Britain wants its guns back

[lostinblue 1,989]

Britain wants its guns back A Daily Telegraph online poll has revealed that over 80 percent of Brits would rather a repeal on the hand gun ban over various other "new law" choices

by The Commentator on 29 May 2013 00:45

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Last Friday the Daily Telegraph, Britain's most widely read broadsheet newspaper, issued an online poll asking members of the public which proposal they would like to see introduced as a Private Members' Bill in the UK's Parliament.

Private Members' Bills are introduced by Members of Parliament or Peers who are not government ministers.

The choices include term limits for Prime Ministers, a flat tax, a law to encourage the 'greening' of public spaces and the repealing of Britain's hand gun ban. Following the Dunblane massacre in 1996, in which 16 schoolchildren were killed, Parliament passed The Firearms Act of 1997, which essentially banned handguns for the atrocity.

But Britons seem unconvinced by the law. The proposer, known as "Colliemum" asked, "...why should only criminals be 'allowed' to possess guns and shoot unarmed, defenceless citizens and police officers?"

While the poll continues, so far over 80 percent of the 11,000+ respondents have told the Telegraph that they want to see the handgun ban repealed. The news comes as America contemplates its own new laws on gun ownership, with British talk show host Piers Morgan claiming to back a UK-style ban for the United States.

While gun crime soared after the British ban in 1997, rates of gun violence have fallen, especially in British cities, following more spending by police forces into tackling gun crime. Police in England and Wales recorded 5,911 firearms offences in 2011/12, a reduction of 42 percent compared with nine years earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics.

But statistics from the United States show that guns are used by citizens to defend themselves around eighty times more often than they are used to take a life. A recent study published in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy concluded that there is a negative correlation between gun ownership and violent crime in countries internationally, that is, “where firearms are most dense violent crime rates are lowest, and where guns are least dense violent crime rates are highest."

British versus American statistics perhaps displays nothing more than one country investing more in the government response to criminality, while the other maintains a citizen-based response.

Two other options were presented in the Telegraph poll, which were the closing of the child maintenance loophole and a banning of spitting in public. The full results as of 01:36am on Wednesday 29th May, can be seen on the right.

For an up to date look at the poll, click through to the Telegraph's website, here.

http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3644/britain_wants_its_guns_back

[Pooky 3,839]

It's not going to happen.

[lostinblue 1,989]

It's not going to happen.

Because the people REALLY do not desire to protect themselves. ? Would this poll not be accurate ?It seems odd that the majority of the population have the death wish.

[Pooky 3,839]

Because the people REALLY do not desire to protect themselves. ? Would this poll not be accurate ?It seems odd that the majority of the population have the death wish.

Apparently not, as the UK is still more firearm-safe than Vermont, as it is.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

An online poll.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Love the Harvard Journal reference in the OP. Google them.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

It's a conservative paper.

And anyone can vote in the pole. You don't have to be voting from within the UK to answer it.

Brits know that even if repealed, ownership would still be well regulated.

[Pooky 3,839]

And anyone can vote in the pole.

As opposed to dancing around one?

Most Brits are happy knowing their police are still able, for the most part, to function effectively without recourse to firearms.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Once they take them they are gone forever.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Once they take them they are gone forever.

The registered ones you mean.....but that brings up a whole other topic doesn't it.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

As opposed to dancing around one?

Most Brits are happy knowing their police are still able, for the most part, to function effectively without recourse to firearms.

I suppose that's so.

I'll still never get over seeing a PSNI officer standing directly across from the Diamond in Derry City on a bright sunny day with HER submachine gun out and at the ready. Always wondered what was going on that day.

[Pooky 3,839]

I suppose that's so.

I'll still never get over seeing a PSNI officer standing directly across from the Diamond in Derry City on a bright sunny day with HER submachine gun out and at the ready. Always wondered what was going on that day.

Northern Ireland has always been set apart from the remainder of the UK, for obvious reasons. The Troubles may officially be over, but sectarian violence is never far from the surface.

I remember feeling a little shocked at the police casually strolling through Gatwick Airport in body armour, with their HK MP5's at the ready.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Northern Ireland has always been set apart from the remainder of the UK, for obvious reasons. The Troubles may officially be over, but sectarian violence is never far from the surface.

I remember feeling a little shocked at the police casually strolling through Gatwick Airport in body armour, with their HK MP5's at the ready.

I read someone say the same thing about the airport in Manchester too.

I think things are getting better over there. The Maiden City sure did look lovely in September. It's just all going to take time.

[Peikko 1,575]

No it doesn't. Private members bills are interesting but are not a barometer of popular opinion. Back to the drawing board.