Legalise Firearms in the UK

This pretty much ends the thread for me. Guns are simply not needed in the UK or anywhere outside the Armed Forces, Swat, Police and such.

Because a small, rich, mountainous country is such a valid comparison for the largely poor, urban population of the UK.

Because a small, rich, mountainous country is such a valid comparison for the largely poor, urban population of the UK.

That's not the point. Switzerland is less statist. When there is more statism, you get more violence. Public schools breed socialists, anarchists and criminals.

Switzerland can afford to let go of guns because it is less statist. We are pretty statist, so we needa tighter hold on guns to stop people using them against the state.

I don't think anyone is concerned against their use against the state. That's a real fringe conspiracy theory right there, you need to spend less time on youtube.

Always some complacent ignorants out there...

sure sure. I look forward to not voting for you some time in the future.

In my view, I can see no valid reason as to why the state should prevent its citizens from owning a firearm for the purposes of self-defence (as people were previously able to do prior to 1920).

Statistics show that in the UK: A rape is reported every 6 minutes, every 30 minutes someone is robbed at knife-point, a house is broken into every two minutes and on average two women a week are murdered as a result of domestic violence.

People should be able to fully defend themselves and their families.

What are your thoughts?

Edit: Many people are commenting 'Firearms are legal, you idiot!' - yes, certain firearms can be acquired once being issued a licence after strict conditions are met (generally being a member of a shooting range or something of that nature), but not for the purposes of self-defence, which is what this thread is about.

Shooting is however an enjoyable hobby.

We've pretty much banned firearms in the UK.

Criminal elements merely get hold of them anyway.

This would not decrease crime rates, in fact it will make it easier for would be criminals to get hold of a gun, therefore actually increasing crime rates.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20759139

Furthermore, in the US, statistics show that owning a gun makes you far more likely to get injured or die as a result of gun use.
Finally using a gun in self-defence, if it results in the death of an attacker, is manslaughter (or murder depending upon the intention behind it), therefore complicating matters for the victim. It also supports the idea of victim blaming, that it is a persons fault for being attacked because they "didn't defend themselves enough/properly". This supports the mindset of would be criminals, which is the very mindset that we need to eradicate if we wish for crime levels to decrease.
Having a gun also makes it more likely to be used against you.
Guns should not be legalised for self-defence purposes as it would just make matters worse.

The use of a gun in self defence doesn't result in manslaughter.

If your use a gun kills someone then it is arguably manslaughter. Think I missed a word out there.
It was not intentional but resulted in the death of a person, even in self defence you do not have to kill the person (you could just hit them or shoot them in the knee etc).
As I said it depends on the intention behind it.
Edit: Sorry brackets were in the wrong place.

Depends what the local law states.

In some American states using a firearm in self defence where the other person is killed can be manslaughter. It can also be classed as self defence.

It's a bit like fighting in the UK. If you have a fight with somebody and kill them, the. You can be charged with manslaughter. If you can prove they attacked you and you acted in self defence then you walk away.

The issue is proving that there was no other course of action open to you.

In what I was saying I was referring to UK law as I was talking about the UK overall. Though I admit that might have not been clear.



True.
There is the worry that legalising firearms risks the adoption of them as 'one-stop' solutions, therefore people using them in 'self defence' without actually engaging their brains.
This is seen in the US with multiple high profile cases with people using weapons when there is no cause.
This makes it quite probably that the legalisation of guns for self defence would result in people using them when there are other options available, causing the death of the attacker. This is arguably manslaughter.

You can actually use a firearm in the UK for self defence if your entitled to have one. But again you need to demonstrate it was self defence.

ISTR a farmer killing a burglar a few years back. He was charged as the burglar wasn't armed and he laid in wait and ambushed him.

Had for example an armed burglar entered the garners home and there was enough evidence to demonstrate the burglar was intent on causing harm to the farmer he would've gotten away with it.

I'm not a huge advocate of gun control. Shootings fun and I'm a great believer in personal freedoms.

What is like to see though is a reduction In legislation, but firearms being required to be stored in secure locations such as gun clubs. The cost of implementing those types if controls though would scare a lot if people away from doing it.