What Do British People Think About the U.K.’s Gun Restrictions? [View all]

[SecularMotion]

Firstly, British people do have the ability to purchase firearms, but they are strictly controlled. It is not all that difficult to get a shotgun license if you live in the countryside, and I know people who legally own .22 rifles for the purpose of killing rabbits and wood pigeons on farmland. However, handguns were outlawed in 1997, and only the police and military are permitted to carry automatic weapons.

I do not want it to be any easier than it is now to legally purchase a gun, and I know very few people who do. I don't want to buy a gun because I have no need for one. More importantly, there are plenty of other people around who can't be trusted with a gun, and I want it to be as difficult as possible for them to buy guns.

I would be uncomfortable if it were made easier to buy firearms. The U.K. has one of the lowest rates of gun homicides in the world, and I like it that way. Our society does not have any problems that would be solved by introducing more guns.

Superficially, it might seem like a nice idea to have a pistol on hand in case someone ever breaks into my house in the middle of the night, but I'm not sure how much it would help. If the burglar knows I might have a gun, he's more likely to have one, too. He's also probably a lot more comfortable about pointing it at someone than I am. And for that, I would have to accept the responsibility of owning a gun and storing it safely where my children and visitors can't get at it. I've never had to deal with an intruder at my house, but there have been occasions when people have hurt themselves playing with my mountain bike or penknife after a few beers. Thank goodness that I don't have a gun.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2014/05/01/gun_laws_in_the_u_k_do_british_people_prefer_handgun_restrictions.html?wpisrc=burger_bar