Gun crime in the UK - law and controls

[C.R.A.Z.Y]

Of course, I think it's something like 12ft/lb MAX.

Responsible ??
What like Thomas Hamilton and Derrick Bird??

The ban after Dunblane made it impossible for another Dunblane to occur, we need another ban to make it impossible for another Derrick Bird to occur imho.

 

[Rroff]

Of course, I think it's something like 12ft/lb MAX.

Responsible ??
What like Thomas Hamilton and Derrick Bird??

The ban after Dunblane made it impossible for another Dunblane to occur, we need another ban to make it impossible for another Derrick Bird to occur imho.

A lot less likely I wouldn't say impossible. Wasn't that long ago someone was stopped by the police planning something similar with the weapons in possession and if he'd been a little more clever about it it might have happened (though I'm not sure how much was fantasy and if he'd really gone through with it).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33718094

 

[C.R.A.Z.Y]

No it's 100% physically impossible!
Think about it!

 

[Boycey0211]

Personally I'd like to see stricter gun regulations and ideally an outright ban on ALL guns for citizens (with the obvious exception of shotguns for farmers).

If you wanna shoot get a nice air-rifle and if that doesn't appeal to you then perhaps we need to question what it actually is that's attracting you to target shooting!!

I learned to target shoot with a .22lr aged 12, this was at a local club where I was under supervision 100% (and I mean someone lying next to me coaching, no chance of me whipping it round and nicking it etc.) was of the time and did not own my own rifle, its was part of the clubs collection.

I enjoyed it and used an air rifle after that to control rabbits on the farm where I used to live, my parents only agreed to this when I was about 17 and was still going to the club weekly at this point.

I wouldn't ban ALL guns per-se, however I feel that the current restrictions are good enough.

If you look at the non-farmer reasons for having one, its actually much tougher to obtain a target rifle than a vermin rifle license, at least it was 5 years ago.

 

[Rroff]

If you look at the non-farmer reasons for having one, its actually much tougher to obtain a target rifle than a vermin rifle license, at least it was 5 years ago.

If you have reasonable cause its actually quite possible under the law to own quite a range of guns which I think is great (and quite surprising as a straight pull .338 or even .50 is theoretically legal to own) - but its a lot more restrictive for recreational use which IMO could do with tweaking a bit.

 

[Boycey0211]

If you have reasonable cause its actually quite possible under the law to own quite a range of guns which I think is great (and quite surprising as a straight pull .338 or even .50 is theoretically legal to own) - but its a lot more restrictive for recreational use which IMO could do with tweaking a bit.

Agreed but I'd also argue the 'reasonable cause' to own a .50 rifle, a massive and questionably useful in civilian life rifle, which is what the police checks are for.

 

[Zenduri]

Of course, I think it's something like 12ft/lb MAX.

Responsible ??
What like Thomas Hamilton and Derrick Bird??

The ban after Dunblane made it impossible for another Dunblane to occur, we need another ban to make it impossible for another Derrick Bird to occur imho.

No it's 100% physically impossible!
Think about it!

So 2 people out of over 700,000 means everyone else i guilty? If you actually bother to do some research the Dunblane massacre could have been stopped as the police were warned that he wasn't stable and they did nothing to revoke his license and confiscate his guns.

You will never stop people going on a killing spree, you may make it harder but they will still do it, so why penalize all legal shooters because of 1 or 2.

Should we ban kitchen knives considering so many teenagers are stabbing each other with them? They are more of a problem than going after legal shooters

Agreed but I'd also argue the 'reasonable cause' to own a .50 rifle, a massive and questionably useful in civilian life rifle, which is what the police checks are for.

There isnt much reason for a .50 cal other than target use and i guess the fun element. Considering there are less than a handful of places to shoot them eg bisley, its insanely hard to get cleared for one.

 

[Zenduri]

Also forgot to mention that Derrick Bird made mutiple worrying comments to friends and family who didnt report them so his guns could have been taken before the event. Also how he got to keep them while under investigation for tax evasion defies me. Police should have taken them or forced him to stire them with an RFD until the court case was resolved

 

[RDM]

Of course, I think it's something like 12ft/lb MAX.

Responsible ??
What like Thomas Hamilton and Derrick Bird??

The ban after Dunblane made it impossible for another Dunblane to occur, we need another ban to make it impossible for another Derrick Bird to occur imho.

How many massacres were there before Dunblane? It is possible that the laws did nothing to stop another massacre and it was more a regression to the mean.

 

[Dolph]

I see the usual statistically illiterate rubbish about gun crime is being posted. It wouldn't be so bad if such stupidity was not being used to support overly restrictive laws.

For gun legislation to be having a meaningful impact, the figures to look at are not gun crime figures. They tell you nothing useful. You need to look not at gun murders, but murders overall. If the gun bans had a beneficial effect. The overall murder rate will decrease. This hasn't happened in the UK, all that the gun ban did was change the murder weapon, it didn't stop people getting killed.

