UK taxi driver kills 12, wounds 25 in England

Associated Press ^ | June 2, 2010 | SCOTT HEPPELL and JILL LAWLESS

[Free ThinkerNY]

SEASCALE, England – A taxi driver drove his vehicle on a shooting spree across a tranquil stretch of northwest England on Wednesday, methodically killing 12 people and wounding 25 others before turning the gun on himself, officials said.

The rampage in the county of Cumbria was Britain's deadliest mass shooting since 1996 and it jolted a country where handguns are banned and multiple shootings rare.

[MichiganConservative]

Don’t they have proper gun control?

Don’t they regulate taxis properly in England?

What could government do to prevent people from acting on evil impulses?

I think I speak for the majority of FReepers when I say if it would just save one life, I’d be willing to have the government hook me up to a machine where I’m fed through tubes and my brain is connected to a virtual reality world that I “live” in so no real people could ever possibly get hurt.

[SmokingJoe]

But, but a total ban on guns (like they have in England) leads to a very safe country and no gun violence. /sarc

[darkside321]

But, but a total ban on guns (like they have in England) leads to a very safe country and no gun violence. /sarc

---

They have nothing like a total ban on guns in England.
Handguns are banned. FULL STOP. You are still able to legal buy shotguns...

[Fiji Hill]

A taxi driver drove his vehicle on a shooting spree across a tranquil stretch of northwest England on Wednesday, methodically killing 12 people and wounding 25 others before turning the gun on himself, officials said.

Had he tried the same stunt in Texas, Arizona, or East LA, the casualties would likely have been considerably fewer, and he would not have needed to turn the gun on himself.

[SmokingJoe]

Well don´t know maybe he bought it in a gun shop?

Umm.. what shop is that?
Maybe you'll show me where so I can buy one when I go back to England on a visit yes?

“Why do all people here think that all guns are illegal in the UK?”

Because they are? (apart from the usual suspects of course, law enforcement, MI5, MI5, the military etc etc)

” because they are NOT.”

Enlighten us.

[the scotsman]

Personal handguns are illegal in Britain.

Shotguns and rifles are not, although one needs a licence to own them.

[the scotsman]

Guns are NOT illegal in Britain. Only handguns.

[darkside321]

How about you went to one of the following shops in London?

http://www.ukgundealer.com/southeast/london.htm

btw. they only sell to British citizen! So sorry no gun for you when you visit London.

[Dayman]

At least none of these people tried to defend themselves against this murderer or they would have been arrested. England is bizarro world now a days.

[SmokingJoe]

1997 Firearms Act
Following the Dunblane massacre, the government passed the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997 which means that as of 1997 handguns have been almost completely banned for private ownership, although the official inquiry, known as the Cullen Inquiry, did not go so far as to recommend such action.[22] Exceptions to the ban include muzzle-loading “blackpowder” guns, pistols produced before 1917, pistols of historical interest (such as pistols used in notable crimes, rare prototypes, unusual serial numbers and so on), starting pistols, pistols that are of particular aesthetic interest (such as engraved or jewelled guns) and shot pistols for pest control. Under certain circumstances, individuals may be issued a PPW (Personal Protection Weapon) licence. Even the UK’s Olympic shooters fall under this ban; shooters can only train in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or abroad.[23]

A measure of the extent of legal firearms ownership in the UK (post-Dunblane legislation did not extend to Northern Ireland) is that the handgun bans affected an estimated 57,000 people - 0.1% of the population, or 1 in every 960 persons.[24] At the time, the renewal cycle for FACs was five years, meaning that it would take six years for the full reduction of valid certificates to be seen for both large calibre or .22 handguns bans (i.e. because certificates would remain in force, even if the holder had disposed of all their weapons). On 31 December 1996, prior to the large calibre handgun ban, there were 133,600 FACs on issue in England and Wales; by 31 December 1997 it had fallen to 131,900. The following year, after the .22 handgun ban, the number stood at 131,900. On 31 December 2001, five years after the large calibre ban, the number had fallen to 119,600 and 117,700 the following year.[25] This represents a net drop of 24,200 certificates
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_Kingdom

Try getting a license for ANY type of gun in the UK and see where that gets ya.

