I thought guns were banned in England??

[chickened]

As with any views it always appears differently looking inward than looking outward. Your society has things we do not have and vice versa. One example is land, we have a higher percentage of individual land ownership and protecting that land and preserving that land was once done at the point of a gun and that ideology dies hard. Your history as I understand it is the opposite, land ownership was taken at the point of a sword and by tyranny. This contributes to the opinions of those that have tasted that freedom and remember the price paid for it. That is why something like gun ownership is held so dearly here is because of it's past contribution not so we can own a hunting rifle.

And to add all countries considered allies by the U.S. do enjoy an unspoken degree of respect from hostile nations from association whether anyone likes it or not.

Your knowledge of gun culture is interesting bakerjw. I believe you might be referring to rifles, or shotguns which are sporting guns. I did not know, and have certainly never seen any silencers for sale. Of course I can understand that it might be important to silence a gun when stalking prey. Where I live, rabbits, pheasants, partridges, hares etc. are shot, but the shot guns are not silenced.

Reading so many of these posts, I find there seems to be a common belief in the US that the government, which ever one it is, might try to oppress the people. I wonder where this fear comes from? You imply in your post that if the ordinary people in Britain had access to weapons, the King could be in danger of being overthrown. Of course this has happened in the past. When Charles 1st was beheaded, because he would not accept the power of Parliament and Britain was ruled by Oliver Cromwell as a sort of Governor and leader of Parliament. What happened? He became drunk with his own importance and more repressive than any king had been. He was executed and Charles's son, Charles 2nd was restored to the throne and it was business as usual. Britain has always been ruled by the consent of the people, once, maybe by a show of arms, but latterly, by the ballot box. I believe you can always rely on the good sense of the people.

 

[Zinnia-Hen]

No? I'm probably wrong.. I usually am..

I'm just wondering because i'm watching a show on BBC, "24 hours in the ER"..
Its like the real time ER shows we have in the states on Discovery health channel..
Anyways... i notice they have quite a bit of gun shot wounds come in... but i thought guns were banned in England?
Anyone know if they are... just wondering..

In England they have major issues with gun crime, even though they've banned it. It's pretty much what happens when you take gun rights away from citizens. People still have them, but illegally, and usually to cause strife.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Do the Irish feel that way? No place is perfect. Our welfare system is 20 or 30 times what yours is and has significant more temptation to abuse it. 48% of the working class here pay no taxes. Your countrymen that immigrate here paint the UK in a different light. My banker is from South Wales and says those people are looked down upon. Those that come here stay as a rule. Welfare has a price and some will give up things to get it. You should help the needy but not enable them, put a limit on welfare but stop the generational trend. Welfare only works in a controlled society and our liberties do not allow us to tell someone to work if you are able or so it seems. In a small country you have small problems and are easy to control and hide, here we have whole cities dying from the welfare state like Detroit, Michigan.

As for Chamberlain he had an opportunity long before the war to arm and did not and yes he did do some good but he is most remembered as an appeaser. I have read some of the papers and he should have taken a more firm stance as he admitted it later. During the battle for britain about 30% of the pilots were Americans and some Australians. Britain did do the right thing to rearm but it was too late and your allies are what saved you from the Germans. Churchill, now that is someone to brag about.

You have to remember that the first world war was living memory for the people of the times of course they wanted to try and stop the horrors of the first war happening again.

 

[Moabite]

The problem with laws are that good people don't need them and bad people don't follow them anyway. Gun codes and ethics have served me just fine because it's based on common courtesy and safety. I know it doesn't work for everyone all the time, but I'm mostly happy with the gun laws in my state. I have enjoyed taking our friends "from across the pond" out to shoot targets with various hand guns. When someone has never been around guns and never shot one, they usually come away with a whole different point of view after being safely introduced and having the satisfaction of hitting their targets. Regardless of the laws, I'm keeping mine, but because it's me, you need not worry. Peace.

 

[chickened]

Yep, and the ones without guns use bombs or whatever is available.

In England they have major issues with gun crime, even though they've banned it. It's pretty much what happens when you take gun rights away from citizens. People still have them, but illegally, and usually to cause strife.

 

[chickened]

The media likes to report when someone gopes on a shooting spree but they rarely report on the lives saved by a gun. I think the FBI tracks both sides. When the American police are ready to surrender thier guns I may consider it.

