Guns For Self-Defence

BigDave1 · 19-10-2005, 16:37

Should UK citizens be allowed a gun for self defence?

After all guns don't fire themselves. If someone is stabbed there isn't public outcry for knives to be banned.

Dave Stones · 19-10-2005, 16:39

knives are a lot more difficult to ban, since you need them to cut things up, like salad and meat and stuff... for example how would you prove that the knife you were selling was for kitchen use or murder use?

Guns can only be used for one thing, shooting...

Russ · 19-10-2005, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

Should UK citizens be allowed a gun for self defence?

Nope - burgulars, muggers etc would just carry bigger guns

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

After all guns don't fire themselves.

I know - rappers do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

If someone is stabbed there isn't public outcry for knives to be banned.

Erm...yes there is - every time.

BigDave1 · 19-10-2005, 16:41

Most criminals already carry guns. I'm not saying we should legalise guns, just interested in public opinion.

downquark1 · 19-10-2005, 16:42

You could also kill someone with your bare hands or any heavy object.

But you need heavy objects for paperwieghts and the like and your hands for ...... stuff.
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

Most criminals already carry guns.

well yes, since carrying a gun is a crime.....

Nugget · 19-10-2005, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

Most criminals already carry guns.

Yes, but an armed robber isn't carrying it for self-defence, is he?

Derek · 19-10-2005, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

After all guns don't fire themselves.

No. But then if they aren't readily available then they won't get fired at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

If someone is stabbed there isn't public outcry for knives to be banned.

Yes there is. In Glasgow, where there is quite a big problem with stabbing and slashings, several of the papers and MSP's are calling for the law to be made tougher with minimum penalties for carrying a knife.

Even one of the more liberal MSP's (the type that would call Graham and Andyl rapib right-wingers

) has called for people caught with knives to have a minimum jail term imposes.

BigDave1 · 19-10-2005, 16:47

[QUOTE=dezzo]No. But then if they aren't readily available then they won't get fired at all.

Yes but they are available

Nugget · 19-10-2005, 16:47

If you freed up the ownership of guns, what would the limits be? What would the lower age limit be (or the upper limit for that matter)? How would you police it?

How would you justify the increase in the amount of 'accidental' shootings? People who are fully trained in the use of guns get injured (granted, in the case of the UK armed forces, it's normally because they've been shot by the Americans

), but just opening it up to Joe Public? I would say that public safety would probably be threatened even more than usual if anyone could carry a gun.

Derek · 19-10-2005, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave1

Yes but they are available

So is heroin, crack etc.

Should that be legalised as well?

orangebird · 19-10-2005, 16:52

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. Bowling for Columbine - watch that and then decide whether you think it's a good idea or not....

It IS illegal to carry a knife over a certain blade length.

19-10-2005, 16:54

Point of order; the sale of knives is now restricted. Obviouslu you can't ban e'm. Kitchen Devil would sue.

Right I'm off before all the budding Charlton Heston's move in and start going on about, to paraphrase, that guns don't kill, people do. Yeah.Yeah. The only people IMO who should have guns are those that need them (eg farmers, soldiers (1) etc) and maybe gun clubs which hold the firearms for use by their members. Give Joe Public a gun and you'll have Dirty Harry impersonators all over the shop, shooting paediatricians for being 'kiddy fiddlers' (I mean improve standards of literacy before letting NOTW readers loose with guns

)
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezzo

So is heroin, crack etc.

Should that be legalised as well?

Different argument.

Pierre · 19-10-2005, 16:58

Pointless discussion

SlackDad · 19-10-2005, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezzo

So is heroin, crack etc.

Should that be legalised as well?

Yes, but controlled by the state.

Back on topic. I think a way to answer the gun question is to look at culture, as Michael Moore did in his film Bowling for Columbine. In the USA more guns leads to more deaths. In Canada however more guns does not lead to more deaths. In the USA there is a broad culture of fear which is not so prevalent in Canada. I think that the culture of fear growing in the UK can only lead to one conclusion.

Well, guns certainly frighten me anyway

.

**Paul** · 19-10-2005, 17:11

I doubt most criminals that break into peoples homes carry guns, so I don't see why I would need one at home for self defence (at least not yet ...). However, I don't think they should be completely banned as they are now. Shooting clubs should be allowed, and store them securely on site.