Incoming gun ban advocates

[Mindflayer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/10214661.stm

Twelve people have been killed and 25 injured by a gunman who opened fire in west Cumbria.
A body thought to be that of the suspect - taxi driver Derrick Bird - has been found in the Boot area.
The first fatality was in Whitehaven before the gunman drove south, apparently shooting people at random.
Witnesses said the suspect drove through the town with a gun hanging out of his car window, before heading south through Gosforth and Seascale.
A GP in the town of Seascale said he and a colleague had later certified two other people dead.
Dr Barrie Walker said: "The surgery was called and I went out. I've certified one of them dead. My colleague saw another," he said.
"At present there are two people dead and one seriously injured in Seascale. I know one of the victims. She was in the street.
"The second person was on a bicycle and was shot on the bike."
BBC Look North Chief Reporter Chris Stewart said a farmer is also believed to have been killed in the Gosforth area.
After the shootings, detectives said 52-year-old Mr Bird drove to the central Lakes in a Citroen Picasso, then abandoned it in the Boot area.

Before the body was discovered people living nearby were urged to stay indoors for their own protection.
Helicopters and armed officers from other police forces were brought in to help apprehend the gunman.
Soon afterwards, Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde said: "I can confirm that we've found a body in a wooded area near Boot which we believe to be Mr Bird, together with a firearm.
"A formal identification will be made later."

[wylde007]

And the politically unarmed bystanders had absolutely no recourse or opportunity to counter the criminal.

Gun bans work... if population control is your goal.

[maljay]

If you are concerned that this will bolster the support for anti's on gun control, I think just the opposite. This is another example of someone acquiring a handgun illegally and using it to shoot sheep, I mean unarmed law abiding citizens. Guns are always going to be available for anyone who wants to buy one illegally and the only thing that taking away the right to own a gun does is keep them out of the hands of the law abiding.

[gunderwood]

I thought handguns were all but banned in the UK?

[Mindflayer]

If you are concerned that this will bolster the support for anti's on gun control, I think just the opposite. This is another example of someone acquiring a handgun illegally and using it to shoot sheep, I mean unarmed law abiding citizens. Guns are always going to be available for anyone who wants to buy one illegally and the only thing that taking away the right to own a gun does is keep them out of the hands of the law abiding.

You totally missed the point - events like this always spur the advocates. Regardless of logic the arguments will come.

Also, is it just me, or does the term "sheep" for unarmed citizens rankle? They are simply fellow citizens.

Gunderwood - without tons of licenses, yup. My friends over there served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan, and miss being able to shoot nothing but clays with approved shotguns.

[GS78]

I thought handguns were all but banned in the UK?

Yeah, they were. It 's a damn good thing too. can you imagine the bloodbath if any of those victims had guns?

[gunderwood]

I thought handguns were all but banned in the UK?

Yeah, they were. It 's a damn good thing too. can you imagine the bloodbath if any of those victims had guns?

GS78, you picked up on my sarcasm!

[Diomed]

My friends over there served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan, and miss being able to shoot nothing but clays with approved shotguns.

They need to step up from a shotgun to a firearm certificate. Then they can use non-self loading centerfire rifles and self loading rimfire rifles. Handguns (aside from long barreled, stocked monstrosities and antiques) are virtually impossible to get legal permission for.

Alternatively, they can bail out of the UK.