Alphecca: London Olympics: Shooters

January 16, 2006

London Olympics: Shooters

How stupid is it in England? How ridiculous has it gotten? From Monsters and Critics:

LONDON, England (UPI) -- British lawmakers are being urged to ease a ban on handguns so Britain`s champion shooters can train for the Olympics.

Competitors currently must travel to Switzerland, where their guns are kept locked in an armory at a shooting range in Zurich, the Times of London reported.

The ban was imposed after the 1996 massacre of 16 children and a teacher at Dunblane Primary School in Scotland by a gun collector.

A dispensation for handguns was granted during the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002, but the rules were so strict that some international teams lodged complaints, and are now asking for better conditions for the London Olympics in 2012, the newspaper said.

Shooters were escorted from Heathrow Airport under armed guard and their guns were taken in an armored vehicle to the national shooting center. Spectators had to watch events behind screens and shooters were guarded by armed officers.

Pathetic.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at January 16, 2006 07:18 AM

Comments

They should just show up without firearms, and stand there at the firing line, and turn in zero scores.

And make damned well sure they get some press for this protest.

Posted by: Kristopher at January 16, 2006 12:53 PM

Come now, think of the children!

Someone could have stolen one of those outrageously specialised .22 pistols and shot someone with one a few times.

Obviously they need to be transported in armored cars; it's not as if criminals can acquire an illegal gun of much greater power with relative ease!

Posted by: Sigivald at January 16, 2006 05:11 PM

If the weaselly British chickenshits were not cringing hypocrites (yeah, I'm pulling punches here) they would not permit ANY shooting sports at the Olympics. After all, if British subjects are not permitted firearms, then why the hell should foreigners be permitted to bring them into the country, under any circumstances?

Posted by: Steve Skubinna at January 16, 2006 05:15 PM

I like English beer. I like their ancient architecture. I like the folks. But their move toward socialism sucks *ss.

Posted by: Benson at January 17, 2006 02:31 PM

>>Funny that neutral Switzerland should be the place where people are allowed to exercise their skill in a sport involving lethal weapons.<<

You might find this link provides a little insight into the Swiss mindset vis a vis guns, given that Pikes have gone out of fashion.

http://www.stephenhalbrook.com/article-knabbenschiessen/swiss_teen_rifle_festival.html

Posted by: Old 'n Cranky at January 17, 2006 03:35 PM

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January 16, 2006

London Olympics: Shooters

By Golly, you're reading an archived post. Click Here to head to the main page and read current stuff...

Check it out:

My group sci-fi blog novel:

Colony: Alchibah