The problem with laws are that good people don't need them and bad people don't follow them anyway. Gun codes and ethics have served me just fine because it's based on common courtesy and safety. I know it doesn't work for everyone all the time, but I'm mostly happy with the gun laws in my state. I have enjoyed taking our friends "from across the pond" out to shoot targets with various hand guns. When someone has never been around guns and never shot one, they usually come away with a whole different point of view after being safely introduced and having the satisfaction of hitting their targets. Regardless of the laws, I'm keeping mine, but because it's me, you need not worry. Peace.

 

[oesdog]

I live in Ireland - We do have Guns here. Our police are armed. We are able to have guns but you need to apply for a licence for one. Lately I think the Do-gooders are trying to take the guns from the Police and give them Tazars instead. They are not much use in Ireland! Though I heard the Tazered a dog the other day. It was eating a police woman at the time! I think the police in England should carry guns. I think they can;t really be much use without them. So many of them are hurt and killed simply trying to do their job.

I am all for Guns and hope that England has Guns in the future. There is a lot more Gun crime in England than here in Ireland and they always think We are bad?

Oesdog

 

[chickened]

Washington DC has the most strict gun laws in the U.S. and the highest crime rate or they used to not too long ago.

 

[redhen]

Redhen, there you go again. Actually believing what you see on TV. I thought you knew better. TV is done for dramatic effect. If reality shows actually showed reality, you'd be bored stiff.
I lived in London for about a year many decades ago. I can't say I am up on current affairs there, but I do have my own perspective. I've also travelled a bit in different parts of the United Kingdom. Red, if you ever get a chance to travel there, I recommend you look at McDonald Castle in Scotland. If you see the same McDonald's Castle I saw, it will really help clear up some of your romantic notions about what it was really like to live in those stone castles.
I've also lived and worked in Africa and Asia. I probably should not admit this, but when I see an American talking about how oppressed we are here, I laugh. They have just proved to me they don't have a clue what they are talking about. That's just my opinion, but I think I have some reality to base that on.
The British government is set up quite a bit differently form ours in the details, but it is basically also a representative democracy. A big difference is that theirs is basically a three party system. There are other parties, but they generally don't count or they are aligned with one of the major parties. When was there, the Scottish Nationals could be counted on to join the Conservatives. The Conservatives (Right Wing) and Labor (Left Wing) usually win and "control" the government. But if they don't get an oputright majority of the legislators, the Liberal (Moderate) Party will negotiate with the "winners" and form a coalition government. That coalition government can fall at any time through losing a vote of confidence in Parliament. In my opinion, that system helps avoid he extremes of our two party system. Margaret Thatcher showed that you can live by your principles and stay in power in that system.
Newfoundland, you are living there and my experiences are decades old. I'd appreciate any corrections and updates of my comments. I know I'm out of touch.
My thought on why the law enforcement officers generally don't want to carry guns. Traditions are part of it. But if the criminals are interrupted in their activities and they know the cop does not have a gun, they are less likely to resort to deadly force in trying to get away. We have our tradition of guns here so that would not work for us, but it seems ot work fairly well over there.

WHAT!!!?? I cant believe everything I see on t.v.?? Are you sure...

 

[chickened]

I agree with you, especially about war, it should be the last resort and fought as if it were. I do know that the philosophy of a strong military as a deterrent does work when patience compassion and charity are used with it. Our country falls short in the idea that we can be the world's police. We have a responsibility to our allies and the countries that hate us but not if they do not want our help. I think people here agree on a safety net program but it has become a way of life and we have a political party that uses it to their advantage and when they are in power they try to expand it. The worst thing you can tell the poor and minorities is that they are inferior to someone else and the only way you are going to make it is with free handouts.. This idea is propagated in our government to minorities especially and to the poor. I am of the opinion that if you do not work you do not eat and it spiderwebs out from that idea.

I am glad that you concede that no place is perfect. It is sad that some people believe our society to be a downtrodden and repressed one, tightly controlled by a suspect government. It is not at all like that. This is one of the freest societies in the world, but we have freedom under the law, like any democracy. If we had a gun culture here, I do not believe that it would improve our society. In any welfare system, there is the risk that some people will abuse the system. That happens here and people are rightly angry about that. Never the less, most people believe that it is necessary and desirable that we have this safety net, because none of us are immune from falling into hardship. I'm sure people in the US think the same, particularly in these uncertain times.

I don't think we could ever agree about World War 2 and Neville Chamberlain's part in it. Truth is very subjective and most people see things only from their own perspective. Have you ever heard the expression that, 'Truth is the first casualty of war.' I would never underestimate the sacrifice and loss suffered by families on your side of the Atlantic. I hope we can agree though that war, whoever is involved, is a terrible thing and if it can be avoided, it should be by all governments.