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Things have obviously changed, when I was in the mob, (pre IRA activites 1969), as a member of the regimental shooting team I kept my weapon with me in barracks or at home in a WD Hiring. We didn't put them in the armoury as they had all been zeroed to ourselves and we didn't want them mixed up with others. ****, fan etc. Oh, and weren't 'misfires' in the chanted declaration? |
Indeed, I thought it went, "I have no live rounds, misfires or empty cartridges in my possession."
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There are a number of disturbing aspects to this, including the emergence of a hitherto little-known 'Yuman rights' organisation Big Brother Watch | Defending civil liberties, protecting privacy which clearly is the same organisation behind the website The Danny Nightingale legal fund appeal
Selective use of 'facts' as revealed in the earlier CM. Helpful? |
This has just appeared on the BBC news site: BBC News - SAS man Danny Nightingale sentenced for gun possession
Mods are normally not allowed opinions but in his case, and as an ex WO, mine is that I do not agree with this decision - on the sentence - and its suspension. |
A sad reflection of our society as well as the modern military.
Once we start allowing people to ignore the rules, anarchy is well on the way. He has, in simple terms, got away with it. That can't be good for anyone. |
Yep, a fair result given the circumstances. He hasn't got off - he's been sentenced to two years, but suspended provided he behaves over the next 2 years. Additionally, these convictions for serious offences will haunt him, making it difficult to get mainstream employment (would you employ a guy who has been convicted of serious firearms offences and has major, err, memory problems?). Added to that, as pointed out on Arrse, he will have great difficulties getting visas and work permits in many countries. He knew the rule. He knew he broke them, he has to accept his punishment. Apparently Mrs N isn't too happy, though...
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Here's some interesting comments from the Judge, such as being told off for criticising the system and alluding to judicial conspiracies::
Mr Blackett said the soldier's account about how the gun came to be in his room "lacked credibility". However, he said there were "exceptional circumstances" that allowed the court to suspend the sentence "because of your exceptional character". The judge also said that "criticism of the prosecution and the Army is unmerited and totally without foundation". He told Nightingale: "We understand how difficult these proceedings have been for you and your family. "However, you have brought much of that anguish upon yourself and your public assertions that you are scapegoat or the victim of some wider political agenda is absolute nonsense," he said. "You are simply someone against whom there was a strong prima facie case of serious wrongdoing and, given the dangers to society caused by illegal firearms and their misuse, it was in the public interest to prosecute you. "You have now had a fair trial before a civilian judge and an independent and impartial board. "All of the issues you wished to raise and all the submissions you wished to make have been fully considered and verdicts properly given. "It would have made no difference had you been tried before a civilian jury. The evidence against you was overwhelming and I have no doubt the verdicts would have been the same." |
Having sat as a member on the bench with this Judge, I can say that he is a fair, balanced and clever gentleman. These comments do not surprise me with their excellence.
I am sure there will be more Mrs Ns in the future who will think that they will be able to Tweet, Faceache or Dailywail their way out of a sticky situation...whether they did it or not. Power of the People etc... But to quote The Shawshank Redemption - 'We're all innocent..' |
I'm still not sure exactly what this whole affair is about.
Yes there has been a breach of rules. Etc etc. But apart from that there has been a complete disregard in regard to speaking out and to the press etc. Nightingale seems to have been punished from within by becoming a PNG as far as his colleagues are concerned (I have no connection here, but am reading between the lines). The whole story is bizarre, and many of us here (as per above) have lived with our weapons on a constant basis. I do wonder what our Atlantic cousins make of a story of a soldier being prosecuted for having a weapon/ammo at home, or how this looks to Northern European soldiers who take it for granted that they keep weapons and ammo at home. |
They would look at the UK as a bunch of idiots.
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Broke the law, caught and convicted.
Nothing to see here. Move along. Posted from Pprune.org App for Android |
Is there a list of laws you would like to be inapplicable to military personnel, or is it just this one specifically, or just this unit?
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I would have thought they were in a bit of quandary, if they sentenced him to any time inside as he is now Civilian on would assume it would be served in a civilian prison as against a military one, thus giving rise to odd state of play where having been pardoned and released from one, he would be getting locked back up in one for the same offence. Which would be how the public would perceive it.
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barnstormer1968
The whole story is bizarre, and many of us here (as per above) have lived with our weapons on a constant basis. Guilty as charged! And very lucky to receive a suspended prison sentence. He now has a deserved criminal record with all the implications that that brings! Fg Off Bloggs:= (with some inside knowledge of the Sentencing Guidelines) |
Bloggs
As you have chosen to assume I was implying that this was a military weapon (which I wasn't, and it clearly wasn't), can I assume you are light blue, and further assume you have not spent an extended period with a weapon in your possession (as it seems we are making assumptions)? I'm sorry but I'm very comfortable around firearms, and have travelled enough to realise how rediculous this story seems to others. Feel free to sit in an ivory tower and say he's guilty etc etc, but this would not be a crime in many other countries! I think many of the 'outrage bus' types who think they have only just escaped destruction from this 'murderous home arsenal' are just showing their ignorance of weapons. As an aside, who in their right mind would want to own a Glock anyway (unless you are a copper and can't be trusted with a better side arm). :* |
but this would not be a crime in many other countries! |
Quote: but this would not be a crime in many other countries! But it is here. Very unfortunate case but we ain't in the USA or Switzerland. Our 'feelings' are irrelevant; it's the law of the land which rules. |
He could have asked (and unlikely to have got) permission to have it deactivated by armourers in Iraq and could have brought it back legally. He smuggled back live ammunition. That should be a prison sentence in civvy jail without recourse, because it is breaking criminal law. Don't care, he would propably have made a decaration when he returned his ammo on tour or back that he had no live rounds. he broke that too. Wihatever his reasons he broke the law seriously enough that if he had been civilian, he would have gone to jail..
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I agree. The rule, a very strict and well understood one, over many years, was breached. Given all the circumstances, probably a just outcome.
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