Green Party member of the London Assembly, Jenny Jones, said: "While it’s reasonable to want to protect yourself in your own home, the current law allows ‘reasonable force’ and it would be mad to encourage an increase in the amount of violence in London. Let’s make London safer by removing all guns from private hands. In any case, why would anyone need a gun in London except for criminal activities? "
Jenny continued:
“It isn’t only the use of guns, it is the presence and availability of guns and ‘gun culture’ which contributes to fear of crime, intimidation and the reluctance of witnesses and victims to report crimes. We have to deal with the imitation weapons, with licences for imitation weapons used for film and theatre, and legislation to ensure toy guns are highly distinctive in appearance, probably by being made of clear/translucent plastic.”
“Gun crime is a particularly serious problem and the Green Party is committed to tackling it by ensuring a high level of gun control as well as addressing the social factors which contribute to people committing crimes with guns.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Greens have outlined a set of criteria that would effectively ban guns in London. They are calling for:
· a single rigorous licensing process, based upon considerations of public safety rather than the convenience of shooters; · subject to relevant criteria, licences will be issued for permitted shotguns and rifles, all lethal airguns and permitted deactivated guns; · the most dangerous weapons will be prohibited including handguns, multi-shot and high calibre weapons;· a complete ban on the private ownership/possession of all automatic and semi-automatic firearms; · a Gun Safety Advisory Committee will regularly review which weapons are prohibited; · all deactivated weapons will be treated the same as active weapons in terms of prohibition and licensing, as they are capable of being reactivated and can cause fear because they appear as though active; · a complete ban on the holding of firearms on domestic premises except licensed deactivated firearms. · a complete ban on the manufacture, sale and import of imitation weapons (replica guns and blank firers) and a ban on their public possession.