§ 49. Commander Keransasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to prevent the sale of toy guns which bear actual resemblance in all details to the real weapon in view of the fact that they are an added incentive to crime, especially to youth.
§ Mr. RentonI doubt whether legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would be practicable. The use of an imitation firearm in connection with serious offences such as housebreaking or robbery already attracts the same penalty as the use of a real weapon.
§ Commander KeransWould my hon. and learned Friend agree that these weapons are perfect in design, that they are quite cheap and that in the hands of youngsters and irresponsible youths, since they can be obtained so easily, they constitute one more thing which increases crime in this country?
§ Mr. RentonTo pass a law stating that no toy resembling a gun should be sold would be to ban toy guns altogether. We feel that it would be quite impracticable to define the point at which a toy ceases to resemble the real thing. However, I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that under the Firearms Act, 1937, the use of a firearm or an imitation firearm attracts the same penalty.