Newtownards Pensioner Orders AR-15 and Handguns from US: BBC Report

A pensioner from Newtownards, Northern Ireland, has shocked authorities after it was revealed that he successfully posted himself an AR-15 rifle and several handguns from the United States. The 68-year-old man, who has not been identified, reportedly used a loophole in postal regulations to have the weapons shipped directly to his home.

Authorities were alerted to the situation when customs officials intercepted a suspicious package at a sorting facility in Belfast. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the package contained a disassembled AR-15 rifle and multiple handguns, all of which were intended for the pensioner in Newtownards.

The man claimed that he had ordered the weapons for self-defense purposes, citing concerns about rising crime rates in his area. However, officials have expressed grave concerns about the ease with which the pensioner was able to acquire such dangerous weapons, and have vowed to tighten regulations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The pensioner has been arrested and is currently facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and smuggling. Authorities are urging the public to report any suspicious activity related to the illegal importation of firearms, in order to prevent further incidents like this from happening.