Gun Rights in the UK

[Abo]

Yeah got a neighbour like that, "parks up" as close to the school gate as possible, catches a train to the kerb, causes mayhem with her "positioning" then drives off oblivious to having the carbon footprint of a fully laden A380. Gotta love em.

[Gunshy]

It was a part of Highland life to carry weapons in Scotland until a ban by the British Government in 1745.

[Abo]

The ban may have had something to do with the English being a tad miffed of Charle's jacobite invasion of England in 1745,

[Gunshy]

Agreed
(without going way off topic)

That's the only period I can think of where "arms" were carried openly.
Theres certainly never been a "right".
Since instances like Hungerford/ Dunblane and more recently Cumbria there's unlikely to be any relaxing of firearm legislation.
Airsoft recently survived an attempt to ban it outright.
Certainly in Scotland there is a wide support for a total ban on airguns.

[littletankman]

I know this is sheer stupidity now but at the time I was a teenager (Hmmmm) , I belong to a militeria collectors group and we have regular meetings . This particular meeting a guy bought in a collection of full size replica plastic weapons he was giving away . They ranged from Sten guns to M16s . Now at the time not knowing which way my collection was going I picked up a M16 with the M203 grenade launcher fitted. Now these fired a pellet but under very low power. At the end of the meeting I carried it openly in the street for 5 mins to the bus station , it was getting dark. Then onto the bus followed by a half hour bus journey . Once of the bus I had a 5 min walk home . I wasnt stopped or questioned once !!!!!!!!!!!! Now this would be around 1987 and before the current mass shoutings . I no longer have this but do have de acts . I wouldnt even think of carrying one through the streets starting panic and leading upto a prision sentence.

[Woz]

The biggest problem with with carrying a gun (or anything that looks like a gun) in the UK is that the police have a tendency to shoot anyone they suspect of carrying a gun.

[Abo]

Don't think its quite like that Woz, people aren't shot on "suspicion" are they? If they point it or something like it at the old bill, then more fool them and thats the only way some cabbage will get shot.

Having been lucky enough never to have one pointed at me I can't say but I had a colleague who stopped a car in Handsworth in Brum one night. The kid got out of the car and pointed a pistol at him and told him to get on the floor which he did. The kid then approached him pointed the gun at his head and fired. Nothing happened and the kid ran off. They found the gun a few gardens away with the round stuck in the chamber. My mate actually crapped himself, he thought he was dead. THis was all heard over his radio as he had the presence to press his "panic" button before getting on the floor. He ended up being pensioned out 8 months later aged 31. so as far as I'm concerned, if you're THAT stupid to point a firearm or even an imitation at the old bill then you get what you deserve.

[tankmad]

A guy was shot in the Gorbals in Glasgow a couple of years ago or so and it ended up it was an ubrella that he was carrying.
Stevie

[Abo]

What? he was walking down the street, minding his own business and a copper just walked up to him and shot him in cold blood for carrying a brolly? Don't remember reading about that one.

[Gunshy]

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