Therefore, it is wrong to say that Michael Howard and his cronies are responsible for making the British people defenceless against violent criminals. Their policies were just an extension of an old government bias against the civilian ownership of firearms. It is an offence in Britain to carry any sort of implement that could be used as an offensive weapon. That includes objects like metal pipes and coshes, and of course, airguns, tasers, knives, pepper sprays, CS gas etc.
The British government does not care about protecting the lives of its subjects from criminals, it sees all of its subjects as little better than criminals. It just wants to protect itself from its subjects. Its philosophy regarding gun and weapon control can be summarised by this quote from a famous statist thinker:
"The first thing you have to do is disarm the people. A disarmed public can't fight back."
Adolf Hitler
Oh, by the way, now the British government is debating licensing airguns!