Guns in the UK...

[Da_Shrimp]

Sometimes it seems from reading posts on here that the average Freeper thinks that guns are pretty much banned in the UK. They aren't, though.

Handguns are banned (unfortunately), but otherwise we have a reasonable choice of legal weaponry, including Accuracy International sniper rifles if you have £23K to spare. Semi-automatic rifles are limited to .22 rimfire, but bolt-action rifles are not.

Here's a link to my nearest gun dealer, so you can see what's available this side of the pond:

https://www.thecountryman.com/

Comments welcome - not trying to start any fights, just interested in opinions. Personally I own a Mossberg 500 and am looking for a semi-auto shotgun for clay breaking as my arthritis is getting increasingly irritating! :-)

[Tijeras_Slim]

Don’t know about a list, but it’s likely a short one.

Look at the handguns at the website mentioned in the original post. That is what constitutes a “legal” handgun in the UK. Bizarre.

[marktwain]

Welcome.

Glad to have your input here.

Some people just want to make others feel bad, so they can feel better about themselves.

Nothing stays the same forever. There is movement in England to allow Englishmen to defend their home without fear of jail time for doing so.

Who knows? Someday, it may be law in England again.

English law is were our Constitution and Bill of Rights were engendered.

We like to think a written Constitution has shown its usefulness.

In the United States, a man’s home is still supposed to be his castle.

Our rights are constantly under assault, but we seem to be winning some battles.

Good luck, and God bless you and yours!

[marktwain]

were our Constitution

should be

where our Constitution

[elcid1970]

If you were as old as me you would remember when Webleys with shaved cylinders in .45 ACP were $14.95 in Field & Stream and even the ad said, “also makes an excellent boat anchor!”

Mine was $200 in 1991 and they are astronomical now. But later I bought both a Colt 1917 and a Smith & Wesson 1917 and discovered I liked them better than the MK VI.

BTW the .45 ACP has higher ballistics than the longer .455 Webley.

Then I read that in both wars Brits would give anything to swap their Webleys for American revolvers.

Bought an S&W Victory when they were $85. Sold it to a Navy guy who later told me he had ID’d the carrier it was stored on so it was a pilot’s sidearm.

Anyway, the Brits can have their gun laws that make any owner a person of interest. For fits & giggles, google “American gun culture” & pull up anything from UK Guardian. The comments are filled with vitriol against Yanks & their guns.

Most laughable are comments from Brits who worked in America for decades but then finally had to leave “because of all the bloody guns!” To those I say,

“Enjoy your Muslims, mate!”

[antidemoncrat]

Might work unless you are alone. If I was to open carry, I would want a holster that was in front of me.

[vetvetdoug]

I just spent three weeks last October in Titchmarsh and London. Nice place but I felt naked not being allowed to carry either a knife or a handgun. On the train from Huntingdon to London many queried me about weapons and were incredulous that I owned over sixty weapons and >50K rounds and hundreds of knives and swords. Nice place to visit but I enjoy my freedoms here and the ability to fire weapons at my beck and call. I'm confident that any Moose limb or miscreant will meet up with a distasteful outcome with me if attempted. I've even owned a 12 pound cannon and machine gun at different times in my life.

[old-ager]

Thanks for posting these remarks. Better written than I would have done, but my sentiments were about the same. It is very true that our Bill of Rights has roots in Britain.

[fini]

I think the major difference is that in UK a gun is a hobby. An expensive hobby at that. In a America, it is a right. Please don’t misunderstand me. Several parts of America are trying to emulate the UK, e.g. the District of Columbia. That is why every proposed restriction must be fought long and hard.

[fini]

One of the real issues I have is "the right of self defense." The right of self-defense is basic. No one blames the rat for biting when cornered. So why shouldn't humans have the same right, with the most appropriate tools available.

I understand that people are inconsistent. My daughter catches flies and puts them outside. But a spider? Ahhh, then she turns into Al Capone. She wants them dead. She wants the spider's family dead. And she wants to burn down their house.

