From: "IG", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
::::::::So the answer to your question is yes, I'd be "happy" for this guy
to own
guns, if I was secure in the knowledge that he was hugely outnumbered by
ordinary - but armed - citizens, a situation that used to obtain in this
country pre-WW1 but which is now reversed, since while it appears easy for
thugs to buy an off-ticket machine gun the rest of us are approaching
complete disarmament.::::::::::::::::
You might be happy. I personally wouldn't be.
Everyone runs away with the idea that, because they have firearms for self
defence in America, then we should have them here as well.
What a complete load of rubbish. You can quote all the studies you like, all
the figures you want and relate examples until they bury me, there are basic
unarguable differences between the USA and the UK.
1. The Americans probably need firearms for self defence, owing to the
fact that firearms are so freely available and that criminals habitually
carry them under circumstances whereby they wouldn't here. We dont require
firearms for self defence.
2. The Americans have, in general, been brought up in a world where
firearms are commonplace. Their TV and films revolve around
firearms.......good guys v. bad guys, etc. Their cops are permanently
armed. Security guards are all armed. College police are armed. Everyone is
armed because everyone is armed! National heroes such as John Wayne achieved
their status by portraying characters from gun slinging days that didnt
actually exist. The 2nd amendment is fiercely defended. (By a united NRA, I
might add, unlike the fragmented state our shooting is in). To sum up,
fireaarms are a way of life in the states. They are not here, except for a
VERY small number of people.
3. Whatever the popular myth is, people are not being slaughtered in
their beds in the UK due to lack of firearms for self defence. The majority
of firearms related offences are committed by warring drug and crime related
factions against each other. The right to own firearms for self defence is m
erely going to escalate that, as those members of the gangs that have not
been convicted are going to have a freely avaiable supply of firearms, money
won't matter. And before you cry out that they have that now...Yes.....they
may carry firearms illegally.........BUT they can be sent to prison for it
if or when caught. If there were no controls or there was the right to carry
for self defence, there would be no sanctions applicable.
4. Because the overwhelming majority, probably 99%, of people living in
the UK have no previous experience of the defensive use of firearms, or ANY
use of firearms come to that, arming the public would be a total disaster.
If you think the streets are bad now, which you obviously do, imagine them
with armed members of the public doing their vigilante thing. Not a pretty
thought.
5. Probably the most important thing.......people here in the UK would
not wish to have the right to carry firearms for self defence! A handful of
shooters might, but if it ever (which it won't) became an issue, what do you
honestly think would be the outcome? (as opposed to what you would LIKE to
be the outcome)
6. You seem to think that the public can be trusted to exercise common
sense and responsibility. Take off the rose tinted glasses and consider what
has been ignored from my previous posts re. football matches, road rage,
etc. Are you honestly trying to tell me that the public can be trusted to
behave responsbily? Come on, do me a favour.
Finally, Anthony, tell me what your stance actually is on gun control? Are
you in favour of restrictions? If so, what?
If you are in favour of total freedom, fair enough, but say so.
IG
--
My view is between these extremes, both have good points but
the reality is that I think IG is wrong to the extent that
it cannot be credibly argued that absolutely no-one in GB should
be allowed a firearm for self-defence. Yes, if it was freely
allowed there would be a lot of accidents and mistakes because
we don't have a gun owning culture anymore and yes, if you
boil it down purely to need then most people don't need guns
for self-defence. But without question, some do, and some
would be better off with them, and that is why some people
should be allowed to have them.
I can sit here and reel off loads of court cases in which
people had guns illegally for self-defence and got very
light sentences or were let off. In essence the court
was agreeing they did have a good reason for having the
gun.
Steve.
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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