doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Interesting article about firearm controls in Brit

lagopus, you may be right that many of these stories are urban legends but I distinctly recall reading, either in the Shooting Times or The Field, within the past year or so of an event where the guy who found the rifle was charged. I don't keep back copies so unfortunately can't check it out. It struck me as strange.

I did my homework last year when I was considering a job in GB, because, you know, in my view a country where you can't hunt is unfit for living, and I was surprised to find out how easy and reasonable the firearms control system was. In fact, it's much more easy and reasonable than in Russia. Except, of course, the handgun question - but that is, I feel, only because the absolute majority of the people don't want to own and carry a pistol, and would really mind if their neighbour did. If you believe in democracy and majority vote, you must give the people the right to vote against guns, too.

The majority vote has some problems if you will remember the feelings toward blacks in our south and the jews in Germany during the 30's.

Why would anyone mind if their neighbor carried a handgun?


Best,
Ted

Dont forget we had an idiot called Blair running Britain who did as his anti wife told him. As in the States people here vote on party lines rather than for whats good for the country. His party the Labour party ,the supposed voice of the working people ,who see/saw hunting [hats with hounds on horse back ] and shooting as the "upper classes" and was thus to be done away with. Animal rights campaigners who are are virtually prepared to kill to protect furry little foxes and precious little birds.
Plus the fact that we do have a large and powerful anti field sports lobby ,a paranoid police force ,who think all all gun owners are either potential mass murderers or terrorists. Add to this the fact our country is subject to E U laws and regulation that are constantly being imposed without question. Basically we are screwed.

Ted,
A point of fact, you CAN land at Heathrow with firearms in your luggage. I landed on 11th January this year with 6 shotguns is locked flight cases and I just went to the Red customs channel and declared them. In this case they were a commercial import so I also had to have a customs broker standing by to do the 'entry' but if they had been my own guns, for sporting purposes, I would only have had to prove I was certified in UK law to possess them and I could have walked.
Thereby hangs the issue, you need to be certified to possess them. Either a UK shotgun/firearms certificate (only available to UK citizens) or a current Visitors Permit is required (the latter costs about $20 and can last for up to a year).
Regarding your later post asking why one wouldn't want one's neighbour owning a handgun? I have had plenty of neighbours who I wouldn't trust with a fly swat let alone a lethal weapon and others who I would have trusted with my life. Surely that is a universal truth and has nothing to do with ones nationality?

Sometimes I wonder why I bother to carry a pistol in a pocket holster every day. I've had a concealed carry permit for years. The only living things I ever shot at with it were a rattlesnake once and another time at a water moccasin and I missed'em both twice. Still maybe it'll save my life one day; and its much more convenient than carrying a tire tool.

The RIGHT to bear arms is pretty much unique to the USA. If we don't utilize that right and protect it we too could very well lose it to the Will of the People...Geo

Toby,
My point, way back at the beginning is I can't land at Heathrow with a gun. Period. So, I'm not coming. It isn't a problem for me in South Dakota, and, the hunting is actually better there, anyway.
If you don't trust your neighbors, I feel for you. Really. But, if my neighbor wants to carry, God bless him. I really feel that way about it, and the process to do so, legally, over here will weed those out who have demonstrated they are unfit. I'm more comfortable with my neighbor carrying, legally, than anyone else carrying, illegally.
I, like Geo have a permit to carry. It is no more to me than another step on the citizenship ladder, one that is optional at that, much like voting. If you choose not to do either, that is your right, but, it is also my right to participate and I'll thank all to keep their opinions out of my rights.
Geo, I'm grateful and thankful I've never had to use my 360 PD. But, it is always there. I'm unwilling to take even a slight risk on my families safety.

Best,
Ted

Ted one of the reasons we don't allow our neighbours to have pistols.
On October 27th 1978 my Uncle's neighbour 36 year old Barry Williams came round and shot dead my Uncle George, my Auntie Irene, my cousin Phillip and seriously wounded my cousin Gillian which resulted in her having an hysterectomy aged five and being orphaned. Williams then drove of after seriously wounding two other neighbours. When he ran out of gas he refilled at a gas station and shot dead the owner and seriously injured his wife.
He was caught, faced trial and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He came out after 7 years and was rehomed in a Bail Hostel one mile from my home. I protested to the authorities and he was moved and given a new identity. I understand he is now happily married and has a family. Gillian does not.

Ted,
You have touched a nerve. Drop it.