Howdy folks. Gun ownership in the UK,

[Gunpacker]

The English government always thought it a good idea to disarm the Scots. To keep them from being able to protest their treatment and to easily subjugate them. Used to be that English citizens were exempt from the same treatment. No more. My ancestors were Scots/Irish. They were real happy to be here, away from the tyrannical rule of the English. I feel the same way, being married to an English lady.

 

[Blair]

I think you all need to revolt again!

Like the famous Scot Mel Gibson would say
"FREEEEDOOOOOOM!"

I think what the UK gun lobby needs is a charismatic individual who would be the public face of gun rights. A Charlton Heston type would be ideal. Unfortunately, most UK subjects don't know that many gun owners personally. This allows them to stereotype us.

When folk meet me, and I tell them that I like guns, they give me "that strange look" as if I'm a dangerous maniac that could pop at any minute. Indeed, an associate of a friend once asked me at a relatively fancy restraunt "aren't you ashamed that people like you exist?" to which I replied by calmly putting down my knife & fork, requesting the bill, paying for my meal, tipping the waiter, then walking out early. People like that aren't worth it, because they're so silly, and bigoted their opinions woln't be changed no matter how logical my arguments may be.

A charismatic public figurehead would allow the public to see that gun rights advocates really are fun, normal people.

 

[Stauble]

When folk meet me, and I tell them that I like guns, they give me "that strange look" as if I'm a dangerous maniac that could pop at any minute.

i love that look.

welcome blair, some of my ansestors were from ireland, and didnt like the british laws too much either. so they come her

 

[Camp David]

Self defense is not considered "good reason", because the Government doesn't want their subjects defending themselves from thugs and criminals

Welcome Blair!

Regarding the above part of your post...so what do folks in rural U.K. defend themselves with???????????? What prevents the bad guys from free rape, free theft, and free murder if you disarm the common citizens? Pitchforks in abundance?

Not sure how U.K. was disarmed, but I can tell you that this nation will never be disarmed... no way...no how...

 

[VirgilCaine]

Yes, there is a seperate liscencing system for muzzleloaders. Same goes for shotguns.

Size-adjusted double-barreled smoothbore with BBs sounds like a decent choice over a meat cleaver.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Hello and welcome! I am a 17th ancestor of Myles Standish (the captain of the Mayflower) and I have a feeling that he left to escape the people you are now dealing with.

I recently moved to Utah and am finding that this state is very gun friendly. Not to rub it in but I recently rented an MP5 at a local shooting range!

After I rented it I was disappointed to give it back and the price tag was $12,000 dollars due to the controls on our freedom here. From what you have written I should be thankful for the freedoms we have and work hard to keep them.

If you ever make it over let us know and we'll take you out on the town

 

[Blair]

Welcome Blair!

Thank you all for the warm welcome! It certianly beats "why would you want to own a gun?"

Regarding the above part of your post...so what do folks in rural U.K. defend themselves with????????????

Harsh language seems to be the best option. Even then the bad guy will probably sue for emotional damage.

What prevents the bad guys from free rape, free theft, and free murder if you disarm the common citizens? Pitchforks in abundance?

Nothing prevents the bad guys from running riot. We have what we call "CHAV gangs". These are basically street punks that control the streets and attack law abiding people with impunity.

Not sure how U.K. was disarmed,

The same way that California and other places is heading. One type of firearm at a time, and all in the name of "public security". The more "evil" firearms went into the smelter first (semi-auto "military type" rifles), then went the handguns. Now they're targeting air rifles and BB guns as part of a "crackdown on street crime".

but I can tell you that this nation will never be disarmed... no way...no how...

I share your optimism. I truly believe the American populace will fight for the right to keep and bear arms. It's part of the spirit of your Nation.

Maybe our two great countries could reach some kind of agreement? Perhaps you could ship all of your Dianne Feinsteins and your Bradys and all your other socialist gun grabbers over here to the UK, and we could move people like me over to the US?

A tad impractical I imagine, but it would be good nevertheless

 

[Baba Louie]

Blair,
Welcome to THR.

My great-grandfather Duncan emigrated from Scotland to Canada back in the 1880's as a child with his parents, became a railroad Postal Worker and sorta rode the trains down to Missouri where he met my great grandmother.

Finish your schooling, become wealthy and work to change your laws, all-the-while buying a piece of land in, oh, say Wyoming, for your annual hunting vacation. Marry an American girl here, have kids, buy guns and don't forget to think about the homeland now and then, going back to check on those silly and dangerous gun control laws.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I believe that civillian armaments are essential for keeping the peace in a truly individualist society...

You're entirely correct, but I doubt anyone in close touch with reality would consider England any sort of "individualist society" any more.

Welcome to the High Road.

 

[IndianaDean]

I agree, come to the States. While you could stay there and try to be a force for change, it might take several decades, and those would be decades gone from your life where you did not get to enjoy the fun of shooting rifles, centerfire pistols, etc.

 

[Blair]

You're entirely correct, but I doubt anyone in close touch with reality would consider England any sort of "individualist society" any more.

That's very true. Over the years, control over what the citizen can and can't do has been taken away from the individual citizen and vested in the hands of a ruling "intellectual vanguard".

The Government is even considering banning remote control aircraft used by model airplane enthusiasts for Pete's sake!

Welcome to the High Road.

Thanks. I'm beginning to like it here.

