Handgun Laws

Originally Posted by wyrdness

And how many gun deaths would there have been without the handgun ban in place? To me, that statistic shows that the ban is saving lives.

Yep, and I understand that but that is you surmising. We cannot possibly gauge that. My response about the comparison between gun deaths and fatal stabbings was more aimed at your suggestion that all guns should be banned.

Originally Posted by Philbo

But knives have legitimate a use, how many "country folk" go around armed with a beretta to look after there livestock? What's the legitimate use other than some folk enjoy playing with them?

EDIT -
I thought carrying a blade in public was illegal?

What is the legitimate use for a bow and arrow? Yet, still I see archery ranges bloody everywhere!

This thread has reminded me...I'm going shooting in a week and a half. Good times.

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

Yep, and I understand that but that is you surmising. We cannot possibly gauge that. My response about the comparison between gun deaths and fatal stabbings was more aimed at your suggestion that all guns should be banned.

Wyrdness & I seem to be talking about HANDguns, and you seem to be talking about any type of firearm.

Originally Posted by TazDaz

What is the legitimate use for a bow and arrow? Yet, still I see archery ranges bloody everywhere!

This thread has reminded me...I'm going shooting in a week and a half. Good times.

Is it possible to run amok with a bow and arrow? I'd take my chances with robin hood over dirty harry any day!

Originally Posted by wyrdness

Personally, I'd prefer that guns had been banned altogether if it could have saved the lives of the 12 people killed at random today by an armed nutter.

It's impossible to know how many lives have already been saved by the current handgun bad, but I'm willing to bet that it's quite a few.

The majority of gun owners are responsible, but that doesn't stop the nutjobs from going on killing sprees. For all we know, todays killer may well have been the very model of sensible gun ownership, right up until the point where he went off the rails.

Originally Posted by Philbo

Wyrdness & I seem to be talking about HANDguns, and you seem to be talking about any type of firearm.

Read the above, the first sentence tends to imply that Wyrdness believes all guns should be banned.

Originally Posted by Philbo

But knives have a legitimate use, how many "country folk" go around armed with a beretta to look after there livestock? What's the legitimate use other than some folk enjoy playing with them?

Are you serious?!!?? In a rural area, shotguns and rifles are used as a way of protecting livestock and crops from vermin (even more so now fox hunting has been banned!!

[ethariel]

Originally Posted by wyrdness

Personally, I'd prefer that guns had been banned altogether if it could have saved the lives of the 12 people killed at random today by an armed nutter.

It's impossible to know how many lives have already been saved by the current handgun bad, but I'm willing to bet that it's quite a few.

The majority of gun owners are responsible, but that doesn't stop the nutjobs from going on killing sprees. For all we know, todays killer may well have been the very model of sensible gun ownership, right up until the point where he went off the rails.

Really? How many people are killed by users of private vehicles each year?

I don't see you jumping up and down screaming 'Ban Cars, Ban Bikes!' - and yes people haveiused a vehicle as a weappon of murder in the past.


I'm crap at sport but used to be damned good with a pistol, pretty decernt with a rifle but gave up on both due to knee jerk reactions from idiot politicans, luckily any attempt to screw over shotgun owners will be stamped on by the House of Lords - too many of them shoot to allow that kind of ban go through.

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

Are you serious?!!?? In a rural area, shotguns and rifles are used as a way of protecting livestock and crops from vermin (even more so now fox hunting has been banned!!

That's exactly what i'm saying...I can see some sort of argument for some types of firearm, but can see no good reason for handguns...

[yorkie_chris]

Just sport. Same as your bike.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Just sport. Same as your bike.

Yeh, but i use my bike to get to work, it has a real world use. If i really tried, I might be able to take out some pedestrians with it, but it's no killing machine!