particularly if the person owning them should become subject to sudden brainstorms. In addition to these thsre are many scores of revolvers and automatics owned secretly by criminals. Mostly they never expect to use them, but there is always grave danger that they may become desperate in their attempt to escape."' Firearms certificates are granted to private citizens if " the chief of police is satisfied that the applicant has good reason for requiring such a certificate." For being in unlawful possession the penalty may fbe a fine of £SO or three months' imprisonment, with heavier penalties in the case of known criminals.