When Guns Are Banned

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[VinnyTex]

When Guns Are Banned

FrontPageMagazine.com | March 20, 2002

JOLLY OLD ENGLAND IS NOW EXPERIENCING THE TRUTH in the saying, "when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." Law abiding citizens were forced to give up all their handguns after the British government passed one of the most stringent gun bans in the world in 1997. Pistols that had been in families for generations -- I know of one that that had been in the battle of Trafalgar -- as well as single shot Olympic pistols, were confiscated by the government for pennies on the dollar, all in the cause of public safety.

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Since that draconian gun law was passed as a response to the Dunblane schoolyard massacre, the crime rate has skyrocketed and according to the London Sunday Times of March 10, 2002, it is very easy to buy an illegal gun on the streets of London if you have a few hundred pounds. The journalist, Adam Nathan, reports, "an Albanian gang in north London wanted ?200 for the Italian made .22 gun with six rounds of ammunition. One of its six chambers had been drilled through to enable it to hold a full-size round." Nathan avoided purchasing the modified starter pistol because it was "seriously defective," but the gang operating from a car wash offered him other handguns from their selection of converted replicas and fully automatic machine guns.

As a result of the burgeoning black market in illegal firearms, the British Association of Chief Police Officers estimates that there will be a 20 percent rise in gun crime this year, making it the third straight year of steep increases. The British Home Office reports that handgun crime is at its highest since 1993, while overall gun crimes have never been higher.

Although much of the gun violence is related to gang warfare and the illicit drug trade, petty criminals are now using guns during common street crime. On New Year?s Day a 19-year-old girl was shot in the head even though she had relinquished the mobile phone the robber was after. The report of this incident in the Daily Express read, "Is anyone safe in Britain in 2002?'' Carrying a mobile phone in England appears to be a magnet for robbers; there were more than 700,000 mobile phones stolen last year alone. The robbers target everyone, even children. Prior to the New Year?s Day tragedy a 10-year-old London boy was robbed at gunpoint ? the thieves took his phone and ?25 ($36.00).

Criminal use of handguns since the 1997 ban has jumped by 40 percent. According to Associated Press, "Dave Rodgers, vice chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the ban made little difference to the number of guns in the hands of criminals." He acknowledged, "The underground supply of guns does not seem to have dried up at all."

With its burgeoning crime rate London has surpassed the crime rate of New York City. During this same 5-year period, New York City?s crime rate dripped while London?s rose ? in London crime pays. With fewer cops per 100,000 inhabitants than New York, those famous London Bobbies only solve one out of every five crimes while robberies in which criminals use violence or threaten violence have gone up by 35 percent in the past year. As for muggings Londoners are 25 percent more likely to be mugged than New Yorkers.

Although the police acknowledge that they are helpless in "drying up" the flow of illegal arms, the government handgun ban has disenfranchised British athletes who participate in competitive handgun shooting disciplines. After the handgun ban was passed British handgun competitors, who wished to continue their sport, were forced to send their expensive equipment abroad.

Muggers, robbers, drug addicts, and gang members carry firearms with impunity, while British pistol shooters are forced to travel great distances to train for such events as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. It?s ironic that when the Commonwealth Games open at Bisley this summer, the Queen will welcome all the competitors including the pistol shooters; but when it?s time to go home, the only ones who will not be able to take their equipment home with them will be those athletes that live closest to Bisley.

The politicians and the gun banners won?t acknowledge that banning guns doesn?t stop criminals from misusing guns. So when their ban doesn?t work, they lobby for more of the same impotent solution. Tony Blair?s government is now calling for a ban on replica firearms, gun shaped cigarette lighters, and air pistols. When will they learn that the only people who will obey are law-abiding citizens, who don?t misuse real firearms, let alone replicas, air pistols, or cigarette lighters?

Tanya K. Metaksa is the former executive director of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action. She is the author of Safe, Not Sorry a self-protection manual, published in 1997. She has appeared on numerous talk and interview shows such as "Crossfire," the "Today" show, "Nightline," "This Week with David Brinkley" and the "McNeil-Lehrer Hour," among others.

[SAJ]

The Commonwealth was a typically idealistic 19th century idea, or perhaps an ideal. Perhaps it was a notion which could be supported, as long as all members of the Commonwealth followed the same rules to at least some extent. Now they don't, certainly, and haven't for decades.

This curious notion of Commonwealth is now provably invalid. Allow absolutely anyone into the country who has the slightest connection with any Commonwealth nation. Don't bother schooling them in the language and traditions of the nation, indeed PROHIBIT doing so. Sponsor programmes, at taxpayer expense quite naturally, that teach these wogs that everyone is equal all the time and under all circumstances, whether one attempts to prosper on his own efforts or not.

Then, disarm the law-abiding population.

Well, the Labour sods have done JUST that, and now they're reaping the whirlwind. Fine. I don't live there anymore, good luck to the idiots.

The question is 'Will America repeat these entirely obvious and moronic mistakes?'

At the moment, my answer is 'yes' to the former part of the error, and 'not yet' to the latter part. I've never in my life as much as held a handgun or rifle.

That changes tomorrow morning.

Best wishes to all Freepers.

[Bonaparte]

It can only get worse for England. The socialists aren't going to back off. And it's not just the gun, crime and immigration issues. The whole culture has been coarsened. Everything fine and noble in Britain's heritage is being systematically rooted out. Perhaps we'll live to see a second "glorious revolution" in that country.

Welcome to the world of freedom and self-reliance, SAJ!

