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[jonnycool]

I was watching this on the news earlier, there was a documentary team filming for 'Helicopter Heroes' and it showed a little bit of footage of the dead bodies lying around and the air ambulanceman confirming the deaths of two of the casualties. Sobering stuff, it could have been any of us walking innocently along...

Jon

[BigAl]

In fact, in 2007, the UK was only ranked 29th in terms of gun ownership per resident. There are a number of countries above us (e.g Germany, Switzerland) that have far more guns yet have not  suffered the same amount of gun crime. The answer to our problems lies elsewhere, I rather feel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_gun_ownership

WOAH! there - guns are illegal in this country - why are we only 29th in this list ?
we need to double-ban-cross-my-heart-ban guns 

[Banjax]

In fact, in 2007, the UK was only ranked 29th in terms of gun ownership per resident. There are a number of countries above us (e.g Germany, Switzerland) that have far more guns yet have not  suffered the same amount of gun crime. The answer to our problems lies elsewhere, I rather feel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_gun_ownership

WOAH! there - guns are illegal in this country - why are we only 29th in this list ?
we need to double-ban-cross-my-heart-ban guns 

its only handguns that are banned as far as i know - shotguns and rifles can still be owned with licences 

banning all guns wouldnt end gun crime, but it would take more guns out of circulation - only vets, pest controllers, police and armed forces need guns - other than that -  why would you need a lethal weapon? for fun?

the flipside, and where i have a dilema is a blanket ban would inevitably drive more guns underground and away from police control (a neighbour keeps shotguns and rifles for pheasant and clay pidgeon shooting - and i know he's regularly checked, i'll ask him next time i see him how often and how stringent the checks are) so do you want guns outlawed so the police know nothing about who's got them........criminals will always have guns illegally in either case. you cant make a knee jerk law because of a lone nutter 

[Nickbat]

Class A drugs are "banned", but addicts can still get their fix. From what I have read, handguns can be bought if you have the right connections. The same would be true, no doubt, if they banned rifles & shotguns. 

[Chris_H]

AFAIK guns are used for providing game in our shops.  I also don't see any reason for banning the sport just because I don't happen to enjoy it.

At present on the news, money appears to be part of the root cause of this outrage.

[rikki_essex]

At the end of the day we are never going to stop this kind of thing happening if some one is intent on doing such things then no one will be able to stop them and he could of used anything to kill these people. But i must say if this was in one of the towns in America where every one carries a gun how far would this guy of got with out being shot him self?

[albitz]

Agreed. Its horrific and tragic but it is something which cant be stopped. Guns have always been prevelant in rural communities and they need to be in order to control numbers of animals. And high powered rifles are needed as it would be cruel in the extreme to use a low powered weapon to despatch a large animal such as a Deer, you need to have a good chance of a clean instant kill.
Maybe one day we will be able to understand and prevent people becoming unhinged and acting in this way, but until we do, these terrible random acts will continue to shock and sadden on thankfully rare occasions such as this.

[Sixstring]

Can I say, (as a long time Sporting gun enthusiast) that we are checked up on regularly, most of the inspectors know us well, we are not allowed to keep excessive amounts of ammunition, and where we go and what we do is stringently regulated.
HANDGUNS are prohibited, but we are allowed rifles and shotguns, but with a lot of clauses for ownership. We have to prove cause for use and ownership, and in a lot of cases, belong to a serious club too.
We can be inspected at any time, with or without our permission by the police or the inspectorate, and our weapons are securely locked away at all times.
99% of us are sensible, responsible individuals, who completely agree with the law, and use their weapons to put meat on the table, or little holes in targets at a licenced club facility. the other 1%...............................is what gives us all a bad name.


Mike.

[albitz]

And a total ban on firearms wouldnt solve the problem of the other 1%, it would simply increase prices on the black market.

[Banjax]

At the end of the day we are never going to stop this kind of thing happening if some one is intent on doing such things then no one will be able to stop them and he could of used anything to kill these people. But i must say if this was in one of the towns in America where every one carries a gun how far would this guy of got with out being shot him self?

happens all the time in the states, and the only reason people carry guns is to defend themselves and their homes - they'll most likely run than use a gun in a case like this

[Sixstring]

Correct. EXACTLY what it did for handguns when they were first banned. You can still buy a handgun with ammo anywhere dodgy for as little as £50................! (or less!!!)