Good grief..you people scare me.

Feeling you can't walk down the street because someone might attack you?
Having to take guns to your children's doctor's appointments?
Feeling you have to chose between a bar where everyone has a gun, or one person has a gun?

How about a nice bar where no one has a gun? There are lots of them around my way, even though my area has a 'reputation'..it still sounds better than the nicest cities in the US.

I think I'd prefer my government to try and tackle the causes of crime (poverty, poor education, drug addiction, unemployment) that just arm everyone to the teeth and say "have at 'em!"

Scary, scary, scary people....

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Reality Internet Personality

double post..haven't done that in a while!

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Reality Internet Personality

Good grief..you people scare me.

Feeling you can't walk down the street because someone might attack you?
Having to take guns to your children's doctor's appointments?
Feeling you have to chose between a bar where everyone has a gun, or one person has a gun?

How about a nice bar where no one has a gun? There are lots of them around my way, even though my area has a 'reputation'..it still sounds better than the nicest cities in the US.

I think I'd prefer my government to try and tackle the causes of crime (poverty, poor education, drug addiction, unemployment) that just arm everyone to the teeth and say "have at 'em!"

Scary, scary, scary people....

Good moaning all!

I think this might be a Brit/European thing with guns. But, in my view, the main reason that everyone goes around armed in the US, and why gun related deaths are so high, is the lax attitude towards guns.

If the same situation applied to the US as does in the UK the gun related deaths would be very much down towards the European average.

Remember the UK has the only unarmed police force in Europe.

The right to carry arms, as in the US Constitution, refers back to the days of the Founding Fathers, when the country was wild and largely lawless. When the general Rule of Law is accepted, and expected, then that Constitutional Right should have been removed.

Or do the US still consider themselves wild and lawless?

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It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

We have the strictest gun laws in the world here in the UK. When my husband applied for a certificate to own a gun - and an air rifle at that - he had to state to the police why he needed a gun and what he intended to use it for. They then checked to see if he had a criminal record.
We then received a visit from the Firearms Officer from out local police station. He looked around the house, interviewed us, especially Keith, and scrutinised Keith very closely before leaving.
A few days later Keith was issued with his firearms certificate. But it took him a few months to obtain it due to the amount of red tape or paperwork that the police must get through before issuing certificates.
I could not legally use Keith's gun without applying for a firearms certificate for myself, so I have never used a gun or been taught how to handle one.

I've heard that a lot of European countries are that way. It takes an act of god to be able to have a gun there. Thats one nice thing about the USA. Theres proven statistics about people, who have CCW permits, who carry a gun, and the crime rates have dropped. I know of 2 here in Reno that occured in the last few years where licensed permit holders protected their lives because of some scumbag wanting to cause problems.

As I said before, working for the 911 emergency center here, I hear about quite a bit of stuff. I try and do a lot of researching of laws, sending emails to people, to get answers. I've learned a lot since I first got my concealed weapons permit just a little over 5 years ago. I am very confident that if the need arises, I will protect my family at all costs, even if that means having to fatally stop someone. I don't ever want to, but I will, if I have to.

I think most european counties hace such a law, and most of us don't understand the gun fetishism over the pond. I'd be afraid with so much guns around and easy to get for every thug who wants them. There's no need for guns anywhere in the civilized world besides in army and police, if you want, add sport guns, but with strict restrictions.

I feel a lot more safe in an surrounding, were no guns are around me. And they won't help:

Gun Deaths - International Comparisons

Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated):

Homicide Suicide Unintentional

USA 4.08 (1999) 6.08 (1999) 0.42 (1999)

Canada 0.54 (1999) 2.65 (1997) 0.15 (1997)

Switzerland 0.50 (1999) 5.78 (1998) -

Scotland 0.12 (1999) 0.27 (1999) -

England/Wales 0.12 (1999/00) 0.22 (1999) 0.01 (1999)

Japan 0.04* (1998) 0.04 (1995) <0.01 (1997)

So, We win ? Wahoo......Yeah I know

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Good grief..you people scare me.

