Real fear over replicas (From Stroud News and Journal)

Real fear over replicas

Following Home Secretary David Blunkett's announcement in the House of Commons that new legislation will see the age limit for acquiring and using an air weapon or replicas without adult supervision increased from 14 to 17 years reporter Ashley Loveridge takes a look at the rise in gun related crimes.

A SHOP owner who sells fake pistols believes the current spotlight on replica firearms is unjust.

"It is over the top hysteria and 99 per cent of guns, be it fake or not, are used legally," said Alan Tyndall of Antics model shop in Stroud's High Street.

"The law as it stands is perfectly adequate. If you ban guns are you going to ban a 4-year-old with a water pistol?" said Mr Tyndall on Monday.

"In reality we sell models that are effectively toys which are low powered and not dangerous."

Gun crime in Britain soared by 35 per cent last year according to Home Office figures and statistics revealed that criminals used handguns in nearly 50 per cent more offences in 2002 than the previous year.

Last month police in Stroud seized a fake G10 repeater 9mm automatic pistol from a 17-year-old youth in the town centre. Sgt Mick McDermid said the incident could have proved fatal and he was particularly concerned at the authenticity of the weapon.

"Having examined the weapon I would defy anyone to be able to say if it was fake or not and the stupidity of this youth could have led to the incident becoming fatal," he said.

Mr Tyndall who stocks more than a 100 various fake fire arms in his his shop and on the internet freely admitted that the fake gun seized in Stroud could have been one purchased in his shop. "Yes it probably was one of ours," he said.

But he added: "We are always strict when selling replica guns and would never sell an item to anyone under 17."

But one Stroud father who contacted the SNJ was outraged that the guns could be bought over the counter in the High Street. "The guns are in a prominent position and lot's of children go into the shop," he said.

"I appreciate they are fake but is a little old lady working in a post office going to be able to tell the difference when it is being pointed at her?"