“What good is a gun for self-defense if the law prevents you from using it in that capacity?”
Exactly! With no right of self defense (which is NOT a valid reason for a gun license in UK & Australia) a British citizen who uses a gun in self defense is arrested & charged.
If the police determine that the citizen’s actions were justified, then the conviction is set aside, supposedly to prevent double jeopardy. But it’s guilty until proven innocent.
Britons will argue that there’s no gun culture in UK as in the US, few citizens want to own firearms, and government is to be basically trusted.
Our gun rights were born in rebellion from an oppressor (Britain) and sustained throughout the frontier era, Civil War, and confiscatory campaigns, though unsuccessful, placed the government in an adversary position with the citizenry on the matter of personal liberty.
Prior to 1920 there were no gun laws to speak of in Britain. But this was the era of the Russian Revolution and the attempt to spread communism, along with labor violence. British soldiers returned from the Great War with thousands of souvenir pistols & rifles, and uncertain prospects for employment. His Majesty’s government feared armed insurrection and the first registration & licensing laws were passed.
These laws have progressed to the banning of handguns and semiauto rifles in the 1990’s; since all firearms are registered in UK, the police know exactly whom to confront & demand the surrender of such weapons.
Without a national gun registry in America, the banners & confiscators face a highly problematic situation.
All that being said, I own four Lee Enfield rifles from the WWI era and they are fine shooters. I have seen vids of Enfield owners’ clubs in Britain with huge firing lines. Going shooting with O/U shotguns is fine sport in UK, though heavily supervised.
But that .455 Webley revolver in my safe is beyond the pale in UK today.
Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Performance Centre
And yes, you're right - we need to be registered. Occasionally, though, boating accidents happen. Apparently.
***.455 Webley revolver***
I WANT! I WANT! I WANT!
On the other hand, my S&W .455 converted to .45 Long Colt fill fill the bill for now. Covered with British proof marks. Same as my Brit converted .38 Victory S&W to .22 LR.
Alas, my old eyes are not up to snuff as they used to be.