Ahern signs new gun control act into law (Ireland bans handguns to halt "gun culture" emergence!)

I’m sure glad my ancestors had the good sense to move here.

"Mr Ahern says the legislation is designed to halt the emergence of a gun culture in Ireland."

Delicious irony from the same folks who invented the car bomb.

Response from the socialist slopjar,

the republic of Ireland the Uk are generally considered this side of the pond to be governed by center-right governments. Depending on the yardstick used in defining what is a socialist state; most observers I imagine would conclude, by international standards we over here are not infact any kind of slopjar for socialist ideology. Many countries have some kind of labour party, if this is what you considered governed by socialist,I suggest you take a close look at the ruling labour goverement in the UK. Long has the notion gone that the labour movement / parties around the world are geared solely as representatives of the workers.

All the main terrorist organizations in the ‘NORTH OF IRELAND’ ceased activities approximately ten years ago.Many of their leaders are now involved in the political system that governs NI. Their arms were decommissioned as part of a political process that stretched over several years of intensive talks. It involved 3 governments inc the former chairman of those ‘Talks’ US Senator George Mitchell, who showed great wisdom and skill in his dealings with all concerned.

Over the 30 years of what was called ‘the troubles’ we in the south of Ireland (ROI) had our handguns & large caliber rifles taken-in under a tempory ban. The ban ended up not been so tempory in that it lasted the entire 30 years. It took many court cases fought by our shooting organasations to allow the return of handguns. This new up-dating of our licensing system (similar to Uk / Canadian )initially did not have any intention of banning handguns until a certain new Justice Minister on taking up his position brought his own ideas of not issuing any new licenses for handguns with an exception been made for Olympic type handguns. Only already licensed handguns can be kept and licensed. No new licenses will be issued for handguns.

He minister Ahern, did not want in his vew,the devolvement a hand gun culture with references to the US as an example! He did not want drug gangs targeting licensed handgun owners. ( who have arsenals of illegal weapons) Extensive lobbying of politicians could not persuade this minister not to take the action he choose to follow.

We do not have the right to own firearms in our constitution; US citizens are in the fortunate position of having a constitution that does recognize this right. For unclear or exact reason, minister Ahern elected by the people can and did take make this decision to ban new any licenses,he believes his views on this matter are right and correct. He went on to win the backing of our government and had this bill passed by parliament.

Conclusion.Only paramilitary during 30 year of conflict had access to illegal arms & explosive. I don’t know about the united states but ordinary citizens here in the south of Ireland never received bomb making instruction possibly alluded to by the posters. I’m sure this is a sense of irony at play.

Regards from Ireland. Keep enjoying them guns.
IRL Joe.

Gun culture bs?
Is reading posts at Free Republic a reading culture?

"The only terrorist incident that led to a larger loss of life came in May 1974, when 35 people died after three car bombs were set off by a pro-British Protestant paramilitary group. However, those attacks occurred in Dublin and Monaghan in the Irish Republic, rather than Northern Ireland."

Welcome to FR. Whereas, the technique caught on world-wide, I somehow find it hard to believe the people in the Irish Republic can maintain any lofty sense of immunity from the paramilitary siren's song. Looks like someone in the South was familiar with the technique. See source:http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9808/15/n.ireland.04/

Power Monkey,
I should have added; licenses for handguns first started to be issued in 2004. Practical pistol became popular and as a result was ONE of the deciding factors as to why this ban. This event eleven years (seen source remember it well) ago galvanized the determination on all sides, it did not de-rail the talks as intended. The people on the island of Ireland voted north & south for what became known as the Good Friday / Belfast agreement. The Irish Republic changed it’s constitution, final proof if needed that the actions of a few (not in support ) on that day were unable to stop the final push for peace. To be clear, the vast majority here in the south never had “any lofty sense of immunity” nor do we maintain it,as in the present tense.Like many conflicts they tend to become complex in nature with no one having a monopoly of the truth either side.

Many will remember! The world economy is now the front page.

Hope this helps,
JOE.