[TamThompson]

I am considering a business trip to Glascow, Scotland next year, which would benefit my business. However, I know crime is high in the UK and that many guns are banned. Therefore, I'm wondering about my safety.

Is there ANY kind of gun I can take over there so that I'll feel safe? I'm quite sure pistols are out, but shotgun? Just to keep in the hotel room?
Also, are folding knives OK, like Spyderco's?

Thanks,

[Standing Wolf]

If 'twere me, laddie, I'd take a claymore and a dirk, or at least a dirk; then again, if 'twere me, I'd nae likely have forgot Culloden.

[kentucky bucky]

No.....Even my ancestral country has been turned into a bunch of sheep when it comes to self defense and RKBA. They will even hassle you (or arrest you) if a pocket knife looks too "evil". Really sad in a country with a history like Scotland. :(

[Shootcraps]

Fortunately the UK is our allie in the war so they are generably very favorable to Yanks. We went to Glasgow and Edinburgh (pronounced Edin-burrah) and had a great time. London is also a great town.

I haven't heard of any Americans having problems with crime in the UK. Just remember the Force Protection guidlines. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't do things that make you stand out as an American. Although they'll know from your accent.

The British Pound has really slammed the dollar so save your money. If you can, take a bus trip up into the Highlands. It's very beautiful.

[another okie]

If you avoid late hours, bad neighborhoods, and public housing projects you won't have much of a crime problem in Great Britain. Don't even take a pocket knife. A flashlight is OK.

[Kamicosmos]

I was in Edinburgh last summer on business. Talked with some of the guys a bit about guns. They had an interesting take on them. Not so much an anti stance, more of a *say this in a thick Scottish accent* 'If you run into trouble, just use yer fists, lad.' Edinburgh is a great city. Only place outside of the US I would even remotely think about living. (The women are rather...agressive if you happen to be single and looking. :D )

The year before that I lived in London for 6 months, also on business. Very little gun talk at all. Only time I ever talked about guns was with a guy that had been in the Royal Marines in the first gulf war, and a couple South Africans. It was funny with the Africans...they were like, "You'd love it down there, mate. Full Auto AKs for sale on street corners for a few rand." (Rands are worth like...50 cents I think) The other Londoners had more of an Anti take. But....it's a very wierd experience over there. They're subjects of the Queen...very wierd to talk with them about political stuff...

[hso]

No guns, nada, zip, NONE. Knives limited to under 3".

I haven't heard of any hotel jackings even in the UK so how is a shotgun in your comfy secure hotel room going to do you any good? Take a nice Louisville Slugger baseball bat as a "gift" and keep it in your room if it makes you feel better.

Go to britishblades.com and ask your question from the source.

[F4GIB]

The Canemaster's standard combat cane is acceptable everywhere. Just limp a bit (as I do with a bad knee). http://www.canemaster.com/full_dim.html
I always take one on my trips to the UK. You can even take it on the airplane.

[WT]

When I was last in Edinburgh there were 2 drive by shootings, both resulting in fatalities. Drug related.

Scotland has signs posted telling people to turn in their neighbors who have guns.

And whatever you do ....... NEVER TRUST A CAMPBELL!

[Stickjockey]

:( What kentucky bucky said.:(

[Cortland]

Everything I know about Scotland I learned from Trainspotting. :D

You might look into blackpowder - cap-and-ball revolvers, etc...?

[agricola]

if you are going to go shooting (ie: not just having it for self defence) the place where you are planning to go can help to arrange an "Overseas Visitors Permit", the details of which are on this link (http://www.suffolk.police.uk/Safety+First/Firearms+Licensing/Overseas+Visitors+Permits/)

[TamThompson]

OK, since this board is about 95% men, I suppose I should've pointed out that I'm not a laddie---I'm a lady. 46 year old, blonde-haired, blue-eyed WASP lady. I'm also extremely strong physically (competed in sports all my life, including American and world records in powerlifting and weightlifting).

So...from what I'm hearing, medieval weapons it is! And yes--I'm always very vigilant about my surroundings; I have attention deficit disorder, so I'm always scanning. Actually, I've never been attacked in my life, probably since I give off a very aggressive predator vibe.

