More British Gun Laws on the way (courtesy of the GCN)

Newcastle Evening Chonicle ^ | 12/6/02 - 9/9/02 | Unknown

[David Hunter]

Actually now that you are completely disarmed, we have decided to make GB the 51st state. It should be relatively easy since the common people won't even be able to field an airgun division against us...;-)

Ah, some of us desperate criminal types disobey the law. I've got a 'lethal' air rifle hidden away where the Armed Response Unit would never think to look! I'd be ready for you... :-)

[riverrunner]

We wouldn't want them for a 51 first state. Just some more clueless anti's who don't know anything except they want big brother to do everything for them.

[David Hunter]

I was practally born with a air rifle in my hand. My dad taught me gun safety and such when I was real young. I moved up to a .22 rifle at the age of 10, a 12 gauge shotgun at 13, and a .30-06 for my high school graduation gift.

By Mrs Fletcher's logic you should be a modern Al Capone by now! I too had an air rifle when I was a kid. There was a horrible old woman who lived near our farm who always used to complain to my grandparents if she saw me in the fields anywhere near her house with it. I only ever fired it while on our property and never gave her any reason to be concerned about it. Unfortunately, there seem to be people out there who feel threatened merely by the presence of any type of gun, no matter who has it.

I don't know how you put up with the silly gun laws over there. It seems that the government want's to protect you from yourselves. The US is starting to get that way, too. It's just not as extreme (yet).

I'm getting very bored with it. The government would rather not hand down long custodial sentences to persistent juvenile burglars, muggers, joy-riders and violent delinquents. But if you were to use anything beyond 'reasonable force' to defend yourself against one, even if they are armed, then you can be sure that you will get a stiff sentence. The problem is that criminals don't follow the law, and juvenile delinquents who fire air rifles at people and property for fun won't hand them in to the Police.

A gun is a tool, and it's only as good (or bad) as the person that uses it.

I agree. It's a pity the GCN doesn't. But, hell, they support the continuing prohibition in Britain of Olympic shooting practice with a .22 calibre single-shot target pistol, so what can you expect from them?

[David Hunter]

We wouldn't want them for a 51 first state. Just some more clueless anti's who don't know anything except they want big brother to do everything for them.

I'm a libertarian myself, and I'm seriously considering leaving Britain to work as a postdoctoral research scientist abroad. What parts of the USA would you suggest to a Brit who hates left-liberalism and statism?

[PatrioticAmerican]

Liberals will not stop until they outlaw death, itself.

[Lion Den Dan]

Mr Sheffield, a 42-year-old *****, said: "It is a tragedy that Matthew died and it is a tragedy that somebody has had to be sent away but the problem came about because children got their hands on a gun. We just want the Government to act and take the guns out of the hands of kids.

Sheffield owned the gun. Why is he so lacking in responsability that his kid and kid friend got the gun. This is the boob that needs jail time along with the nitwit that did the shooting.

[David Hunter]

Actually it was Daryl Allison's father who owned the airgun, which was lying around in the attic of their family home. But I agree with you, it's ridiculous to strengthen the laws regarding the age at which people can own airguns, when children can get them by unofficial routes. Any sensible person keeps an airgun or firearm securely looked up, or at the very least, they keep the ammunition separate from the gun. This bloke didn't bother, but no one is criticising him - they just call for tougher gun laws. Anything that puts the responsibilty onto someone else's shoulders.

[Paleo Conservative]

or at the very least, they keep the ammunition separate from the gun.

What about guns used for self-defense? It's not very useful to have an unloaded gun when you're trying to defend your life. Oh, I forgot you are located in England where self-defense is illegal.

[Redcloak]

I know that those in the UK won't see things this way, but this is just plain comical. More gun laws?!? Some of us on this side of the "pond" are starting to wonder when fresh fruit will be outlawed.

[Redcloak]

Not California... Though the weather's terrific and, as looney as the State government is, it's better than what I've heard of the UK.

[David Hunter]

What about guns used for self-defense? ...I forgot you are located in England where self-defense is illegal.

That's right, if you shot someone in Britain, even if they were armed and had just broken into your house, you would be looking at a prison sentence. There have been cases where householders have been jailed for threatening burglars with replica firearms.

I suppose that would be laughed at in Texas?

[Paleo Conservative]

I'm a libertarian myself, and I'm seriously considering leaving Britain to work as a postdoctoral research scientist abroad. What parts of the USA would you suggest to a Brit who hates left-liberalism and statism?

[David Hunter]

I walked into that one!

[David Hunter]

When we British think of Texas, we imagine oil wells and cowboys, obviously that's an ignorant sterotype. Does Texas have Agricultural/Microbiology/Biotechnology research industry? That's the field I did my PhD in, and the area I would like to pursue a career in. There aren't many opportunities here in Britain, so I probably ought to consider working abroad, regardless of politics.

[Plutarch]

Long history of resistance to gun grabbers in Texas:

Gonzales Flag 1835

COME-AND-TAKE-IT -Flag Texans reply to give up a cannon which it had borrowed from a Mexican garrison to defend itself from Indians. A single shot in early October 1835 kept the Mexicans from retaking the cannon.

[Paleo Conservative]

Long history of resistance to gun grabbers in Texas:

Oh yes, I've posted that flag before on Free Republic. My late grandfather owned land just 15-20 miles from Gonzales, Texas, and I had several college friends from Gonzales. The only thing I don't like about Gonzales County is how stuck up some of the people who live or are from there are. You're basically a nobody if you aren't a member of SRT or DRT. It's even better to also be a member of SAR or DAR.

[riverrunner]

Find map of the last election and anyplace that voted strongly for Bush. Trouble to do what you want to do means more likely or not that you well have to go to a major city and most of them are much worse the rest of the country. Stay away from the East and West coasts But the larger midwest citys are just as bad. Go to a state that allows CCW.

[AdamSelene235]

There have been cases where householders have been jailed for threatening burglars with replica firearms. I suppose that would be laughed at in Texas?

Many states,especially Texas, have a "Make my Day" law. Basically, if a bad guy is in your house you can kill him and be immune from prosecution. An intruder in my home will find he has stumbled into a hornet's nest of steel tipped .223,.308,.45,.40, and buckshot. And that's just what I can reach from my bed.

IMO, England's government has far exceeded the criteria for violent revolt. Sheesh, I get pissed off just because we are required to have permits for machine guns and anti-tank rifles. If you don't have a right to self defense what rights do you have? You can't enjoy any rights if you are dead or in fear of thugs. Not even the British kings went as far as to ban self defense. What was once the cradle of Western civility is devolving into a Clockwork Orange.

Get out now. Florida's nice but hot and full of bugs, Colorado is beautiful and has lots of R&D, forget California, bits of Arizona,Utah,Idaho,and New Mexico are nice.

[KrisKrinkle]

I would like to comment on all this, but I just don't know what to say.

[DBtoo]

That first story brought to mind an incident concerning my cousin some years ago. When he was 13 or 14, he and a buddy went out hunting in rural Louisiana where they lived. There was an accident; the friend's gun went off, and my cousin was shot in the head although the bullet grazed his head more than anything. He was badly hurt, but came out of it okey. It was regarded as an accident and nothing more. There was no article in the paper calling for guns to be outlawed, no lawsuit, but of course times were a bit different then.