Feeling you can't walk down the street because someone might attack you?
Having to take guns to your children's doctor's appointments?
Feeling you have to chose between a bar where everyone has a gun, or one person has a gun?

How about a nice bar where no one has a gun? There are lots of them around my way, even though my area has a 'reputation'..it still sounds better than the nicest cities in the US.

I think I'd prefer my government to try and tackle the causes of crime (poverty, poor education, drug addiction, unemployment) that just arm everyone to the teeth and say "have at 'em!"

Scary, scary, scary people....

Hey we cant afford a welfare state ! We have been invaded by 12 million illegal imigrants. who get all for free. Its cheaper for an illegal Mexican to go to UCLA, than an out of state Texan. Out Emergency wards are all closed because no one pays their bills. 25 % of our prisoners are illegal. and we have 2,000,000 prisoners. I'm gonna by a puppy, and stay home

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We have the strictest gun laws in the world here in the UK. When my husband applied for a certificate to own a gun - and an air rifle at that - he had to state to the police why he needed a gun and what he intended to use it for. They then checked to see if he had a criminal record.
We then received a visit from the Firearms Officer from out local police station. He looked around the house, interviewed us, especially Keith, and scrutinised Keith very closely before leaving.
A few days later Keith was issued with his firearms certificate. But it took him a few months to obtain it due to the amount of red tape or paperwork that the police must get through before issuing certificates.
I could not legally use Keith's gun without applying for a firearms certificate for myself, so I have never used a gun or been taught how to handle one.

God, I hope you just made up that story. I went to a gun show here and just bought some pellet guns from China. They will shoot thru 200 pages of a phone book. $20. Kids can buy a BB or pellet gun here,....wait a minute.....just how OLD IS YOUR HUSBAND ?

I am not sure whether my husband's age is an issue when trying to obtain a gun licence, but his occupation might have been. What he went through was 'standard' procedure for anyone who wishes to obtain a firearm. I am not sure, of course, if that includes farmers, gamekeepers or others who might find it easier under the law to obtain a firearm licence because their particular occupation demands it. I certainly did not make up the story. On top of that, my husband had to get a signature from a professional person who knew him for at least three years before he could approach the police. Luckily he is friends with his boss at work. The doctor refused to oblige him as it is no longer the surgery policy, or so they say, to give signatures to people seeking to obtain firearms licences.

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'No one can make you inferior without your consent.'
Eleanor Roosevelt.

We have the strictest gun laws in the world here in the UK. When my husband applied for a certificate to own a gun - and an air rifle at that - he had to state to the police why he needed a gun and what he intended to use it for. They then checked to see if he had a criminal record.
We then received a visit from the Firearms Officer from out local police station. He looked around the house, interviewed us, especially Keith, and scrutinised Keith very closely before leaving.
A few days later Keith was issued with his firearms certificate. But it took him a few months to obtain it due to the amount of red tape or paperwork that the police must get through before issuing certificates.
I could not legally use Keith's gun without applying for a firearms certificate for myself, so I have never used a gun or been taught how to handle one.

God, I hope you just made up that story. I went to a gun show here and just bought some pellet guns from China. They will shoot thru 200 pages of a phone book. $20. Kids can buy a BB or pellet gun here,....wait a minute.....just how OLD IS YOUR HUSBAND ?

I am not sure whether my husband's age is an issue when trying to obtain a gun licence, but his occupation might have been. What he went through was 'standard' procedure for anyone who wishes to obtain a firearm. I am not sure, of course, if that includes farmers, gamekeepers or others who might find it easier under the law to obtain a firearm licence because their particular occupation demands it. I certainly did not make up the story. On top of that, my husband had to get a signature from a professional person who knew him for at least three years before he could approach the police. Luckily he is friends with his boss at work. The doctor refused to oblige him as it is no longer the surgery policy, or so they say, to give signatures to people seeking to obtain firearms licences.

why dont u just order the damned BB gunover the net ?

