For goodness sake guys, he jumped into a car, drove south and took potshots at people at random. Do you think any of your gun-toting compatriots would have stopped him quickly?
Yes.
Sorry Vanders9 for the senseless death and injury of so many of your fellow countrymen and women.
As regards to your question, depending on the state in which someone would choose to do this, I do think that they might be stopped more quickly...or never start.
Here in the States there has been very interesting data which indicates that the ability to bear arms makes for polite neighbors. The tragic shootings I can recall here were in gun free zones.
Google John Lott- a fellow Marylander and research Professor who hastracked yankee crime rates for over a decade. Just published his most recent update- data shows where folks have an easier time of keeping/baring arms the crime rate is lower. Throw in a Castle Doctrine and it further improves.
Read an interesting history of gun regulation in your country. The picture I got was the gov’t was not enamoured of an armed populace; prohibiting handguns and making the process for owning a long gun quite onerous. Post WWII , as
the ships were sailing for the white cliffs of Dover, I read the government took back many of the weapons the troops had been using that were donated by US citizens?
Apologise for the wordy response, but this is an issue that fascinates me. I’ve a conservative British friend,
and we agree on much, but go ‘round and ‘round on this issue! He is convinced we yanks are barbarians. I agree- we disagree on whether that is a positive or negative attribute. Virtually all of the gun owners I know have successfully hunted and fed the family with the kill. None have had to shoot an intruder or other criminally minded type, but they all would, if needed. All are college-educated, white collar types. Barbarian or just aware of human foibles and unwilling to be a statistic?