The current system penalises not only the accused but also their family. To convict a misguided enthusiast who has no intention of violence (agreed by both prosecution and defence) to 5 yrs is a travesty of justice. The argument that this is the minimum statutory sentence is disgraceful in this case (such as, for example, in Guildford recently).
The minimum 5 yr term for firearms offences where there is no violence intended or carried out should be removed and discretion allowed more freely by the judge.