Gun control in the UK

Discussion in 'Gun Control' started by aldal, Apr 11, 2017.

  1. 6Gunner

    6Gunner Banned

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    I'll be cautious in how I phrase my response here, because I don't want to come across as patronizing or caustic; but I've worked with and trained with law enforcement officers from all over the world (including British LEO's), and inevitably we have discussed the realities of criminal violence in our respective jurisdictions and shared our exasperation with just how... misguided... most private citizens are regarding the realities of crime. A lot of people state they "never felt the need" to worry about their own protection or security, and sure, the odds that you'll ever be accosted - even in the most crime-ridden societies - are relatively low. BUT... even the safest societies still have crime. Even the safest societies still have innocent people who get brutalized and murdered by criminals... and a lot of the victims of violent crime would NOT have been victimized if only they had taken even the most rudimentary steps to protect themselves. I roll my eyes in exasperation every time I see someone walking down the street with their head down, texting madly on their smartphones, utterly unaware of their surroundings - the definitive illustration of a prime target - just as I've felt exasperation at people who say "I've never felt the need to....".

    I have carried a firearm, personally and professionally, for over 25 years. I have used a firearm in my own defense as a private citizen (I don't count incidents from my LEO/security days), and was grateful to have had that tool at my disposal. Fortunately, the would-be assailant took one look at my drawn sidearm and realized that bringing a knife - even a big one - to a gunfight was not conducive to long term survival and he ran like a scalded dog; it was a win-win. Neither my companion or I was injured, and the criminal lived to rethink his nefarious ways as he laundered his knickers.

    Honestly, I think that society would be much safer if more people took their own security seriously.
     
  2. Xenamnes

    Xenamnes Banned

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    Then ultimately the criminal element in the united kingdom remains present, and is now allowing the lack of firearms to inhibit their actions. If anything it may have made them even more dangerous, as knives are even easier to acquire without being noticed, and are quite silent when deployed.

    Then pray tell why does the united states host so few so-called slaughters, with most of them occurring in specific urban areas? Why are they not more widespread?

    Anyone is capable of being a target, especially if they refuse to exercise situational awareness, because they ignorantly believe that they have no need to do such.
     
  3. An Taibhse

    An Taibhse Well-Known Member

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    I would agree people should take their own security more seriously. Many adopt the profile of a victim, of prey, no situational awareness, timidity, uncertainty, visible lack of self confidence, inability to make eye contact, and in general carry themselves as an easy mark. Often those with such a profile are victimized over and over. There are those that carry themselves with confidence and give the impression that regardless of size, they would not be an easy mark. Most Criminals are looking for easy scores, they don't want a confrontation, they want easily won intimidation, control and compliance. Training someone to lose their victim profile, one gained by a lifetime the lack of confidence is not easy, but it can be done... it does require training.
    I have a close friend like this. Walking down a street, if several 'scary fellows' approach he'd as soon cross the street where I will walk directly toward the biggest in the group. Not long ago, crossed the street in such a scenario and was followed and mugged.
    I carry a gun most of the time, a last resort tool, but I is how I carry myself that has avoided me from needing that last resort.
     
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  4. yiostheoy

    yiostheoy Well-Known Member

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    Not everyone is cut out to carry a gun.

    The British probably are not.

    Neither are the Germans or the French.

    The Swiss, the Israelis, and the Americans definitely are.

    That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
     
  5. vman12

    vman12 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Right. The best way to lower crime is just let criminals do whatever they want.

    That won't encourage crime at all.
     
  6. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    The best way to reduce crime is to have a competent police force. Standing in front of a car while it drives over you is not very smart.
     
  7. 6Gunner

    6Gunner Banned

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    Police and law enforcement are a reactionary force. They are a deterrent at best; an after-the-fact response force at worst. Police cannot be everywhere, and our own courts have ruled that the police have no obligation to protect individual citizens from crime. The responsibility for personal security lies with the individual citizen him (or her)self.

    Again, it's easy to say that standing in front of a car is "not very smart", and under many circumstances I'd agree with you. I also know that there are times when you don't choose to be where you have nowhere to go, but it does still happen.
     
  8. vman12

    vman12 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Relying on the police isn't very smart.
     
  9. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    So your Royal Navy Officer, a Lt deserved to die ?
    Words fail me.
     
  10. Small Town Guy

    Small Town Guy Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    How ignorant...police solve crimes, they prevent very few. Unless you have a cop on every corner cops cannot reduce crime....maybe you should personally pay to have more cops, eh?
     
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  11. yiostheoy

    yiostheoy Well-Known Member

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    In the past 3 weeks we have pretty much beat this thread to death.

    Long and short of it --

    The Brit's don't like guns.

    They don't want guns.

    They don't want anybody else to have guns.

    There is not enough of them being attacked to make them change their minds yet.

    They will never change their minds.

    And they expect the USA to come to their rescue as they huddle on their island again same as before during WW1 against the Kaiser and during WW2 against Adolf.

    There it is.

    :D
     
  12. yiostheoy

    yiostheoy Well-Known Member

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    You/we will never convince the Brit's on this however.
     
  13. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    The way he talks a Policeman lives in every Flat and there is one on every corner.

    However, I do not believe all Brits are in favor of Gun control.
     
  14. yiostheoy

    yiostheoy Well-Known Member

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    Link?

    Friends?

    Stories?

    So far there is no evidence to the contrary.
     
  15. vman12

    vman12 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    *shrug* I won't have to. History will repeat itself.
     
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  16. Xenamnes

    Xenamnes Banned

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    Police officers become involved long after the fact, after a crime has already been committed. They do not reduce crime.
     
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  17. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Apr 29, 2017
  18. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    Police Officers reduce the doughnut population !!!!!
     
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  19. yiostheoy

    yiostheoy Well-Known Member

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    I did not know the NRA was operating in the UK.

    That is a shocker for me.
     
  20. see you next tuesday

    see you next tuesday Active Member

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    First off mate, you could never be caustic or patronizing - There is nothing you could say to me that i would ever find in the slightest bit offensive.
    Your reply was really interesting....especially the bit about people not being aware of their surroundings and being a "prime target".

    You are right, people do die - The thing is, less people are dying of terrorist/terrorists/criminals now than they were when i was a kid.

    The problem is that society is becoming very easy to frighten these days.
    Odd isn't it - less terrorism, less deaths by terrorism yet a more frightened population.
     
  21. cerberus

    cerberus Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    The IRA were *****-cats compared to the enemy we're up against now.

    :roll: Alright then, pu55y-cats [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2017
  22. Montegriffo

    Montegriffo Well-Known Member

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    There's a long way to go before Muslims in Europe get anywhere close to the number of deaths that the IRA were responsible for. Calling them pu55y cats is very dis-respective of their victims.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army_campaign#Casualties
     
  23. 6Gunner

    6Gunner Banned

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    I appreciate that!

    I don't see a frightened population as a good thing. However, a self-aware and conscious society willing to take responsibility for itself in all things is preferable.
     
  24. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

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    As well as a Government and Politicians that do not actively seek to harass law abiding citizens for the actions of criminals, or views all citizens as potential criminals.
     
  25. An Taibhse

    An Taibhse Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I don't remember the IRA beheading little girls...
     

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