 

[Blair]

I agree, come to the States. While you could stay there and try to be a force for change, it might take several decades, and those would be decades gone from your life where you did not get to enjoy the fun of shooting rifles, centerfire pistols, etc.

That's a very good point. I'm still young (19) so I've got plenty of time to decide. I'd certianly like to move and enjoy the freedoms associated with the USA, but Scotland is my ancestral home, it pains me to see the condition my country is in.

 

[atek3]

That's a very good point. I'm still young (19) so I've got plenty of time to decide. I'd certianly like to move and enjoy the freedoms associated with the USA, but Scotland is my ancestral home, it pains me to see the condition my country is in.

Welcome to the high road. I got into guns when I was 19, and living in Berkeley, California, that drew a few funny looks too. Five years later, I'm ready to move on out of the people's republic of california. When you graduate from Law school, consider moving to the States.

atek3

 

[GunnySkox]

Thought: Somehow "centrefire" just seems inherently... better than "centerfire".

Your friendly, loveable Anglophile,
~GnSx
"If I learned one thing in France, it's that French girls have the most mind-bendingly cute accents when they speak english." ~Me

 

[IndianaDean]

That's a very good point. I'm still young (19) so I've got plenty of time to decide. I'd certianly like to move and enjoy the freedoms associated with the USA, but Scotland is my ancestral home, it pains me to see the condition my country is in.

It does me as well. I have ancestry from almost every country in Europe, but most of it from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. I hate what has happened there also.

 

[alellis]

when the laws changed did they go and confiscate weapons? I mean what about the folks who still had the odd Webley that grandpa brought back home with him after the war?

They only got the handguns owned by law abiding citizens.

Anyone who had a handgun registered and entered on their FAC was told to turn it in and like good obedient citizens they did so.

Mostly they were compensated well sometimes they were paid more than they would have got on the pre ban open market.

Off course they didn't get the handguns owned by crooks or any that were unregistered.

I understand that there are plenty of handguns in the UK and can now be bought a lot cheaper on the black market. ( no VAT you know)


al

 

[M67]

Ah, Blair is my first name.

So at least you're not related to His Tonyness.

Welcome to THR. There are a few other non-Americans here. We try our best to bring some class to the joint.

 

[Pilot]

Confiscated and destroyed. All handguns were registered, meaning that it was easy for the Gov't to treck them down.

My grandfather's Luger was a casualty in the witch-hunt.

G*d that is so sad.

 

[Nick_90]

Hello Blair! Welcome to THR...

I have had a look at the anti-gun network's website you mentionned and I must say you are up against a tough bunch!
Does any political party in Scottland defend gun owners or is it like England where they are more or less all the same, at least on that point of view?

 

[Blair]

Hello Blair! Welcome to THR...

I have had a look at the anti-gun network's website you mentionned and I must say you are up against a tough bunch!
Does any political party in Scottland defend gun owners or is it like England where they are more or less all the same, at least on that point of view?

A few conservative MPs have made pro-gun statements, but the party-line is very much "don't rock the boat". Every other party is rabidly anti-gun.

 

[Camp David]

A few conservative MPs have made pro-gun statements, but the party-line is very much "don't rock the boat". Every other party is rabidly anti-gun.

How many citizens, in your opinion, still have handguns? You've said they are outlawed/illegal/denied but I am sure there is an undergound market... the IRA seemed to be well armed while it existed... in your estimation how many still possess handguns in the country?

 

[Pilgrim]

Or a claymore that your ancestors used to counter Chinese "human wave attacks"?

That Claymore came after that fight. For the Chinese, we used the fougasse, a marvelous toy involving a drum of gelled gasoline spread by an explosive charge and lit off by a white phosphorous igniter.

Pilgrim

 

[Stickjockey]

Welcome, Blair!

A few conservative MPs have made pro-gun statements, but the party-line is very much "don't rock the boat".

Sounds like a certain party over here.

 

[Blair]

How many citizens, in your opinion, still have handguns? You've said they are outlawed/illegal/denied but I am sure there is an undergound market... the IRA seemed to be well armed while it existed... in your estimation how many still possess handguns in the country?

Because handguns were outlawed, so only the outlaws now have handguns. Basically, none of the legally held handguns that were around prior to the ban are around today, this is due to the fact they were all registered, the legitimate handgun owners turned their guns over due to force & fear exerted on them from the Government, so the Government quickly accounted for all of the legally held firearms. There is quite a large black market for Eastern European handguns over here though. The number of shootings in our inner cities has gone through the roof in spite of (or perhaps because of?) the ban.

As for how many people have handguns? It's extremely difficult to tell. The most popular "black market" handgun is the CZ75. These are smuggled in from places like the former battlegrounds of Bosnia or Croatia.

It really is a shame, because every so often -when the police have built up a stockpile of confiscated CZ75s- they destroy them in public as a show of "police power". Surely these pistols should be auctioned off to law abiding citizens? This would put the weapon that is "the choice of the criminal" into good-law abiding hands.

 

[hso]

Welcome to THR.

Kerr Borders clan ancestry here married to a Gordon.

Gun restrictions followed by knives followed by ??? The UK seems that it is turning back the clock on it's subjects and soon will reinstate serfdom.

Pitty about the CZ75s. Collectors (like myself) here would happily adopt all the "pre B" guns found (especially those from the Soviet era).

Any time you hop to the States you're more than welcome to stay for a couple of weeks with us in the hills of Tennessee for a 'shooting holiday'.