Move to ban DIY bullet kits is welcomed
Shot PC's mother wins fight to change law
THE mother of murdered policeman Ian Broadhurst has welcomed a Government move to ban the sale of deadly bullet-making machines which she believes played a part in her son's death.
Kate O'Hara
Crime Correspondent
Cindy Eaton launched a campaign to close a loophole in the law last year after it was revealed that it was legal to own all the component parts to make bullets without a licence, and only became a crime when the ammunition was fully made.
Former US Marine David Bieber, who shot her son dead on Boxing Day 2003, and attempted to murder his two colleagues, had built his own ammunitions factory in a Leeds lock-up which included powders, bullet cases and a bullet-making machine – all bought legally.
During the trial Mr Justice Moses said the situation seemed "completely barmy", when told that Bieber had legally bought a Dillon RL550 bullet press and re-loader from a Hertfordshire gunshop, which he used to manufacture thousands of bullets in his home-made weapons factory.
But this week the Government unveiled its Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which includes banning component parts to make ammunition without a licence.
Tony Blair vowed to take action on home-made bullets following the shootings in West Yorkshire and yesterday Home Office Minister Hazel Blears confirmed the Boxing Day shootings had influenced the new rules.
Ms Blears said: "That incident was absolutely tragic. These provisions are part of our campaign to make it increasingly difficult for anybody to be able to convert weapons and fire live ammunition.
"It's part of our efforts to bear down as much as we can and make it as difficult as it can be to be able to get and use firearms. It's not all in specific response to that case, but of course that affected us."
Last night Mrs Eaton, who wrote to then-Home Secretary David Blunkett last year demanding the loophole be closed, told the Yorkshire Post: "I'm absolutely delighted. This campaign started with Ian's death and now we have achieved what we set out to do.
"If the law hadn't been changed I would have just kept going – I was determined this loophole couldn't continue.
"We may never know how many lives will be saved by the decision to ban this equipment, but I'm sure there will be many.
"I will never forget Judge Moses's face when he was told it was legal to buy these things."
Mrs Eaton thanked her MP Mike Wood, who campaigned alongside her from the start.
The Labour MP for Batley and Spen raised the issue with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons following Bieber's conviction.
Mr Wood said: "I am very pleased to see measures in this Bill which will close the loophole.
"Owning and purchasing ammunition is illegal in this country, to all intents and purposes, except to those who are properly licensed. To have a situation where the law can be subverted so easily is ludicrous.
"This Bill will see to it that anyone who wants to make their own ammunition faces the same stringent checks as someone who wants to own a firearm."
Mr Wood added: "Credit must go to Cindy Eaton who came away from the trial of her son's killer with the courage and determination to campaign to see this lethal loophole in the law closed."
As a result of Mrs Eaton's campaign, and after the Yorkshire Post found a Dillon RL550 for sale on eBay, Mr Wood wrote to the Internet auction site to express his concerns about re-loaders being available to buy online.
eBay responded by withdrawing them from sale.
kate.o'hara@ypn.co.uk
Move to ban DIY bullet kits is welcomed - Yorkshire Post
Shot PC's mother wins fight to change law
THE mother of murdered policeman Ian Broadhurst has welcomed a Government move to ban the sale of deadly bullet-making machines which she believes played a part in her son's death.
Kate O'Hara
Crime Correspondent
Cindy Eaton launched a campaign to close a loophole in the law last year after it was revealed that it was legal to own all the component parts to make bullets without a licence, and only became a crime when the ammunition was fully made.
Former US Marine David Bieber, who shot her son dead on Boxing Day 2003, and attempted to murder his two colleagues, had built his own ammunitions factory in a Leeds lock-up which included powders, bullet cases and a bullet-making machine – all bought legally.
During the trial Mr Justice Moses said the situation seemed "completely barmy", when told that Bieber had legally bought a Dillon RL550 bullet press and re-loader from a Hertfordshire gunshop, which he used to manufacture thousands of bullets in his home-made weapons factory.
But this week the Government unveiled its Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which includes banning component parts to make ammunition without a licence.
Tony Blair vowed to take action on home-made bullets following the shootings in West Yorkshire and yesterday Home Office Minister Hazel Blears confirmed the Boxing Day shootings had influenced the new rules.
Ms Blears said: "That incident was absolutely tragic. These provisions are part of our campaign to make it increasingly difficult for anybody to be able to convert weapons and fire live ammunition.
"It's part of our efforts to bear down as much as we can and make it as difficult as it can be to be able to get and use firearms. It's not all in specific response to that case, but of course that affected us."
Last night Mrs Eaton, who wrote to then-Home Secretary David Blunkett last year demanding the loophole be closed, told the Yorkshire Post: "I'm absolutely delighted. This campaign started with Ian's death and now we have achieved what we set out to do.
"If the law hadn't been changed I would have just kept going – I was determined this loophole couldn't continue.
"We may never know how many lives will be saved by the decision to ban this equipment, but I'm sure there will be many.
"I will never forget Judge Moses's face when he was told it was legal to buy these things."
Mrs Eaton thanked her MP Mike Wood, who campaigned alongside her from the start.
The Labour MP for Batley and Spen raised the issue with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons following Bieber's conviction.
Mr Wood said: "I am very pleased to see measures in this Bill which will close the loophole.
"Owning and purchasing ammunition is illegal in this country, to all intents and purposes, except to those who are properly licensed. To have a situation where the law can be subverted so easily is ludicrous.
"This Bill will see to it that anyone who wants to make their own ammunition faces the same stringent checks as someone who wants to own a firearm."
Mr Wood added: "Credit must go to Cindy Eaton who came away from the trial of her son's killer with the courage and determination to campaign to see this lethal loophole in the law closed."
As a result of Mrs Eaton's campaign, and after the Yorkshire Post found a Dillon RL550 for sale on eBay, Mr Wood wrote to the Internet auction site to express his concerns about re-loaders being available to buy online.
eBay responded by withdrawing them from sale.
kate.o'hara@ypn.co.uk
Move to ban DIY bullet kits is welcomed - Yorkshire Post