[Lazamataz]

Sometimes it seems from reading posts on here that the average Freeper thinks that guns are pretty much banned in the UK. They aren't, though.

Handguns are banned (unfortunately), but otherwise we have a reasonable choice of legal weaponry, including Accuracy International sniper rifles if you have £23K to spare. Semi-automatic rifles are limited to .22 rimfire, but bolt-action rifles are not.

That sounds 'pretty much banned' to me.

[Noamie]

You have to be credibly concerned for your life or the lives of innocent others to shoot someone; if someone is running away he is clearly not a present threat.
——
If the person is armed with any kind of weapon and has already harmed or attempted to harm a person then that person is fair game to chase and kill if they refuse to submit. Anywhere. There is SC law on this.

Britain is a land of Subject’s. Not men. It is long over due for revolution to restore the honor, dignity, and God given rights of men. I mean, you cant even fox hunt.

[Jack Hammer]

Ban guns and knife crime soars - against which the law-abiding have no defense.

[Celtic Conservative]

That third photo, is that Dean Weingarten?

CC

[ExGeeEye]

What happens to you if you defend yourself by shooting your attacker with one of these legal guns?

We believe YOU are prosecuted...

With a "Hate Crime" enhancement if the attacker is mahometan*...

*Yeah, I know. No, I don't care.

[ExGeeEye]

That’s where I keep mine.

If you saw me (or a picture) you might joke that I was about to shoot my **** off.

Truth is if I did have a negligent discharge from my holster (I carry Condition 2) the round would strike the ground about 2 feet to my left front...

[Da_Shrimp]

No. I'm not going to 'keep my mouth shut', thanks all the same.

This post was for discussion, coming out of an exchange of views with an American friend who was astonished I could buy a semi-auto shotgun in the UK. I am not attacking US gun ownership or claiming ours is better - it manifestly isn't.

Besides, I'll do as I please as a paying member of FR - I don't need your permission or approval.

[Da_Shrimp]

Thank you for the welcome, much appreciated.

I didn't intend to start any arguments, the original post was just for info. I am hoping that things will swing baack again.

I would have no hesitation in using my weapons to defend my wife and child if someone broke in and threatened us. I can get hold of my gun very quickly.

[joma89]

But what is the point? If you use it for self defence, the UK government will still convict you of murder.

JoMa

[marktwain]

But what is the point? If you use it for self defence, the UK government will still convict you of murder.

Killing another person is a serious thing. Both U.S. and U.K. governments investigate such situations.

In the U.S. most states have Castle Doctrine laws, based on the famous Rights of Englishmen that "Their home is their castle."

In England and Wales, the interpretation of the law has changed to hobble the homeowner more than in the United States.

However, a homeowner in England and Wales still has the right to defend themselves and theirs in their home.

Attitudes in England and Wales seem to be moving toward allowing more leeway for homeowners to defend their homes.

To me, a strange attitude in England and Wales seems to be the desire to protect burglars, thieves, and robbers. (In the U.S., you may not execute someone for burglarizing an empty house, either)

Perhaps Da_Shrimp can comment on the attitude toward criminals in England. It is hard to see clearly from "across the pond".

A famous (infamous?) parody in the United States is a protest sign, saying, "No Mother should have to fear for her son's life every time he robs a store"

The photo above was photo-shopped to create the political parody.

[Da_Shrimp]

I would say that attitudes towards self-defence are changing, too slowly perhaps, but changing they are.

The attitude towards criminals in the UK is pretty similar to anywhere else - they're considered to be low-life scumbags! Unfortunately our so called 'Conservative' government has managed to slash the number of police by 20,000 during their tenure. We now have an epidemic of knife crime, often related to young people selling drugs through the 'County Lines' system, whereby drug gangs from the cities go out to more rural areas and sell drugs. We need more Police on the beat, and more available to deal with burglaries etc.