§ MR. HULSE (Salisbury)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in view of the numerous cases of homicide and attempted homicide caused by the indiscriminate possession and use of firearms in Great Britain, the Government would see their way to the introduction of a short measure, during the present Session, enforcing compulsory registration upon all persons in possession of firearms, and also registration by the vendors of all purchasers, and the ostensible purpose for their use of firearms?
§ MR. HOWAED VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)Before my right hon. Friend answers this Question, I should like to ask him, upon the same subject, If he will consider during the Recess the adoption by the Government of a Bill, of which I gave Notice at the commencement of this Session, for the better prevention of the felonious use of firearms and other dangerous weapons, by providing a minimum sentence of penal servitude for those persons found guilty of crime, and having in their possession at the time of their arrest any such weapon?
§ THE SECEETAEY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The Government do not see their way during the present Session to introduce a measure such as that indicated by my hon. Friend (Mr. Hulse). The police authorities are of opinion that the enactments of the Gun Licence Act, 1870, should be enforced, but that a system of registration of firearms would fail in practice in large cities. The Government will certainly consider during the Recess whether they can, or cannot, adopt the Bill prepared by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Sheffield (Mr. Howard Vincent).