Gun crime in the UK - law and controls
- Thread starter jpod
- Start date
Is it really a bonus if the risk of you being injured or killed overall is unchanged?
Is perception more important than actual risk?
Caporegime
Interesting that the Israeli authorities today told all citizens with licensed firearms to carry them in the wake of several 'small-scale' terror attacks by Palestinians. In the wake of more terror attacks in Europe I think we're going to have to relax our gun control laws for trustworthy individuals (e.g. me).
Soldato
When the situation in the UK becomes as risky as Israel then I'll rethink my views on it, until then I think we're fine.
Soldato
Herein is the problem. Due to the handgun ban coming into force, overnight it ruined and shut down over 50% of the shooting clubs across the country. What remained are mainly still around are often fairly full and they shoot at limited facilities as the number of places they used dropped. a lot of smallbore and largebore clubs are tucked away now days out of view of the hyaterical public and dont openly advertise for obvious reasons. I lived 500 yards from one which i now attend and didnt even know it was there.
Fir example 3 firearms clubs and the airgub club i attend ahoot inside a 120yard railway tunnel, its insanely low facility but low cost. Its in use every weekday evening and saturday and sunday morning.
The firearms club i shoot at is under a main road and 30 yards long ao ideal for small bore or low power eg 22lr and 38 special, i worked 50 yatds from it as a student in a shop and didnt know it was there even after 2 years.
There was also several clubs that used to shot in a cave under nottingham castle but the facility was closed.
They are about just generally well hidden, theres one near tower bridge i believe, underground. The problem is how negatively people look on guns and the likited facilities available means most are hidden away and some are introduction/invite only. Both that I sttend were open but just a case of finding them and bearing on mind are on fixed days.
Caporegime
By the time things are as bad here as they are in Israel it'll be too late.
Man of Honour
Perception is pretty important as the mid 2000s taught us. Whilst actual risk is obviously more important you shouldn't deny that fear of cringe is very damaging.
Caporegime
As a gun owner myself I can say that the current laws here in northern Ireland are pretty adequate as is. Our system differs from the rest of the uk in that all weapons have to be held on an FAC. Air rifles too, which I believe on the mainland can be purchased by anyone over 18 without any background checks or licensing? To own any weapon you must state the purpose for which you intend to use it, ie sporting purposes such as clay/target shooting, game/rough shooting.
Handguns' are still available here but most are held as personal protection weapons by ex or serving police officers, military personnel or prison staff. All applicants should ideally have a clean criminal record, but I know of cases where people have been turned down on a first application due to previous convictions but have been granted a certificate at a later date. For target shooting with rifles you may require club membership iirc. But for game/rough shooting you need the landowners permission. This along with letters from at least two people to act as character witnesses go towards the application for the FAC.
Handguns' are still available here but most are held as personal protection weapons by ex or serving police officers, military personnel or prison staff. All applicants should ideally have a clean criminal record, but I know of cases where people have been turned down on a first application due to previous convictions but have been granted a certificate at a later date. For target shooting with rifles you may require club membership iirc. But for game/rough shooting you need the landowners permission. This along with letters from at least two people to act as character witnesses go towards the application for the FAC.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2012
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Agreed, if i have any fear of getting shot it's not of being shot by a legally held firearm thats for sure.
It's a tricky subject really, tbh i'd do it differently in terms of less restrictions on the type of firearm and more in terms of what you need to do to be able to get them.
I've contented myself with airsofting, whilst i'm not against the real thing the fun in airsoft lies in having a moving, intellegent target that also shoots back. Shooting at your fellow man tends to be somewhat discouraged when using real firearms.
That said, i'm dreading the day i get stopped to then have to explain why i have what looks like enough equipment to invade a small town in the boot of my car.
Man of Honour
It might just be the way you've worded it but it's worth being clear, those who held legal firearms were compensated for their destruction where they handed in the guns. If you mean that where they didn't hand in their guns for destruction and the police had to seize them then the owners didn't get compensation then although I couldn't confirm that to be the case I wouldn't be surprised as they haven't complied with the legal requirements.
Wicked posts so far, thank you fellas.
I have heard shot gun owners are often business owners who want to own a gun in their home in case someone breaks in and tries to nick their Evoque/jewellery or nouveau rich-lad-conveyance.
Where do you stand - can you shoot the oik?
By they way I am not thinking of doing this, I own a vintage Webley 22 and pose no danger to the general public, certainly not any where near as much as your average farmer.
I have heard shot gun owners are often business owners who want to own a gun in their home in case someone breaks in and tries to nick their Evoque/jewellery or nouveau rich-lad-conveyance.
Where do you stand - can you shoot the oik?
By they way I am not thinking of doing this, I own a vintage Webley 22 and pose no danger to the general public, certainly not any where near as much as your average farmer.
Caporegime
No, you cant shoot someone who has broken into your home or business premises. Shotguns can only be held for sporting purposes and when not being used for such, they must be kept in an approved cabinet that is securely fixed to a structural wall and preferably out of sight.
Soldato
Oh dear, to claim you know statistics to make a statement so fundamentally flawed is quite funny.
There are a multitude of factors which underlay intentional homicide & while the peak occurred recently in 2002 if I recall correct it's fallen to lower levels since. To know for certain you would need a controlled study, looking at high level statistics overall is meaningless, just as meaningless as the statement you made mocking others. (oh the irony)
The ban on guns may have decreased the murder rate, it may have increased it. If say support for mental illness reduced or an increased in family instability or poverty occurred over the same time period these would also play factors (further down the line, you have to look 20 years into the past to see some of the causes of today's murder rates).
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Man of Honour
Are those persons allowed to concealed carry or is it home defence only ?
Was quite surprised to find I had a shooting club right across the road from me, but the hassle of a licence and application just doesn't make it worth it. Unfortunately it only takes a small minority to ensure we "can't have nice things" but then again seeing what goes on in places like US I'm certainly not against the firearms laws we have in place.
Caporegime
Concealed carry is permitted in public for the persons mentioned in my post above. As their is still a serious threat from dissident terrorist groups, theese laws have been kept in place.
How is it going over in America?
Soldato
Whoever told you this is a tool, an utter one at that and entirely not true unless your in a 1960's gangster movie.
Also if you shoot at a burglar expect to be facing murder or similar charges
Yes. My dad used to keep his on him most of the time. He had a shoulder holster for work, belt holster for civvies and a holster under the car seat. My mums boyfriend way back also used to concealed carry. Though he only used a shoulder holster and just tucked it into the door bin when travelling.
The rules differed for them from civilians with guns on a civvie ticket though as far as I know. Like my uncle and grandad were sporting shooters (shotguns) and required a gun safe. My dad just kept his service weapon in a bedside table and my mums boyfriend kept his in a briefcase in the cupboard.
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