[SevenDaysInMay]

Europe, especially G.B., is as full of Pan-Islamic sappers as the USA. Disarmed, the British SUBJECTS are each dangerously defenseless compared to American CITIZENS.

Whether or not Israel is sold out of existence for a UN sanctioned nation of Palestine, Pan-Islam will continue its war against Western Civilization for generations.

[Neil E. Wright]

SAJ ... welcome to the land of the (formerly) free. Get the best weapon you can afford, and practice, practice, practice.

Bang list bump!!!

Toward FREEDOM

[Carry_Okie]

Remember, Great Britain is small a group of ISLANDS with one side facing the Atlantic Ocean. If they can't stop illegal guns there, where will they?

[davidosborne]

Great post.. Durring a recent City Commission (Tallahassee) meeting Mayor Scott Maddox (D), had a "fit" when a councilman suggested, durring a discussion on Domestic Violence, that we look into offering FIREAMRS training for victims of domestic violence...

Thought you might find that interesting..

FReegards,

David

[nightdriver]

It seems to me that Britain is undergoing quite a paradox. On the one hand, they ban guns fron their own law-abiding populace with a nazi-like meanness so they can be free to be as tyrannical as they want. On the other hand, they allow every ethnicity havinging a terrorist bent to enter the country and run roughshod over the citizenry thinking that if they are not "judgemental" toward them, they won't attack Brittain.

I wonder if they are even a legitimate government at all if they don't have the safety of their own citizens at heart.

[davidosborne]

Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox frowns upon firearms training for victims of Domestic Violence

[Buckeroo]

"I wonder if they are even a legitimate government at all if they don't have the safety of their own citizens at heart. " -- nightdriver

BUMP!

[Myrddin]

Before you lay down your money for a firearm, rent a variety at a local range. Make sure the range officer gives you a introduction to proper use and handling of unfamiliar choices. I tend to favor a .357 magnum revolver. You can plink with .38SPL very inexpensively and still have the option for a self-defense round with some serious punch in the .357 mag. My earnest hope is that you enjoy a lifetime of accurately punching paper targets and never have the need to punch a hole in a misbehaving human.

[petuniasevan]

Remember, it's a matter of how a person is perceived by their government.

An armed person is a citizen. An unarmed person is a subject.

Subject to their rulers; that's all the Brits will ever be.

[VRWC_Member428]

First, some obligatory lines.

This article has to be false! Guns are illegal in England! Therefore, how can there be a lot of gun crime? < /sarcasm>

Perhaps it's time for us Americans to bring the Revolution back to England? I'm not serious, of course, but it would be pretty darn funny if we did that!



I've never in my life as much as held a handgun or rifle.

That changes tomorrow morning.

Okay, here's my recommendations. If you can afford it, get two guns. A defense weapon such as a .357, or a .45ACP pistol, as long as you're willing to take the time to get familiar enough with a semi-auto handgun that you can quickly clear a jam if you need to. Also, get something chambered in .22lr. A Beretta bobcat is a nice choice if you want to use semi-autos. Or, you can get an 8-shot S&W revolver in 22lr. The reason I recommend a .22 pistol is because it's CHEAP to shoot 22 bullets all day long. Also, the skills you gain firing small callibers will translate to larger calibers. Just be sure to practice with the large callibers also so that you can get a feel for your defense weapons.

Have fun punching holes in paper!

[Pagey]

Good Article.What I found amusing was how some Armored Transport people in the U.K. were recently Robbed of 3.2 Million dollars by someone using a KNIFE!Yes thats right,a KNIFE!That is amazing and an incredibly lame way to lose your job!Threatened w/ a knife,that has to be embarrassing.Imagine saying this to your wife: "Honey,I was robbed today.Sure,I'm ok,they got all 3.2Million.Oh no, don't worry honey,it wasn't an evil Gun-Wielder it was just a knife".

[Caipirabob]

Perhaps we'll live to see a second "glorious revolution" in that country.

Perhaps sometime in the near future?:

Yesterday an angry English crowd stormed parlament and overthrew the Democratic Socialists who had so long oppressed them. The crowd of English patriots then restored the all of the freedoms citizens were so long deprived of. The patriots, armed heavily with empty Guinness bottles and stale chips had overwhelmed an armed security force and...

Uh Uh. Ain't gonna happen.

[backhoe]

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-Keepandbeararms--New & Agressive

-JPFO--Our Jewish Friends

-TheFiringLine--Tech info, good forum

-New Home of the TRT!

-The Second Amendment Sisters

-Women Against Gun Control--

Armed Females of America - Frequently Asked Questions
"To my mind it is wholly ... About Armed Females of America.
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-the Second Amendment Foundation

-Gunfacts--Ammo for the War of Words-hosted by one of FreeRepublic's own--

-http://www.liberty-belles.org--

SUSSA

Statistical Facts Gun-haters Run From

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And just FYI---

-Empty-Barrel Gun Policies-A legacy of nonsense from Clinton, Blair, and the Left--

-A Problem With Guns (Long... but SOOOO good)--

Shooting More Holes in Gun Control

Gun Control Down Under

HCI Aussie Style (read it and weep-or laugh)

The Great Australian Gun Law CON!

British Gun Crime Soars

Gun Crimes Surge in London

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SAJ, welcome.... and for my 2 cents worth, .22's a wonderful for practice, learning marksmanship, and just plain fun. They also don't intimidate the ladies so much.

For your home, it's hard to beat a 12 or even 20 gauge shotgun.... at close range ( like in a home ) even birdshot is devastating, and won't carry too far, unlike most rifle and pistol calibres.