JohnRich 4 #1 July 30, 2007 News:'I was portrayed as one of Britain's biggest illegal gun dealers' TODAY a gun dealer who proved his innocence slams a police investigation that left him to suffer an agonising ten-month wait in custody in two of London's toughest jails. Michael Shepherd, 56, faced 32 years in prison after being arrested in September last year following an 18-month operation by the Met police's anti-gun crime Trident squad. The raid on his house uncovered a haul of 900 weapons and about 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Officers believed they were part of a world wide illegal gun trafficking cartel and linked to north London murders. If he was convicted he would most likely have died in jail. Shepherd reveals Kent Police visited his home and renewed his firearms licence just two weeks before he was arrested for allegedly dealing illegal weapons. He also accuses the police of pursuing him to show the public they are winning the fight against crime involving illegal firearms. Speaking from his ransacked home, he said: "Every single one of the guns I had stored in my house, about 900 in all, are legal to own and sell"...Source & full story: Bromley Times Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zipp0 1 #2 July 30, 2007 4000 rounds? That used to sound like a lot to me until I started shooting/collecting old military firearms and buying surplus ammo. Now that is just a good starting point!The new AK burns through ammo like nobody's business. -------------------------- Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #3 July 30, 2007 Quote 4000 rounds? That used to sound like a lot to me until I started shooting/collecting old military firearms and buying surplus ammo. Now that is just a good starting point! The new AK burns through ammo like nobody's business. Yep, I go to about three shooting matches per month, shooting up about 220 rds. per month. That's 2,600 per year. And then there's informal plinking on top of that. And if you figure about 100 rds. per shooting session, then you want 300-400 rds. on hand as a supply. And if you own multiple firearms in multiple calibers, then you need that for each caliber. The numbers add up quick, and it's all perfectly innocent. But the mass media always has a field day with it, like someone is stocking up to start a revolution. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jm951 0 #4 July 31, 2007 When actively competing in 3gun, I have gone through as much as 4k per month. It's easy to do if you're serious about competition. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #5 July 31, 2007 Quote 4000 rounds? That used to sound like a lot to me until I started shooting/collecting old military firearms and buying surplus ammo. Now that is just a good starting point!The new AK burns through ammo like nobody's business. Ammunition is less expensive if you buy a case at a time, where a case is usually 1000 rounds. By the time you have all the required guns (.22 rimfire rifle and pistol, intermediate power centerfire rifle in something like .223 or 7.62x39, regular power centerfire rifle in something like .308/.30-06/.303/7.62x54R, centerfire pistol, single action revolver, 12 gauge shotgun) it's hard not to have thousands of rounds lying arround. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CornishChris 5 #6 July 31, 2007 QuoteBut the mass media always has a field day with it, like someone is stocking up to start a revolution. How many rounds did they use at Columbine? How about Virginia Poly? CJP Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #7 July 31, 2007 Quote The raid on his house uncovered a haul of 900 weapons and about 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Christ I got more .22 rounds than that. I am way short of the 900 firearms though.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #8 July 31, 2007 QuoteHow many rounds did they use at Columbine? How about Virginia Poly? What does that have to do with this man as a gun dealer? Nothing! How many people did he kill with those firearms and rounds? Oh that right, nobody!If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #9 July 31, 2007 QuoteQuoteHow many rounds did they use at Columbine? How about Virginia Poly? What does that have to do with this man as a gun dealer? Nothing! How many people did he kill with those firearms and rounds? Oh that right, nobody! Simmer down, bro... the libs still can't get past their projection fantasy stage and try to blame the TOOL instead of the USER.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #10 July 31, 2007 Quote Simmer down, bro... Oh I am simmer my friend. Sittin back with about 4 double scotches and I am now golden!If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Botellines 0 #11 July 31, 2007 That is dumb, who can think that 4000 bullets are too many? After all, it will be slightly over 4 bullets per gun!! Now wether 900 firearms is too many or not is still something undebated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #12 July 31, 2007 Quote Now wether 900 firearms is too many or not is still something undebated. Not if he is a dealer. Hell the shop I go to has more than 900 and that just the first row. You should see the shit this shop has. It's better than going to a candy store for grown up's.