Unfortunately, we don't have enough protection in this country from idiotic populist law making, hence you get stupid pointless bans, much congratulatory back slapping and no benefit whatsoever rather than coherent, effective policy making.

 

[scorza]

The problem with our gun laws, like the prohibition of cannabis, is that you just push the trade underground.

As if to prove my point http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ester-news/live-woman-young-son-both-10247580

 

[Cosimo]

I will have circled behind you and pulled your pants down.

The belt laws will have to be tightened to stop this from becoming more prevalent.

 

[jpod]

Wicked stuff, reading this thank you very much indeed to all posters.

Still unanswered, how does the Police and law control them? Police catch a fella with a gun in their car, they say it wasn't theirs. Do they have the tools they need to make prosecution worthwhile.

Should there be less legal controls or even tighter controls?
I had someone try to break into my house, if private householders could own guns I would feel safer? What would happen, would gun crime go up? Would burglary go down?

If I witnessed a robbery or a terrorist activity, would carry laws mean that more folk could pull out their pistol, and would the possibility of shooting the bad guy be a useful deterrent?

What type of guns are used in crime?
Antiques?
Home made
modified
Sawn off?
WW II
Army surplus?
Belt cutters

What is the weapon of choice for the UK crime mastermind?

 

[anything I don't mind]

I think they should have shooting ranges where you can go in and fire guns in a range. That way people can still blow off steam if they like guns and practice for a zombie invasion.

 

[Danthus]

The problem with our gun laws, like the prohibition of cannabis, is that you just push the trade underground.

As if to prove my point http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ester-news/live-woman-young-son-both-10247580

Sounds like something the NRA would say.

 

[DXP55]

Wicked stuff, reading this thank you very much indeed to all posters.

Still unanswered, how does the Police and law control them? Police catch a fella with a gun in their car, they say it wasn't theirs. Do they have the tools they need to make prosecution worthwhile.

Should there be less legal controls or even tighter controls?
I had someone try to break into my house, if private householders could own guns I would feel safer? What would happen, would gun crime go up? Would burglary go down?

If I witnessed a robbery or a terrorist activity, would carry laws mean that more folk could pull out their pistol, and would the possibility of shooting the bad guy be a useful deterrent?

What type of guns are used in crime?
Antiques?
Home made
modified
Sawn off?
WW II
Army surplus?
Belt cutters

What is the weapon of choice for the UK crime mastermind?

If you want info on how UK gun laws came about read this.

It's a long read

http://www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs...trol System in Practice: Administrative Abuse

 

[Haggisman]

Disclaimer: All answers are my own opinion and based on my feelings rather than fact:

Should there be less legal controls or even tighter controls?
I had someone try to break into my house, if private householders could own guns I would feel safer? What would happen, would gun crime go up? Would burglary go down?

I think the number of burglaries would drop slightly, BUT criminals would be more likely to go armed, meaning increased likelihood of someone actually getting shot

If I witnessed a robbery or a terrorist activity, would carry laws mean that more folk could pull out their pistol, and would the possibility of shooting the bad guy be a useful deterrent?

The problem with that being how does average Joe on the street know who is really a bad guy?

Is the guy running away with the bag doing so because he's just nicked it, or because someone is trying to mug him?

Is that guy fiddling with the suitcase full of wires setting up a bomb or doing some air pollution measurements?

 

[russell664]

The current law works well in my opinion.

Much better than that in the US. Terrible gun culture.

 

[teaboy5]

The law is fine the way it is at the moment. In fact I would like to see us being allowed more guns.

I really don't get why people hate guns and want them banned. The culture of guns in the UK is worlds apart from the culture in the states for example.

Nothing can beat setting up a clay traps at the back of the house and having a few friends around for some clay shooting and a BBQ.

If someone is hell bent on killing someone they are going to get an illegal gun if possible or just knife or beat them to death. As for mass shooting's these can still easily still happen today with the guns that are allowed, but the culture is different so these don't happen.

I don't think I would like to see open carry laws in the UK as they just wouldn't work. In regards to keeping guns in the house I don't think it would it would help much if someone broke in, as the gun would more than likely be stored somewhere other than a bedroom and considering the size of most UK houses there would be no way if accessing that without running into the person already in the house.

I have said it before guns are fine as long as there is good laws in place and that they are stored safely.

 

[trickycurve]

Personally I'd like to see stricter gun regulations and ideally an outright ban on ALL guns for citizens (with the obvious exception of shotguns for farmers).

If you wanna shoot get a nice air-rifle and if that doesn't appeal to you then perhaps we need to question what it actually is that's attracting you to target shooting!!

What about sports shooting? My dad does skeet and other forms of clay pigeon shooting.