REPLICA FIREARMS CONTROL BILL (Hansard, 13 April 1973)

§ Mr. John Farr (Harborough)

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

I am anxious to take this short opportunity to introduce the Second Reading of the Bill. It would be safe to say that replica firearms have attracted the attention of many people recently after a series of incidents which culminated in the India House shoot-up a few weeks ago. It is felt by my hon. Friends and other hon. Members and myself that the ready availability of replica firearms is undesirable in the public interest and is positively dangerous.

In the very limited time that I have available, I cannot hope to deploy my case fully. However, I begin by saying of the ready availability of replica firearms that there are many examples in magazines and newspapers where identical replicas—except for the fact that they cannot fire—are on sale and available to the public. I understand that the replica firearm which was used in the India House shoot-up is of a model which is now readily available at Wool-worth's to any child on payment of about 50p.

It is felt by myself and other hon. Members that some of these instances where the identical replica of a really dangerous weapon is advertised unblush-ingly as identical in every respect should be subject to a form of control.

In the Bill we have suggested one or two forms of control. The type of advertisements to which I am referring is, for instance, one which appeared in the Shooting Times last week in a half-page spread under the heading "Classic replica models ". The advertisers say: Here they are—guns … reproduced with breathtaking authenticity. These life-size replicas have the weight and balance of their fanned originals. Their special finish captures the hard, deadly look of oil-polished steel 1752 … The guns even strip like the real thing! You can now enjoy all the excitement of world-famous guns without a licence or certificate of any kind. The advertisement goes in detail into the different types that are available. It would not be so bad if they were all old Western six-gun models which the average criminal who uses a real firearm is unlikely to get hold of in Britain. They go in for up-to-date police detective models. Indeed they are described in detail as an identical Chief Special, the 357 Colt Python, the Colt Official Police and various military and espionage models.

An even more alarming illustration of what I have been describing appeared in an article in the Evening Standard of 21st February. It was a full page editorial on page 3. At the top left-hand side of the page were pictures of five types of genuine pistol and opposite them to the left in each instance was the replica which is available for sale without licence. The genuine job is subject to very strict control in Britain— rightly so. The replica, which could even be the real thing for all the man at the other end of the barrel knows, is available without let or hindrance to children or adults in any shop that cares to sell them.

The full page editorial in the Evening Standard shows a picture of a man pointing two pistols, both apparently identical. One is a replica and one is the original. These are the same as the pistol which was used in the India House shoot-up.

§ Mr. Farr

I will not give way. I have waited for many weeks and I have only two minutes left. We have a replica of the type used in the India House shoot-up together with the identical model. It is impossible to tell the difference in this fairly large, half-page picture, certainly at that range. I assure the House that even at close range it is not possible to tell which is the replica and which is the real weapon.

There are other instances. In my constituency recently there was a fair called the Leicester Toy Fair. A very detailed description was given of all the realistic replica models that were available. It dealt with Western guns, with which we 1753 are not so concerned. It also had many replicas of military guns, described as amazingly accurate and amazingly identical.

There are also firms in Britain which specialise not only in manufactured replicas but in sending out catalogues. I have in mind in particular a firm called the JLS Arms Company which sends out a catalogue. I have examples. Replicas and the catalogue are sent to various toy shops. Again the proud boast is made that there is no difference whatsoever between these replicas and the real firearms except that the replica will not fire and cannot be made to fire.

The Protection of Aircraft Bill is at present going through its stages in the House. That Bill deals with the hijacking of aircraft. The House may be interested to know that during the last three months, from passengers travelling in aeroplanes leaving Britain no fewer than 72 toy guns have been confiscated, six rifles, 10 shotguns, and 332 rounds—