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Ordering guns over the internet is a risky business I would think, particularly in these days of terrorism. It would have to get through Customs as well. Owning an illegal firearm carries stiff penalities here. I wouldn't want to take the risk.
My husband only wanted a firearm because he wished to go with his friends to clay pigeon shooting sessions. However he's sold the gun since, but he can always get another one.
I don't know how criminals obtain them, except through 'underground' criminal networks, but it's true to say that firearms offences have gone up here involving criminals, usually between gangs in inner cities though.
Most of all has been a rise in knife attacks in recent years. It's easier to carry a knife than to carry a gun obviously. However, I am not sure of the homicide stastistics involving the use of knives in this country.

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'No one can make you inferior without your consent.'
Eleanor Roosevelt.

Ordering guns over the internet is a risky business I would think, particularly in these days of terrorism. It would have to get through Customs as well. Owning an illegal firearm carries stiff penalities here. I wouldn't want to take the risk.
My husband only wanted a firearm because he wished to go with his friends to clay pigeon shooting sessions. However he's sold the gun since, but he can always get another one.
I don't know how criminals obtain them, except through 'underground' criminal networks, but it's true to say that firearms offences have gone up here involving criminals, usually between gangs in inner cities though.
Most of all has been a rise in knife attacks in recent years. It's easier to carry a knife than to carry a gun obviously. However, I am not sure of the homicide stastistics involving the use of knives in this country.

I can run from a knife, not a bullet

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Ordering guns over the internet is a risky business I would think, particularly in these days of terrorism. It would have to get through Customs as well. Owning an illegal firearm carries stiff penalities here. I wouldn't want to take the risk.
My husband only wanted a firearm because he wished to go with his friends to clay pigeon shooting sessions. However he's sold the gun since, but he can always get another one.
I don't know how criminals obtain them, except through 'underground' criminal networks, but it's true to say that firearms offences have gone up here involving criminals, usually between gangs in inner cities though.
Most of all has been a rise in knife attacks in recent years. It's easier to carry a knife than to carry a gun obviously. However, I am not sure of the homicide stastistics involving the use of knives in this country.

From the Home Office website:

A snapshot of gun crime

Contrary to public perception, the overall level of gun crime in the UK is very low – less than 0.5%* of all crime recorded by the police.
Facts & figures

In the year ending 31 March 2005 provisional figures show a:

* 16% reduction in the use of handguns
* 9% reduction in robberies involving firearms
* 6% reduction in serious injuries from firearms offences

Despite these figures, the number of overall offences involving firearms has been increasing each year since 1997/98. And crime involving imitation weapons was up 55% in 2004-05 compared to the previous year. (Source: Crime in England and Wales 2004/2005)

Also of concern is a rise in the number of young people carrying real or imitation firearms in an attempt to boost their image or from a mistaken idea about self-protection.

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Reality Internet Personality

Ordering guns over the internet is a risky business I would think, particularly in these days of terrorism. It would have to get through Customs as well. Owning an illegal firearm carries stiff penalities here. I wouldn't want to take the risk.
My husband only wanted a firearm because he wished to go with his friends to clay pigeon shooting sessions. However he's sold the gun since, but he can always get another one.
I don't know how criminals obtain them, except through 'underground' criminal networks, but it's true to say that firearms offences have gone up here involving criminals, usually between gangs in inner cities though.
Most of all has been a rise in knife attacks in recent years. It's easier to carry a knife than to carry a gun obviously. However, I am not sure of the homicide stastistics involving the use of knives in this country.

