British Collector's House Raided

Peter_Suciu

Peter_Suciu

Well-known member
This is a very sad story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11101639/WW1-machine-gun-found-in-mans-garage.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Indeed!
One can see a dangerous spike helmet and a frightening Tschapka on the left of the picture though.
 
In the states these raids occur fairly frequently, with lots of media and law enforcement hype about discovering a "secret arsenal". Then it goes away, the liberal media and police having made their point about the dangerous gun nuts, survivalists and militia members. In many if not most cases it turns out everything the victim had was legal, and the charges are quietly dropped. Of course it takes law enforcement several months ( as opposed to the several days it should take) to determine that the evil looking "assault rifles" are completely legal semi autos, and that the "bombs" are inert. The victim gets his collection back, many times with pieces damaged or destroyed by careless handling and storage, and sometimes willful destruction. What sad times are these.
Steve
 
There was a priest arrested in NYC about 10 years ago. The priest had been accused of stealing from the church, and the police investigated. They found "porn magazines," plus a handgun and a "Shrine to Hitler." First, while maybe the porn mags are something you shouldn't expect I guess given the church's dealing with case of abuse of children to me that wasn't a big deal. He was an adult.

The gun was an interesting case because the city hadn't failed to notify him that the registration was due, so a month lapsed. Again the media made a huge deal out of it.

The final part was the so-called "shrine." It was really a collection of books on WWI and WWII and a couple of spike helmets. To the police and media in NYC that is a shrine. I can only imagine what my collection would have been considered!
 
ottodog8 said:
In .......
........... The victim gets his collection back, many times with pieces damaged or destroyed by careless handling and storage, and sometimes willful destruction. What sad times are these.
Steve
Click to expand...
Or / and missing stuff!
......been there, seen that....
 
This made the news on British telly (BBCnews) yesterday on prime time, next to the Scottish referendum!
 
How the hell does a guy in the UK get his hands on a water cooled Vickers machinegun? Legally or otherwise, I would imagine there aren't too many still sitting around?
 
There are several things missing from this story. First, what exactly was destroyed? I can't imagine them blowing up helmets or even the machine guns (confiscating yes, destroying no). Second, were the 'big rounds' de-milled or still live? If they were live, then he's stupid for having them. Third, is the press in England 'liberal'? It certainly isn't where I live, being owned by very conservative and wealthy people. Either way, the press always seems to get it only half right much of the time.

Bottom line, I see no problem with collections of ordnance or heavy weaponry (artillery, tanks, etc) that has been de-milled. I see no problem with fire-arms that are legally acquired and if need be licensed. However, if you 'skirt the law' to amass a collection of live artillery rounds (not small arms) and seedily acquired weaponry, then be ready to be raided and perhaps jailed.
IF he was 100% legal, then I feel very, very bad for him. If he wasn't, then he shouldn't be surprised when he gets caught.

:D Ron
 
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