Europeans and Australians interest in USA gun ownership.

[TheGerman]

Well, I was born and raised in Germany too - and am completely in agreement with them that Americans should not own guns. I even took it to the level that I moved over here and buy everything I can, just to avoid it getting in the wrong hands

Joking aside, when looking at Germans, it simply in their culture to a.) know everything better and b.) don't accept that there are different cultural backgrounds. Only active education helps - I have been taking every one of my German visitors to the shooting range and even the left wing pacifist ones had to admit that they really enjoyed it and went back with a (slightly) changed mindset.

 

[vaupet]

about the disarmament of the UK people after wwII:

The first thing people in power do when they loose their power to an occupying force is, they arm their people in occupied territory to form a resistance, often called terrorist by said occupying force. These terrorist-resistance-franc tireurs are not protected by any convention.

When territory is regained, first thing is to disarm the resistance.

People are allowed to die to get someone in power, ones in power...
Actually, come to think of it, isn't that what's 2A is all about?

Keep up the good work

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The first thing people in power do when they loose their power to an occupying force is, they arm their people in occupied territory to form a resistance, often called terrorist by said occupying force. These terrorist-resistance-franc tireurs are not protected by any convention.

Not quite true. While civilians are allowed by the Geneva Conventions to take up arms as militia against an invading army, they must still abide by the Geneva Conventions in their own behavior, be "carrying arms openly", and do their best to have "a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance" in order to still enjoy the protection of the Geneva Conventions for themselves.

This provision was violated by the British in 1916, when they shot the leaders of the Easter Uprising in Ireland -- the Irish Volunteers wore uniforms and were scrupulous in their adherence to the Laws of Land Warfare.

 

[Mk VII]

"What's more, instead of returning the guns (which they promised to do) they cast Them into a sidewalk, encasing them in concrete."

Not actually true, and I've been reading the documentation on it in the Public Records Office. 144 cases of arms weighing 13 tons were shipped per the S.S. Vasconia to the British Consul in NYC in 1947 for onwards forwarding to the American Committee, who shipped them to the owners. Some were returned to the Committee as undeliverable (donors died, moved?) Of these, the rifles and shotguns (36 cases) were sold to Bannermans, and the pistols were sold to J.L. Galef, Inc of New York City. Some extracts from letters of thanks from the donors are included in the file.

 

[jamesinalaska]

When I first moved to Alaska some years ago I drove a cab as a means of making ends meet and to pay my tuitions. At the time Lufthansa Airlines had a twice weekly cargo plane flying over the pole and refueling in my little town. A couple of times I picked up one of the flight crew (I don't know if he was the pilot or co-pilot or navigator) and as he spoke excellent english and I some very poor german we did strike up a small friendship. One time he got a serious tone in his voice and asked if I knew where to get a gun. He said "gun" but we both knew he was referencing a pistol. (And he was certain it should be a reliable 9mm.) He was concerned about the safety of his family and his self in Germany as there were so many Muslim immigrants into the country he was concerned that just about anything could happen. (This was before 9/11 by-the-way.) I cannot say whether he ever found a 9mm pistol or not, but I did take him to our range several times to shoot my glock.

 

[bonza]

Mk.VII, thank you for that information on the returning of some of the loaned arms to their U.S. owners.....the continuing 'myth' that none were returned by the 'ungrateful' British has often vexed me, & I appreciate your research.

 

[Mk VII]

There were two cases, serials 145 and 146, that for some reason, did not ship with the others. The American Committee took the view that to send these separately afterwards would be disproportionately expensive, and suggested that the contents (of which we have a list) should be sold locally and the funds given to a veterans organisation or a cadet organisation.

 

[mungojerry]

Well as a pro gun Englishman I feel I should comment.
NO ONE I know want's pierced organ back!
Anyhow we have quite a different culture over here and we are very tight on space.
We also have a lot of bad pro gun groups not a big lobby group like the NRA
It is so split up we have the NRAUK NSRA CPSA CA MLAGB BASC FCSA UKPSA and they are the ones off the top of my head. None of them team up they just do there own thing.
We tried to petition for the government allow .22 pistols, it got 3000 signitures!!!
However we still have a lot of shooting over here including mussel oading pistols and long barreled pistols and bolt action rifles you just have to have a good reason to own a gun.

Anyhow I'm rambling. I will always stick up for you Yankees over the pond and point out to people that owning firearms gives you a freedom that you don't feel when you are unarmed.

"Subjects’ Arms.
That the Subjects which are Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Conditions and as allowed by Law."

A piece from the British bill of rights written in 1688. that is our right to bear arms but the police state we live in here have walked all over it!.