From the Home Office website:

A snapshot of gun crime

Contrary to public perception, the overall level of gun crime in the UK is very low – less than 0.5%* of all crime recorded by the police.
Facts & figures

In the year ending 31 March 2005 provisional figures show a:

* 16% reduction in the use of handguns
* 9% reduction in robberies involving firearms
* 6% reduction in serious injuries from firearms offences

Despite these figures, the number of overall offences involving firearms has been increasing each year since 1997/98. And crime involving imitation weapons was up 55% in 2004-05 compared to the previous year. (Source: Crime in England and Wales 2004/2005)

Also of concern is a rise in the number of young people carrying real or imitation firearms in an attempt to boost their image or from a mistaken idea about self-protection.

the only place I have ever been physicaly attacked, for no reason (excluding my wife) was in England. what about australia ? They disarmed. same wilderness history as us. hoe did it turn out ? dunno

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I would feel easier about the prohibition against handguns if I thought the Courts could protect the citizen better. As it is our prisons, according to recent reports, are bursting at the seams or nearly to full capacity. This is bound to make sentencing policy on the part of judges, softer. More community sentences perhaps, rather than incarceration might be the answer. But - and I might get flamed for this - I have always been a supporter of the death penalty, no longer enacted in Britain. I think it was a mistake to remove hanging as a penalty. I feel that the average citizen can neither protect themselves adequately or receive proper protection from the State which is their due.

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'No one can make you inferior without your consent.'
Eleanor Roosevelt.

But - and I might get flamed for this - I have always been a supporter of the death penalty, no longer enacted in Britain. I think it was a mistake to remove hanging as a penalty.

No flames from me. I'm not sure if the death penalty works, but it gives closure to the victim's family.

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Account frozen...

Here's something to think about:

The population, of California, US, is some 33 million. The population of San Diego, near where I live, is some 1.2 million. The San Diego police force is dwindling down to a very drastic level. They are critically low on police officers.

I don't remember off hand what their numbers are, but let's say they have 1000 officers. With a population of 1.2 million, each officer would have to protect 1200 people. Does that sound logical to anyone? It sure as hell doesn't sound logical to me. I would much prefer the lawful ability to be able to use any force neccessary to protect myself and/or others. And that lawful ability is to "Keep and bear arms". Given to us by the forefathers of this country. And that right cannot just be wiped from the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

There's a well known statement over here in the US, usually on bumper stickers. "When they outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns." Definitely NOT a scenario I want to see happening. If we are stripped of our right to protect ourselves, by the bannishment of firearms possession, we may as well just bend over and kiss our butts goodbye.

There's another well known statement, also on bumper stickers. "They can have my gun when they can pry it from my cold dead fingers." ....

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

People in the past have asked me why I choose to carry. I have maybe a different view on it than what folks may think. I choose to carry because I am an independent American. I do not rely on my government to protect me. I do it myself. I feel it is my GOD GIVEN RIGHT.

When we, the citizens, become dependent on the government for everything, that very same depedence is what takes our freedom away. Katrina should be used here as a great example of the freedom my family enjoys. We did not need the Local/Federal government to swoop in and take care of us...we did it ourselves. We did not worry about the anarchy that was taking place. We carry guns. Lots of guns. Legally! We fed ourselves, sheltered ourselves and protected ourselves..but most of all, we were not afraid. (Although my family did evacuate the elderly and children).

Those wimps who rely on the government for everytyhing are the ones who suffered. They are the ones without freedom. They are the ones who are not respected.

EDIT: AND I wanted to add, we are law abiding Americans.

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Reality Internet Personality

I'm glad someone agree's with me. Thank you Siran and Michael.

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You have fear, a lot of fear, too much fear and to her, I can understand it, often reacts a lot to exaggerated

You have fear, a lot of fear, too much fear and to her, I can understand it, often reacts a lot to exaggerated

Its not a matter of fear.

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At the Cenotaph.

I saw the Prince of Darkness, with his Staff,
Standing bare-headed by the Cenotaph:
Unostentatious and respectful, there
He stood, and offered up the following prayer.
'Make them forget, O Lord, what this Memorial
Means; their discredited ideas revive;
Breed new belief that War is purgatorial
Proof of the pride and power of being alive;
Men's biologic urge to readjust
The Map of Europe, Lord of Hosts, increase;
Lift up their hearts in large destructive lust;
and crown their heads with blind vindictive Peace.'

The Prince of Darkness to the Cenotaph
Bowed. As he walked away I heard him laugh.

Siegfried Sassoon.

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'No one can make you inferior without your consent.'
Eleanor Roosevelt.