[from occupied ga]

Technically yes; however, NYC makes it almost impossible to register a handgun. My memory is that he had applied for the registration some months prior to the incident, but the city government was stalling as usual with non-celebrities.

Bernard Goetz was convicted of a gun violation - not shooting armed robbers. He was then further sued in civil court of causing pain and suffering to the one remaining scumbag and the NYC jury of his peers awarded the robber some outrageous sum like $250 million.

[Stoat]

NYC makes it almost impossible to register a handgun

True, and the Sullivan laws that are at the root of this are evil and should be overturned.  This is one of many reasons why many people choose to live in other places than in New York City.

Bernard Goetz was convicted of a gun violation - not shooting armed robbers. He was then further sued in civil court of causing pain and suffering to the one remaining scumbag and the NYC jury of his peers awarded the robber some outrageous sum like $250 million.
 

My recollection of the Goetz case is that his conviction was limited to the gun violation until he made some incredibly stupid, after-the-fact public statements...something suggesting that he meant to kill the scumbags or that he was happy about it or something like that.  This stupid statement, made long after his gun ownership conviction, gave the prosecution the wherewithal to nail him on civil charges....he brought that upon himself to some degree and it could have been avoided, if my memory serves correctly.

At least in the USA we have the freedom to move to a different city, county or state if we disagree with the gun laws as they exist in a given community.  If you want to legally own a fully automatic weapon, you can in Class 3 states such as Oregon, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, and I think Georgia if my memory serves.  Yes, there's a mountain of paperwork, expense and silliness associated with it but a it can be done if you're a good, law-abiding and honest citizen.

My hope is that more British citizens will come to visit us in the USA, where they will find that despite the pronouncements of their hysterically anti-American, Leftist press, we are generally good, friendly and law-abiding people.  Perhaps if more Brits come to visit us and see with their own eye what's possible in the grand scheme of things, they will take these ideas back across the pond and press for reforms.

Bernard Goetz was convicted of a gun violation - not shooting armed robbers. He was then further sued in civil court of causing pain and suffering to the one remaining scumbag and the NYC jury of his peers awarded the robber some outrageous sum like $250 million.
 

My recollection of the Goetz case is that his conviction was limited to the gun violation until he made some incredibly stupid, after-the-fact public statements...something suggesting that he meant to kill the scumbags or that he was happy about it or something like that.  This stupid statement, made long after his gun ownership conviction, gave the prosecution the wherewithal to nail him on civil charges....he brought that upon himself to some degree and it could have been avoided, if my memory serves correctly.

At least in the USA we have the freedom to move to a different city, county or state if we disagree with the gun laws as they exist in a given community.  If you want to legally own a fully automatic weapon, you can in Class 3 states such as Oregon, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, and I think Georgia if my memory serves.  Yes, there's a mountain of paperwork, expense and silliness associated with it but a it can be done if you're a good, law-abiding and honest citizen.

My hope is that more British citizens will come to visit us in the USA, where they will find that despite the pronouncements of their hysterically anti-American, Leftist press, we are generally good, friendly and law-abiding people.  Perhaps if more Brits come to visit us and see with their own eye what's possible in the grand scheme of things, they will take these ideas back across the pond and press for reforms.