British Expatriate Network

Now I don't know how many of you are gun-slinging NRA members, so forgive me for these comments.
First off, I would like to point out that the 10 year ban on certain assault weapons expired in 2004 (for those of you who didn't know) in the United States.
This brings up alot of questions in to what the president is really doing. For instance, during his campaign in 2001, the president openly supported the plan and promised to appeal for an extension to the ban. However, when the time came to make his move, nothing happened.
This certain law was not the one that banned fully automatic weapons (which is still in effect) but weapons with a magazine capacity exceeding 10. This means that certain glcoks, M16s, Uzis, and AK47s were banned, including numerous others.
Now that the ban is over, gangsters can run around with these weapons, instead of just handguns. Legally.
In Britain, as many know, the laws are nowhere near the same. Britain has imposed an unlimited ban on handguns and assault weapons, also, Britain has strict laws for the registration of high powered weapons such as Shotguns, Certain rifles, and Hunting rifles.
The wait periods are also different,Americas being 3 days, Britains being 6 months.

So the reason I posted all this is because I am writing a research paper for 11th grade English and would like to see your opinions on these laws, and which you support.
Personally, I am in full support of these bans on weapons, and I believe America should adopt Britains policy.
So, what do you think?

So can I. Legally.

Doesn't make any difference, the gangsters always run around with such weapons irrespective of whether they're illegal or not. That's why criminals are criminals, they don't stick to the law.

I used to support bans on guns for the USA but the more I think about it, the less strongly I feel. Indeed, I even think allowing almost anyone to carry a gun might be a good thing. Think about all the law abiding people who would carry guns....there would be a bunch of them all over the place. If some place was robbed or someone went nuts, there would be a number of law abiding citizens who are armed and would turn on the bad guy......all of a sudden, he would be outnumbered and outgunned rather than just walking around dictating his terms.

Even though many people here love guns, I think they're mostly basically good people. The bad people don't love the guns themselves, just the power they give them. That's my current thinking anyway, arm the militia! D

I don't think you will get to much of an argument on this forum. Fortunately I live in a country that has more sensible laws regarding gun control.
It still doesn't stop illeagal weapons crossing from the US. We still have few gun related deaths when compared to the US.

Ottawa where I live has a population slightly larger than Washington DC. The last statistics for 2000 had Ottawa with 7 homicides and Washington with 239.

The US is a very violent society and the threat of violence feeds on the gun culture.

8) I like this topic. I have done a lot of research on this topic. The US and UK are both on the extreme ends on what to do about guns. People can make the stat's fit their own personal view.

Since guns have been banned in the UK, the murder rate has gone off the scale in relation to murders with guns.
The UK has gone away from gun control. When people owned these weapons they had to register them and got regular visits as well as back ground checks done on them by the Local firearms officer. Most murders then with guns, tended to be with unregistered weapons. They were harder to get hold of. I think the reason gun crime has increased in the UK was that those people that had no licence just off loaded them to anyone.

Now back here. Washington DC. Total ban on guns, but at one point had the highest murder rates with guns. Colorado highest gun ownership, lowest murder rate with guns, infact there is one town where it is illegal not to own a gun lol. Gun owners always talk about Switzland, where every adult has to own a machine gun and I have had someone say to me thats why Germany did not invade them. I don't know what they are teaching people in history here, but thats a different story lol.

People talk about an amendment right "to bear arms", well that was back in the day when there was no real army to talk of, so makes sence. something like Switzland really, but now geeze people get a grip. If the might of the US army cannot force back an invasion, you with your AK47 are going to make a real impact on the situation. Do you not think that in that event anyway, the government would give everyone that can hold a gun , a gun lol.

So my answer to your question. Automatic weapons should be Banned outright. You do not need an M16 to go hunting deer.
All guns should be registered. If you are a responsible gun owner, why should you have anything to hide.
All gun owners should have a back ground check done and made to go on firearms handling training.

I;ll get of my soap box now lol

Isn't that because it doesn't make any sense to make a law like this in a state or a locality, because people will just bring it in from outside? In my mind, gun law needs to have national effect to have any point at all.

8) You are right in some way adeshell. Like so many things over here State rights seem to trump national rights. We are used to the Government say "this is how its going to be" and it does not matter if you go to Cornwall or London, its the same law.
At least the UK only has to deal with smuggling from other countries. Here you have smuggling from state to state.

Right, so these automatic weapons are banned. Doesn't mean the criminals won't still be able to get their hands on them. Just like the way automatic weapons are banned in the UK. I bet you that within 24 hours of being back in the UK I could lay my hands on some seriously illegal firepower. Not just a couple of sawn-off shotguns either.

Surly the answer to the question is to look at history , and learn from it .
When there was prohibition booze was still readily available and instead of the govt taxing it and usuing the money so raised fund govt probrames the crooks got rich and run a tight ship on the distribution and price .


Most drugs are illegal does anybody think that if they wanted to buy some crack or other like substance it would,nt take long for a word in the right ear for any type of illegal substance to be available .?

While there is a demand there will always be a supply .

TIghtening up on the existing gun contral laws we have in place now will go a long way to preventing some of the carnage we see with gun violance.

Taking away the right to own a gun from decent honest citizens* 99% of the gun owners * wilL do nothing but cause more guns to be sold illegally and at a greater cost .IMO

I read somewhere that if you keep a gun in your house, there is a much bigger chance of it ending up injuring someone in the family accidentally(more often the owner than the children) than being used against an intruder. Now whilst owning a gun may decrease the chances of an intruder stealing your possessions or harming your family, is that worth the (bigger) increase in risk of accidental injury to your family, however small that risk may be?

I'll try to find the article.

) If you read what I said. All I have said is there is no real justification to have an M16. There is no civilan use for it at all. If you think you have the right to have one, where do you stop. So maybe you have the right to get a rocket launcher, tank, jet fighter. There has to be limits.
If you are a responsible gun owner whats the big deal in registering your weapons are you so insecure (if so maybe you should not own a gun anyway). There has to be limites.

People talk about drugs etc, well guess what if you legalized them the Government would tax them. Therefore you would still get the illegal trade going cuz people won't want to pay the tax. Just look at what it costs the Bristish Government because people smuggle booze and cigs from France.

As you said VRB if you went back home you could find a gun, thats true, but you would have to look for a gun. Therefore if you wanted to get one there was a real intent to murder an individual. Its not like some guy suddenly looks at you wrong and you have a weapon ready and pull the trigger just because someone lost their cool.

Most so called killing here happen cuz someone is p*ssed and they reach for the nearest thing and pull the trigger without really thinking about what they are doing.

I used to HATE guns with a passion...


... not anymore.

I live in very rural Texas.. and would have no qualms about using any of our guns if I needed to. We have 3.

My kids are not even aware that we own them. Have NEVER set eyes on them.. but we know where they are, which is all that matters, LOL.. they are safe, locked up and unloaded.

You can never be too careful. If you came on my property and I felt that mine, or my kids lives were in any form of danger, I am shooting your arse.

Same goes for my livestock.. any other animal came and threatened it.. it's arse gets shot too )


All this said, I am passionate about gun responsibility.

Only this weekend we had "words" with a guy who owns 2 acres, about 5 acres down from us. The dipsh!t was shooting off his handgun in the woods for no apparent reason. My kids play out in the woods at the back of our property... which borders his. Bullets don't know property lines! I was not a happy camper.

Only gun laws I agree with is to ban them from irresponsible people!

assuming you had time to unlock and load them.....

Don't think I'd be popping over for a cuppa tea univited then... :o

Monster - very true! .. but still gives a better chance than if I didn't own any at all!