Tim, the answer to your question is yes. It is illegal to confiscate a persons legally held property without due compensation. The Government admitted to 97 Million but I suspect the real figure was much higher. I used the money from my three pistols to buy three rifles. Stuff that Tony Blair!
The problem arose out of a school shooting in Dunblane, Scotland. It was at the time of a forthcoming election and the dying embers of the Conservative Party who tried to get some cheap votes out of the tragedy. They commissioned an independent enquiry which examined the evidence to support a ban. At a cost of 1 1/2 Million pounds and they couldn't find evidence to support the ban so the Government ignored this anyway saying it's what the public wanted; although they didn't consult the public. Well, after all they are the Government so know what people want without having to ask. They were going to ban all but .22rf. for target shooting but Tony Blair and the Labour party thought they would get even more votes by banning those as well. Labour got in anyway and the Dictator Blair was in office. Lagopus.....