[darkside321]

i guess more then a million legal firearm owners in England might dissagree with you.
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/western-daily-press/mi_8034/is_20100412/uk-gun-owners-increase/ai_n53130732/

[the scotsman]

That act referred only to handguns.

There are nearly 1.5 million shotguns and rifles in the hands of 1/2 million owners.

[MichiganConservative]

Assault shotguns?

[SmokingJoe]

So how come even the English/Scottish Olympic shooters fall under this ban; and shooters can only train in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or abroad?
Olympic shooting includes shotguns and rifles, no?

[darkside321]

Well if they shoot handguns... Then Yes.
Because as said handguns are banned in England.
For the rest i think you are wrong informed.
Maybe some of them are too young or maybe a special calibre is banned too (I really don´t know because i don´t live in England)... So who knows... but for the rest as said they are legal so need to train somewhere else.

[Winniesboy]

Sorry, but you’re on a losing wicket on this one. Shotguns are widely, legally owned in Britain and have never beeen affected by any ban. I live in the rural southwest of England, where most of my farming neighbours legally own one or more shotguns. Indeed shotgun ownership has actually become more widespread round here in recent years, as the commercial game shooting estates attract many city businessmen, for whom a day’s shooting in the country has become a fashionable alternative to the golf course.

[archy]

btw. they only sell to British citizen! So sorry no gun for you when you visit London.

The last time I was in London/Blackpool on business, I was in the country for less than two hours before the handgun I carried for my three-week stay was delivered to me.

It cost me around $1000 for the use, which included a holster, extra magazine and silencer [sound suppressor] A former East German Makarov, I picked it over a few of the other types available [S&W .38 revolver, L9A1 pmm Browning army pistol] due to its compactness and the nice noise muffling accessory. I might well have taken an American Colt .45 auto had one been available, but the only .45 handy at the time was an American Ingram M10 SMG, a bit bulkier than what I wanted.

Of course had I wanted to make a little noise, I could have added a couple of Dutch V40 or Brit L109 or L2A2 hand grenades for a slight additional fee, with a reasonable deposit that would be refunded if I returned them unused, or was forfeit if I found it necessary to expend them.

Unarmed in Britain? Oh no. Not for those who know their way around.

[darkside321]

So you admit that you bought illegal weapons in London???
But anyway! Of course it´s allways possible to buy illegal guns but we are talking about legal gun ownership (and i´m pretty shure that they have not sold it to you inside a gun shop).
btw. Maybe we should start a new topic about firearms in britain because i think we have hijacked this topic about those murdered people. (May they rest in peace and my condolence to their families and friends)

[archy]

So you admit that you bought illegal weapons in London???

Not at all. I rented the use of a handgun while I was in the country, but didn't purchase it. Though if I'd had to use it, it would have been a purchase.

But anyway! Of course it´s allways possible to buy illegal guns but we are talking about legal gun ownership (and i´m pretty shure that they have not sold it to you inside a gun shop).

Actually, I never saw a gun shop per se while I was there. Though I did visit a couple of fair-sized manufacturers, including the ROF. As to whether it was legal for me to do so, that was immaterial; it was certainly illegal for someone to have tried to kill me, but that matter of legaliity would hardly have bothered them. When the government's abilitu to defend those under its protection is forfeit, so too is its moral authority forfeit. It was if the government was a dodderinng old aunt who would wish away aphids from her garden, but took no steps to actually shoo them away herself.

Maybe we should start a new topic about firearms in britain because i think we have hijacked this topic about those murdered people. (May they rest in peace and my condolence to their families and friends

Nah. They died like sheep, probably bleatring for their lives: I'm a good person! So pretty! Please don't kill me, it's so unfair!

If they were fortunate, like the bird who took the shotgun blast to her face, it was over quick, or they got it from behind and never knew what hit them.

That was at least better for them than being burned alive by Muslums because they were Christion, or being beaten bloody with pipes or sticks, but in the end, the result was the same.

Britain's just another concentration camp now, and the inmates dutifully march off to the showers when the guatrds tell them to. For the most partl. But there are exceptions.

[archy]

So how come even the English/Scottish Olympic shooters fall under this ban; and shooters can only train in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or abroad? Olympic shooting includes shotguns and rifles, no?

Well, they were working on it.

What happens next could be anyone's guess. But it surely does look like Enoch was right.