Shock, Sympathy And Denunciation Of U.S. Gun Laws (British Asks, What Price the Right to Bear Arms?)

The Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, April 17, 2007 | Kevin Sullivan

[MinorityRepublican]

LONDON, April 16 -- The Virginia Tech shootings received extensive news coverage around the world Monday, leading many to question how such violence could keep happening in the United States.

In Britain, there was shock at the scale of the killings, but many people said they were not surprised, seeing the United States as a nation obsessed with guns, where firearms are easy to obtain.

"I think the reason it happens in America is there's access to weapons -- you can go into a supermarket and get powerful automatic weapons," Keith Ashcroft, a psychologist, told the Press Association. Ashcroft said he believed such access, along with a culture that makes gun ownership seem normal, increases the likelihood of such attacks in the United States.

"When you look at these cases, someone is depressed and they have access to weapons, they're going to be using that method to kill," Ashcroft said. "It's just simple opportunity."

[A White House spokesman said President Bush was horrified by the rampage and offered his prayers to the victims, the Associated Press reported. "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.]

Early editions of Tuesday's London papers were dominated by huge headlines and photos of police hauling the wounded out of a building at Virginia Tech. "Executed at Uni," said the Daily Mirror, using British slang for university. The Daily Mail's headline, meanwhile, asked, "What price the right to bear arms?"

Gun ownership is strictly regulated in Britain. The Home Office, which is in charge of public safety, said gun crime accounts for less than half a percent of all crime recorded by police, according to the Press Association.

[RobbyS]

Yet a killer can walk into a school and kill many young children.

[Slump Tester]

Well for starters, we haven’t been under their limp-wristed thumbs for 231 years.

[BigSkyFreeper]

In Britain, there was shock at the scale of the killings, but many people said they were not surprised, seeing the United States as a nation obsessed with guns, where firearms are easy to obtain.

OK, so the "killer" is reduced to an "easily obtainable firearm".

Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

[tcrlaf]

They should be asking the price for NOT carrying weapons...

[Mr. Blond]

I’ve been to Albertson’s, Ralph’s, Safeway and Hy-Vee, and I just can’t find the powerful automatic weapon aisle.

[LongElegantLegs]

Oh no they din’t.
It’s a good thing that there’s no more violent crime in the UK, or this article would come across as mindlessly hypocritical.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Yet a killer can walk into a school and kill many young children.

Meanwhile, across the pond, murder by knife is on the rise in Great Britain, so much that Parliament is proposing restrictions.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

What price unarmed unpreparedness? 33 Lives today.

[tcrlaf]

Today’s Lesson is that Unarmed Citizens Are Dead Citizens..

Easily victimized by Mass Murderers, criminals, or Liberal Socialists...

[skaterboy]

Gun ownership is strictly regulated in Britain. The Home Office, which is in charge of public safety, said gun crime accounts for less than half a percent of all crime recorded by police, according to the Press Association

so what accounts for the rest...mmmmmmmmmm

[america-rules]

"I think the reason it happens in America is there's access to weapons -- you can go into a supermarket and get powerful automatic weapons," Keith Ashcroft, a psychologist, told the Press Association. Ashcroft said he believed such access, along with a culture that makes gun ownership seem normal, increases the likelihood of such attacks in the United States.

Two LIES Right out of the gate !

[tcrlaf]

60+ victims in a building with hundreds of people, and not a SINGLE legal gun-owner who could have stopped the slaughter...

It really very simple: LIBERALISM KILLS

[M0sby]

“I’ve been to Albertson’s, Ralph’s, Safeway and Hy-Vee, and I just can’t find the powerful automatic weapon aisle.”

Oh come ON...everyone knows that you have to get them at the counter with the cigarettes and Sudafed.
They ARE dangerous you know.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

British Asks, What Price the Right to Bear Arms?

Americans answer...Any Price.
We will be the ones to stand between the rest of the world and slavery. No thanks are necessary. It is what we do.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I knew this was coming a while back. I just hadn’t nailed down the how.

Now, with the libtard congress in place, this is going to be used as the catalyst.

Cache ‘em if you got ‘em fellows, the grabbers have just been reborn anew. And they won’t stop until we’re as helpless as the panty waist brits.

[BigSkyFreeper]

"I think the reason it happens in America is there's access to weapons -- you can go into a supermarket and get powerful automatic weapons," Keith Ashcroft

Dunno which grocery chain he shops at, but I've never seen powerful automatic weapons at the two I shop at.

[fabian]

yep...they are retarded. Let’s just all be sitting ducks for the next evil rampage!

[kcvl]

Dr Keith Ashcroft

Occupation: Consultant Forensic Psychologist

and expert in sex crimes, based in Edinburgh, UK

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

This question from the once great nation which has experienced a stratospheric increase in violent crime since enacting dictatorial gun control.

You can’t pick up a US paper any week without reading about another young lady getting mugged and her cell phone stolen by the wonderful immigrant community in England.

The Mother country needs to ask itself what cost gun control? It didn’t work in Australia or Canada and it is not working in PC Britain, either.