If I keep my mouth shut (highly unlikely), I can blend in, being 1/4 Scottish with a little French, a bit of German, and the rest English ancestery.

But once I open my mouth...I've been told it's QUITE obvious I'm from Texas. :) Hay-ull, we maht even have oursefs a landg-widge bar-e-yuh heah, y'all know whut ah mean? ;)

WT--of course, you had no way of knowing, but my family ancestery on my mother's mother's side IS the Campbells--our clan was Campbell of Argyl, like the socks. Campbell is my dear, 94-year-old grandmother's maiden name. But yes, I've heard from a Scotch ex-pat the story of Campbell treachery. They shoulda not pissed us off.

Thanks, y'all!

[Bainx]

As said in post above, take a few maglights. Whatever gets thru gets thru, the airport authorities. Take a $5 kubaton with a few dummy keys on it and tell them its your key-ring locator thingy.
Try to buy some pepper spray if they have it legally there [a stretch].

[P95Carry]

Tam .. regretably about anything you can dream up a being a weapon ... will be potentially a problem.:(

If time permits try and travel out of Edinburgh a bit and head over the tay bridge and go North into Perthshire .. look for places like Blair Atholl, Loch Tay (close to which is a charming village called Aberfeldy) .... this a very scenic area ..... and if time permits to go much further North .... try for GlenCoe and even up to Inverness.

If time short then at least ... cross that Tay Bridge and drive on a bit as time allows - very pretty. I am sure you will enjoy (apart from feeling nekkid with no piece!)

[another okie]

Pepper spray = 6 months in jail.

[Zedicus]

Actually Scotland is the Worst in the Whole UK for being phobic of any weapon.
(Glasgow being the worst of the lot partly due to an out of control crime rate)

If you land at any Scottish airport with anything that they deem a weapon, you'll spend your vacation time & then some behind bars.

Agrocola's Link is Useless in Scotland, despite it being legal & above board, if you used that, you have a 99% chance of it being totally ignored.

Hell, they recently convicted a guy in one area just for wearing a belt!.:barf:

In Short, Avoid the UK like the Plague!.

[WT]

Egads, and me of Clan MacDonald descent talking to a young lassie of Clan Campbell. You live in Austin? Next you will be telling me that you are a Longhorn whilst I be of Aggie bloodlines.

No doubt your blonde hair and blue eyes trace back to the Vikings wrecked on Scotland's shore.

I never felt at risk in the Highlands.

Enjoy your stay in Scotland. Try out some of the single malts.

[Shanghai McCoy]

I was there in 84 and had a great time.Edinburgh Castle has some amazing displays of weapons in the Great hall and lots of other interesting stuff to see.Got to hike to the top of Ben Lomand and around the Loch.Lovely country.Don't forget to have some Haggis while you are there.

[TamThompson]

It was that shooting at that school in...was it Dunblane or something like that? Around the mid-90's? I think that was what pushed the UK, and Scotland, over the gun-grabber edge.

It is truly appalling to think that my ancestors, who painted themselves blue and fought naked with brutal medieval weapons, are all prissy about guns now. Maybe in a few years they'll come around, after enough of 'em get killed by thugs.

Where's Braveheart when you need him?

[kentucky bucky]

Sadly, lately the courts UK in general have treated their criminals like victims, and their victims like criminals. I have friends in the north of England and the laws have effectively "emasculated" law abiding gun owners and have turned citizens into criminals with the stroke of a pen. The limp wristed liberal elitist have taken over the government.


PS: I think the name "Tam" is a male nickname in Scotland!!!

[Shanghai McCoy]

I always thought a "Tam" was a hat...:D

[madmike]

"Shipwreck"?

We Vikings didn't "shipwreck," we came ashore to help the locals improve their lot, and offered to build them finer houses than the hovels they lived in.

Sadly, a language barrier intruded. We were demolishing their old houses and firing the rubble to make room for new construction when they attacked us. Thus, we were forced to defend ourselves. When it was all over...well, no point in letting good land go to waste.

