Quote:
Originally posted by Deeks
erm.... did we ever have our weapons "taken away" from us in England ? We never had them in the first place.
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Yes, we did. Until Dunblane, when Tony jerked his knee and decided we weren't allowed handguns, even target pistols, any more. One of the reasons I moved here (that, and the weather, and VAT, and any number of other things).
"it makes me realise how lucky we are in England to be able to walk around after dark or go to a cash ATM without fearing for our safety."
No offense, but you live in deepest darkest Surrey... compared to this area, Surrey is practically a war zone. Try walking around Brixton, Tooting, Clapham, Peckham, places like that, at night. On your own. *I* certainly wouldn't. I know plenty of people who have been robbed at knifepoint in London. Bringing a gun to a knife fight is a pretty good way not to get hurt.
I was almost attacked by someone with a tyre iron in Notting Hill - if I hadn't been about 8" taller and 150lbs heavier, I'm positive he would have actually attacked me. As it was, I suggested to him that it would be an *extremely* bad idea (not in those exact words) and that was enough. A handgun and the associated training is absolutely the best form of personal defence. Hell, you aren't even allowed CS/pepper spray in the UK! I think most of the police forces are, though.
Interesting how there are no longer any armed robberies in the UK now that all handguns are banned.
And the law in the UK regarding self-defence is totally ridiculous - if you shoot/kill a burglar in your own home, you can be arrested! An Englishman's home is his castle, my ass. A couple of cases in point - a farmer in a remote area had been repeatedly burgled. The police response time in that area was over half an hour. He caught a couple of people inside his house robbing him at night - he shot and killed at least one of them, using a pump-action shotgun (an illegal weapon in the UK). He was charged with, *and found guilty of
* murder (the guy's name was Tony Martin, Google for it of you want to check). As far as I know, he is still in prison. Another man recently found a burglar in the house where his wife/ex-wife/girlfriend (can't remember which) and child were sleeping, armed with a crowbar, and stabbed him to death. This was thought to be excessive, and he too has been charged with either manslaughter or murder (he may have been found guilty - this case is less high-profile, so I'm not sure).
Thanks for reminding me once again why I left the UK.
edit: just thought I'd add what I have in my glove box. It used to be full of a DSP for my stereo, but I removed it. Now there's a whole in the back of the glove box, which limits what I can put in there... sometimes the case for my sunglasses. Not a handgun, because I haven't yet got the safety certificate thing I need. No need around here. I'll get round to it sooner or later.