Should the UK have an open gun policy?

[DJ-Daz]

Gun crime is on the increase, in fact I doubt it's ever declined.
Given the last two killing spree's in the North East and North West in the past couple of years, would allowing citizens to carry guns have prevented the killings?

I don't think it would have prevented it, but I think it would have reduced the death toll and brought it to a close much sooner.

But those are my thoughts, and you know I can be a bit hot headed now and again. (Maybe passionate would be a better way of putting it).

How would you feel if people could carry guns in public?
Would you like to own and shoot your own gun?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2656875.stm

[Astro]

No it'll just be an arms race.

[InfiniteStates]

I had this very argument with a friend just last week. He lived in Austria (although he's Lebanese so has been handling RPGs etc since before his teens) where it works for them. I argued the same point as Astro - it would be an arms race, but then again, it's a race with a finish. Once everyone is armed, the race plateaus and the crinimals have lost the advantage.

However, I don't like the idea of people carrying guns around, but would grudgingly agree to having them in your house. There's also the angle of accidental use, or kids finding them or whatever.

Knowing how retarded the general populace is, I'm not sure giving them lethal weapons is a great idea. It's bad enough they're allowed to drive...

[Wh1tE_Dw4rF]

I certainly hope not. People will be more inclined to be their own judge under critical situations.

If everyone is carrying a gun there might be a lot of problems with say an arrest. The police will be pretty sure a suspect is carrying a gun and that could lead to some serious accidents if the suspects decides to take it out on innocent bystanders. The arms race that will commence because of that will lead to simple police officers carrying automatic rifles.
I really don't like the idea of a feeling to live in a militarised zone.

Also as mentioned, anyone could get his hands on one since they'll be widely available. Some people can't even perform the simplest of jobs without screwing up, you really want them running around with a gun? No thanks.

[Symonator]

I've had this discussion with many people.
My answer is always the same, NO.

I don't really like guns either, i play video games with them in sure, but it's not real.

Isn't it proof that most countries that allow guns have some fucked up problems, wars, civil unrest and problems, it isn't really the GUN that is the problem in these countries, it's the people who use them, we can't tell if people are insane before giving them licenses, people fake it all the time and it usually ends with innocent people being killed.

The UK is bad enough, going to pub and looking at the wrong person earns you a pint glass to the face these days, never mind GUNS.

Fuck that..

Also in our country if someone breaks into your house and you beat them up, you goto prison, not the offender, if they have such messed up rules here, what do they do with gun rules lol.

[DJ-Daz]

Three good arguments guys.
Last week 2 police officers were gunned down in Manchester. It had something to do with a family feud, they intervened and were shot dead.

Had these officers been armed as well, it would no doubt have ended very differently.

Shotguns are quite common in the UK with 1.8million in circulation + black market guns. Anyone without a criminal record can get a shotgun (if you meet certain criteria like secure gun cabinets). A shotgun in the UK can cost as little as £20.00, and a pump action Mossberg costing up to £600. One licence and you can own as many shotguns as you like.

Rifles are one licence per gun.
.22 up to 50cal are legal. One 50cal round is £30.00

Price of ammunition is £5.00 for a box of 25 shotgun shells.
£40.00 for a box of 250 .22 rifle rounds.

Handguns are available, but since the Dunblane Massacre licences are still available but are NOT given out.
Historical rights are respected though. So if you had a hand gun before that, you can still get a licence.


So the reality in the UK is guns are accessible and cheap, licences are available too, and you should be able to get one without too much hassle.

Open carry is NOT allowed, all guns being transported need to be in a gun case.


So whats it like in your country Dwarf and Santa?

[DJ-Daz]

I've had this discussion with many people.
My answer is always the same, NO.

Isn't it proof that most countries that allow guns have some fucked up problems, wars, civil unrest and problems, it isn't really the GUN that is the problem in these countries, it's the people who use them, we can't tell if people are insane before giving them licenses, people fake it all the time and it usually ends with innocent people being killed.

The UK is bad enough, going to pub and looking at the wrong person earns you a pint glass to the face these days, never mind GUNS.

Fuck that..

Also in our country if someone breaks into your house and you beat them up, you goto prison, not the offender, if they have such messed up rules here, what do they do with gun rules lol.

Good argument. But liberal laws only make things worse for the victim.
So we need better laws not better defences.

[DJ-Daz]

No it'll just be an arms race.

But if outlaws carry guns what about everyone else. The police can't protect you, you need to defend yourself. How do you do that against an armed robber? Pen knife, stanley knife, baseball bat, it doesn't matter what they carry, how do you look after you and yours?

[Wh1tE_Dw4rF]

We can own a gun purely for shooting sports. But they have to be dismantled and carried in a strong case. You have to safe keep them in a security locker at home. The first part also applies to airsoft and paintball as far as I know. I've honestly not taken much interest in knowing every detail because I'm not planning on having a gun of my own.
This is probably only a part of the many precautions you have to take.

One thing comes to mind. A year or so ago we had a shooting in Apeldoorn. The suspect owned a few guns including a rifle. Something like an AR15 or so. He had a (minor) criminal record and on top of that was under treatment by a psychologist for mental issues. With these things known, the local police still gave him a permit to own a gun. They knew about his history but did not act upon it, until it was too late and he went on a rampage in his local shopping mall.

Weapons in general are a hot issue currently. Even (display) swords have to be stored in a strongbox outside of your home. There are groups pushing for less strict guidelines for having Airsoft, because according to law we aren't allowed to shoot them in our back yard for example and neither indoors.

The police also occasionally holds days where you can drop off any illegal weapons without further prosecution, with exceptions of course. I'm sure if you'd turn in a bomb you won't be leaving the building. You'd be amazed by what gets turned in and in what quantity. Ranging from simple pocket knives to pistols to carbines etc.

[YorkshirePud]

If anyone of my neighbours was packing I'd be shit scared, they're all fuckin weirdos for a start

[DJ-Daz]

just read a story.
In America (they are seriously dumb after all), a man shoots and kills a masked burglar carrying a knife. Then finds out it's his son.

http://news.yahoo.com/conn-man-kills-ma ... 53076.html

[DJ-Daz]

What we need are police like this guy - delay in loading!

[YorkshirePud]

holy shit that was AWESOME