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #13 July 31, 2007 Quote Not if he is a dealer. Hell the shop I go to has more than 900 and that just the first row. You should see the shit this shop has. It's better than going to a candy store for grown up's. This was in his house, not a store. I doubt very much that all 900 weapons were under lock and key as they should be therefore he should face prosecution. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #14 July 31, 2007 QuoteThis was in his house, not a store. I doubt very much that all 900 weapons were under lock and key as they should be therefore he should face prosecution. As they should be? Is that a law that every firearm has to have a trigger lock on it in Britain?If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #15 July 31, 2007 The Bromley Times said that Trident was a gun crime squad, in fact they investigate Black 'Yardie' gangs.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #16 July 31, 2007 I believe that all active firearms have to be secured in a locked gun cabinet which is bolted to the floor or wall with ammunition secured seperately... I think. If he's pleading that they are deactivated antiques then I'm not sure how he stands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #17 July 31, 2007 QuoteI believe that all active firearms have to be secured in a locked gun cabinet which is bolted to the floor or wall with ammunition secured seperately... I think. If he's pleading that they are deactivated antiques then I'm not sure how he stands. Just wondering, not sure about British law.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #18 July 31, 2007 QuoteJust wondering, not sure about British law. Nor am I! Firearms legislation is very complicated over here which is why specialist officers deal with the licencing etc. WHich is another reason I get annoyed when newspapers try to make stories out of a subject they really know nothing about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #19 July 31, 2007 QuoteNor am I! Firearms legislation is very complicated over here which is why specialist officers deal with the licencing etc. It's not any less complicated over here either. I have bought my share of firearms and I still dont know what the laws are to be exact.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #20 July 31, 2007 QuoteThis was in his house, not a store. I doubt very much that all 900 weapons were under lock and key as they should be therefore he should face prosecution. You apparently didn't bother to read the story before jumping to make judgements against him. Quotes: A spokesperson said: "Kent Police carried out all the inspections that we are legally authorised to do as a firearms dealer and certificate holder and no weapons were found that he was not allowed to have and no prohibited weapons were recovered from inside his premises." "My arrest was overwhelming at first but I knew I had done nothing wrong and I kept explaining they were welcome to check out all the guns. They were hanging on walls in the house and locked for security. The keys were there for them to open but they just hacked them off and took them down."...If his guns weren't secured as required by law, then they wouldn't have renewed his license two weeks earlier, now, would they? If he had been guilty of improper storage, then they wouldn't have acquited him of all wrongdoing, right? I apologize for putting facts in the way of your anti-gun conclusion-jumping. I guess you're one of those that voted that he deserved to be prosecuted. After all, he's just a darned gun owner, and they all need to be run into jail, whether they're guilty of anything, or not. P.S. The link to the story is becoming elusive - try this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZJ 0 #21 July 31, 2007 What is the issue here? Police make mistakes, newspapers exaggerate facts. Unfortunate and regrettable, but looks like dog bites man to me... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #22 July 31, 2007 This looks like the script for V is for Vendetta. "According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #23 July 31, 2007 The issue here appears to be the anti gun stance of police in your wonderful kingdom, blinded your police officers of doing what was right, instead of ignoring the law."According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stumpy 284 #24 July 31, 2007 Have you even seen the film? It looks nothing like the script!!! There is no guy who escaped a prison fire in a mask and Natalie Portman is no-where to be seen. Jeez in another thread we just said that gun laws from one country shouldn't be confused with another and here we are, again, the usual suspects jumping up and down with their views on the UK. Obviously nothing better to do than bash a country they dont understand.Never try to eat more than you can lift Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #25 July 31, 2007 whoooosh!!! "According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