Crazy Einar's Seagoing Concern
"Interior Desecration Since 793 AD"

We're not "Savage Viking Raiders," we're experts in:

Pre-emptive Archeology
Incendiary Slum Clearance
Stray Cattle Relocation
Precycling
Decedent Property Repossession (That's "Decedent," not "decadent.")
Osteofractic Debt Collection (Compound fracture interest our specialty)
Maritime Property Transfer
Adopted Offspring/Bridal Acquisition

Mike (of Clan Gunn, after Gunnar) (and I have the passport to prove it;))

[Dain Bramage]

I'm also extremely strong physically

medieval weapons it is!

Then, lassie, the shillelagh is the weapon for you!

[iapetus]

Bainx

As said in post above, take a few maglights. Whatever gets thru gets thru, the airport authorities. Take a $5 kubaton with a few dummy keys on it and tell them its your key-ring locator thingy.


Better make sure your kubotan really does look like a key locator, or you could be in trouble for carrying an Offensive Weapon.

Although if you wear traditional Highland costume, I think you can carry a small knife in your sock.

[Zedicus]

Although if you wear traditional Highland costume, I think you can carry a small knife in your sock.
Nope, they are also arresting people for that as well (it's called a "Sgian Dubh"), and they even arrest you for carrying the plastic look-alike ones.

in My Local area they are doing Frequent and random "Stop & Searches".
(no Warrant, and if you resist or refuse they arrest you & do a body cavity search at the station):scrutiny: :barf:

Why they are allowed to get away with such blatantly Illegal activity in this area is anyone's guess.:scrutiny:

[agricola]

zedicus,

wrong, yet again - its a specific exemption from the law:

(from the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Section 24 Criminal Justice Act 1988 and Section 139 Offensive Weapons Act 1996)

Under the Criminal Justice Act the following are defenses to prosecution re carrying a bladed article in a public place.

a) use at work

b) educational purposes

c) religious reasons

d) part of national costume (which a dirk in the hose would be)

[Zedicus]

Try telling that to the Glasgow Police, Not me, I allready knew that, they apparently do not.

[gunsmith]

go to the store and buy some wasp and hornet killer,they often have a good range and you can nail some ones face at 10 feet with wasp killing foam.
I have no idea how legal or effective this is though...If you go to court just tell the Judge the guy was "bugging" you.

[joe sixpack]

Hi Tam,
The above seems to cover the question. So I'll chime in with my nonsensical
ridiculous response.

Even though he is from Canada I'd ask Scotty to come along, no one would dare harm you and the fresh air and change of scenery might do him a world of good.

cheers, ab

[LAK]

Impovise. ;)

And avoid Glasgow.

[HankB]

If you do use an improvised weapon, it's probably best not to stick around for the local constabulary. (If they're not around to arrest the guy who assaults you, then they're not around to arrest you for vigorously defending yourself.)

Make yourself scarce.

[iapetus]

HankB If you do use an improvised weapon, it's probably best not to stick around for the local constabulary. (If they're not around to arrest the guy who assaults you, then they're not around to arrest you for vigorously defending yourself.)

Make yourself scarce.

I'm not sure about that.


As long as you weren't carrying something that was obviously only for the purpose of defending yourself (:barf: ) (e.g. it was either something anyone could reasonably be carrying, or else something close at hand that you just picked up when you needed it), I think you'd be better being honest.

With lots of protestations of "He was attacking me", "I feared for my life", "I used the minimum force I believed was necessary to defend myself", "I would like a lawyer", you should be okay.

Running off would mean they'd be more likely to think you had something to hide.

Make sure they hear your side of the story (calmly and politely), rather than get their first notice of the case when the perp tells them he bumped into you and you KOed him with a hammer).

[GEM]

Tam, go to Book People at look in the Travel Section for Edinburg and Glasgow Eating and Drinking Guide by Time Out. I have it and it's a good book for fun.

Anyway, when I was in Scotland, all was forbidden. You might get a nice Surefire Executive (not with the smasher end). I doubt (but one never knows) if a flashlight, which is a hard little item in someone's noggin will get you in trouble.

I felt relatively safe in Edinburgh. Forget the weaponry, it's H2H there.
You might get some steel toed hiking shoes.