...and statistics
`ALTHOUGH most shotgun owners . . . keep their guns safely, there is no legal requirement. . . . The Govern- ment considers . . . it . . . time to bring shotgun security into line with that for section 1 firearms [rifles and pistols]. There were over 800 incidents last year in which shotguns were reported . . . stolen.'
(Firearms Act 1968 — Proposals for Reform 1987) IN 1986 804 shotguns were reported stolen, an increase on 1976's figure of 666. But during 1976-86 burglaries almost doubled, suggesting a decrease in either the ease with which burglars steal shotguns or the attractiveness of shotguns to burglars generally. In 1986 282 section 1 firearms were stolen, but there are five times as many shotgun certificates as section 1 firearm certifi- cates. Even if more section 1 firearms than shotguns are owned without cer- tificates (e.g. by professional criminals), their theft will probably not be reported because of the ensuing embarrassment for the illicit owner. Accordingly, one would expect something more like 1,400 shotguns to be stolen on a basis strictly comparable with the section 1 firearms position.
(£20 goes to Mr J Kallincos, of Ealing.) (£10 goes to Thomas Oleson, of Stock- holm.) IKITTY Dukakis] on the homeless: "It's a national disgrace. We've cut housing by 90 per cent in the last eight years."'
(Guardian, 24 July)
Send examples to `. . . and statistics'; £20 for the best published, £10 for every other published — the first opened if two or more cover the same example.
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