[marshmallow]

But don't hold your breath as the British are quite willing to keep handguns banned as long as it means we can have the unique freedom of an unarmed civil police force who police by consent, not by armed force.

Your "unarmed, civil police force" doesn't seem to be doing a very good job.

According to the US Department of Justice, in the years between 1981-1996, the rates of burglaries, assaults and motor vehicle thefts in the UK, actually reached and surpassed rates in the US.

More burglaries? Surely not! Could it possibly have something to do with the fact that the bad guys know the homeowner is unarmed?

Murder stats are another story, of course. The US is still way ahead.

However, if gangs and quarrelling idiots popping each other is the price I have to pay for being able to defend myself and repel burglars, I'm all for it.

[Vectorian]

'Your "unarmed, civil police force" doesn't seem to be doing a very good job.

According to the US Department of Justice, in the years between 1981-1996, the rates of burglaries, assaults and motor vehicle thefts in the UK, actually reached and surpassed rates in the US. '

LOL - the figures from you govt disagree with the ones from Nationmaster.Com - I wonder who is the unbised one with a political point to make? ;-)

'More burglaries? Surely not! Could it possibly have something to do with the fact that the bad guys know the homeowner is unarmed? '

Evidently not - I'm a homeowner and I'm armed. It just means in the UK a burglar doesn't need to carry a gun as the homeowner probably won't have one. In the US a burglar must carry a gun, which is why your murder rate makes ours look highly insignificant.

'However, if gangs and quarrelling idiots popping each other is the price I have to pay for being able to defend myself and repel burglars, I'm all for it.'

Good for you. I have three guns to defend myself with and repel burglars.