Do you carry a gun?

[PhilosophiX]

I think the UK policy on weapons is quite good. Although there is a chance of someone pulling a concealed weapon on you, at least it is small, and the group who carry weapons is a small group of criminals who don't care if they get caught. Although not allowing the public to carry weapons for their own protection, does put them at risk - at least the police can just arrest anyone carrying a weapon - it does make their work easier. I know this would never happen - but in an ideal world either everyone would carry a gun or no one would.

[Belson17]

In the 2 years following the 1997 handgun ban in Great Britain, the use of handguns in crime rose by 40%. From April to November of 2001, the number of people robbed at gunpoint in London rose 53%.*

*The above stat is from an article called "Gun Control's twisted Outcome" by Joyce Lee Malcom, history professor at Bentley College.

I'm not taking a side on whether it's good or bad to ban guns. But there are defenitely 2 sides to the issue.

[brian]

There's certainly a thriving trade in firearms in the UK - I was offered one for sale quite some time ago now - but it's worth considering that in the percentile figures above, 40% of little is still little, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was just a peak as guns were pushed onto the black market, then saw a reduction again.

I live very near to Dunblane - the place where the 14 children and 2 teachers were killed - that prompted the ban in the UK. The momorial in Dunblane Cathedral is very simple, but very moving - I have to fight to keep my eyes dry just thinking about it.

[Belson17]

The thing about this argument is that you always have to wonder whether criminals will get guns anyway and are law abiding citizens just sitting ducks. I don't think anyone knows what the real answer is and I don't even think that there is an absolute answer to this question.

[brian]

It's a good point to make - and in the US I figure there's no way you could persuade the law-abiding population to disarm while guns are in common circulation among criminals.

Gun crime is very low in the UK anyway, but there is certainly a thriving black market. Even still, it seems to be limited among the drugs gangs and armed robbers, rather than something you'd expect to have to face in a simple street mugging, which I guess is a big difference with the US.

[OneofaKind]

Originally Posted by Belson17

In the 2 years following the 1997 handgun ban in Great Britain, the use of handguns in crime rose by 40%. From April to November of 2001, the number of people robbed at gunpoint in London rose 53%.*

Interesting stats, but is there a direct relationship correlation between the ban and the increased use of handguns, or is it possibly linked to the general rise in gang culture in London>

[vicki2]

Originally Posted by brian

There's certainly a thriving trade in firearms in the UK - I was offered one for sale quite some time ago now - but it's worth considering that in the percentile figures above, 40% of little is still little, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was just a peak as guns were pushed onto the black market, then saw a reduction again.

I live very near to Dunblane - the place where the 14 children and 2 teachers were killed - that prompted the ban in the UK. The momorial in Dunblane Cathedral is very simple, but very moving - I have to fight to keep my eyes dry just thinking about it.

I'm just up the road in Angus, and the Dunblane tragedy is the most cited example for gun control in the U.K ...as it should be.

I've never felt the need to carry a concealed weapon ..either in Scotland or in the U.S. (New York and Texas). For that, I feel lucky because I know people who feel the need to have them. I believe in owning guns (sporting ones for me) but I also believe in strict laws when it comes to handguns and automatic weapons.

[shaneseyt]

I live in the US, and do not currently carry a gun.I have experiemce in shooting guns - years ago I would go with friends to shooting ranges and handle guns, so I am comfortable with handguns and can shoot pretty darn good! In the past my mind was that having a gun in the house was not a good idea, especially if kids were involved.

Lately our neighborhood has had a rash of break ins, attempted car thefts and vadalism, and there are several people who live near me looking at taking classes to get licensed to carry a conceled weapon. (this means they can have the wepaon on their body at all times.)

I am also considering getting licensed for a gun - I have kids and they are old enough to be educated on the dangers of handling a weapon improperly, and I can have something to keep myself and my kids safe when we are at home. I may never have to use it, however, if someone breaks into my home when we are alseep at night and i have nothing to protect my family with...well that is just bad news.

[shaneseyt]

As a hind thought - the other concern is strict laws governing the use and carrying of handguns. Unfortunately it does not matter whether a country bans handguns or not - the fact remains that there is a percentage of the population out there who choose to not abide by the laws and can obtain just about anything they want and have the money for on the black market.

It is something like that which has me re-think having a hand gun (on top of the crime increase in my neighborhood....yes I know the easy answer would be - just move, but that is not an affordable option...owing a handguns is).

I guess it boils down to whether the individual is comfortable being trained to properly handle the weapon and if they would be able to actually use it if the circumstance ever presented itself - liek I said before I could have a hand gun and go the rest of my life never having to use it.....

[brian]

I guess that's one of the big problems in the USA - they are (apparently) so widely available, that controls would hurt the civilian carriers foremost, while the criminals were well-stocked up.