London riots

[Scooter]

And on the spark that blew this powederkeg...

The bullet lodged in the police radio was distinctively police-issue. The gun found at the scene shows no evidence of having been fired. The IPCC has had to back away from earlier statements that may have "misled" the public to believe that Duggan had shot first and that the police had returned fire. Police now saying that they never claimed Duggan had shot first, and shot Duggan only out of fear for their safety.

In the end it won't really matter whether or not the shooting was justified or not, there probably won't be enough evidence to find the police guilty of any wrongdoing. But the shooter will be walking around with a target on his back for the rest of his career for having almost killed one of his own, and that's probably a harsher punishment than the justice system could have meted out.

[liberty]

What is the penalty in England for the possession of an illegal firearm?

[Scooter]

A mandatory minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 10 years.

[Sean]

It is the result of rampant greed and destructive stupidity. It is the result of police no longer having the power to actually do something about it. Nothing else. I'm sick and tired of bleeding hearts making excuses for these fuckers.

[Gob]

What is the penalty in England for the possession of an illegal firearm?

Getting shot dead by the look of it.

[Sean]

What is the penalty in England for the possession of an illegal firearm?

That would depend on whether or not you pointed it at an armed police officer.

[rubato]

And on the spark that blew this powederkeg...

The bullet lodged in the police radio was distinctively police-issue. The gun found at the scene shows no evidence of having been fired. The IPCC has had to back away from earlier statements that may have "misled" the public to believe that Duggan had shot first and that the police had returned fire. Police now saying that they never claimed Duggan had shot first, and shot Duggan only out of fear for their safety.

In the end it won't really matter whether or not the shooting was justified or not, there probably won't be enough evidence to find the police guilty of any wrongdoing. But the shooter will be walking around with a target on his back for the rest of his career for having almost killed one of his own, and that's probably a harsher punishment than the justice system could have meted out.

As I suggested.

People who have not spent significant time at the range firing handguns really should shut the fuck up about it.

yrs,
rubato

[dales]

Hey rube....

Ever been to this place?

Their "tin can" firing range is a blast!

http://www.losaltosrodandgunclub.com/

[Scooter]

The ability to aim properly isn't the big question here. It's whether there was justification to fire a shot at all.

[rubato]

Hey rube....

Ever been to this place?

Their "tin can" firing range is a blast!

http://www.losaltosrodandgunclub.com/

No, but thanks for the link. I'll look into it. They closed to local range a while back.

yrs,
rubato

[BoSoxGal]

A piece on NPR this morning discussed some negative reaction in the UK to the length of sentences being handed out to rioters.

Two young men who attempted to instigate a riot via Facebook got 4 year sentences, though nobody (except coppers) actually showed up at the location they advertised as 'ground zero' of their riot.

Folks who looted, even small items, are getting substantial jail time.

Thoughts?

[Gob]

My initial reaction is, (if the people are guilty,) about bloody time!
May change this attitude..

On Wednesday youths had rampaged through Manchester's city centre, turning it into a war zone, and boasted that the government had lost control of the cities. They pledged to continue as long as they could.

And even if they do get caught, they are not afraid of the consequences, with one telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What are they gonna do? Give me an Asbo? I'll live with that.'

[Reality Bytes]

I'm afraid I'm one of those very uneasy with the way "justice" is being applied - I believe that the law is "supposed" to be fair and equal, however, each court is handling things differently, some people are getting fines others 4 year sentences for the same offences. Those 2 got 4 years yet a 17 yr old who did the exact same thing got a 1 yr ban from all social networking sites (just how they hope to enforce that remains to be seen) over night curfew with electronic tagging & community service. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-14556016

Families are being held accountable for the actions of their kids which on the face of it seems reasonable however when you consider that the law has utterly tied the parents hands in terms of what kind of discipline they can use to control their kids wtf were they supposed to do? Eviction notices are being served on families in council owned properties yet families of kids who are in private rented accomodation (even if the council is paying their rents) cannot be"punished" in the same way, nor can those who own their own homes - and there were plenty of those involved. Cameron is calling for benefit suspensions ... but what about the rioters who have jobs or arent on benefits? And again there were many of them rioting too.

[Gob]

These bastards deserve to have the book thrown at them!

[The Hen]

Fnaar!

[Joe Guy]

What is interesting to me is that I don't see any similarities in those photos that (I guess) are supposed to show two people who look alike.

Or did I miss something by not reading this entire thread?

[The Hen]

I guess I need glasses more than I thought. They appear similar to me.

[Long Run]

I guess I need glasses more than I thought. They appear similar to me.

Works best if the glasses are full of some tasty ale.

[Gob]

[rubato]

?? Why minority? I thought that part of the story was the number of whites and middle-class kids involved.

yrs,
rubato