Where do people buy guns from?

[LudoBear]

I do not want to buy a gun but where on earth do people buy them from? Gang members etc??

Village gun shops, if we are talking air rifles and shot guns! Shooting clubs, rifles ranges etc. A friend used to compete with pistols internationally, representing the UK. They were banned in the UK, so had to be kept under lock and key on France, where he trained!

Hunting shop for a shot gun or rifle would be my first port of call.

In France, not on France- that would be one hell of a pistol!!

They know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy...

Specialist gun shops, there's one in my town. But I suppose, if my dh wasn't a gun owner, I'd have no idea of its existence as it's quite hidden and doesn't have Buy your guns here written on the outside or anything.
It looks like an agricultural/military surplus type store.

On 24 hours in police custody yesterday an officer said 15 or so years ago gun crime was rare but now anyone can get one. Worrying

@TulipFields

On 24 hours in police custody yesterday an officer said 15 or so years ago gun crime was rare but now anyone can get one. Worrying

Thats what I'm watching haha.

I believe that in the USA you can buy an assault rifle in any corner shop!

I may be wrong as I've never used it but possibly the dark web?

@eddiemairswife

I believe that in the USA you can buy an assault rifle in any corner shop!

That's an exaggeration by some way!

They are often imported illegally by organised crime and then sold/traded. Just like drugs and people.
It’s not that easy to buy one that’s not been “used” previously for crime and they cost more. But ones that are in circulation already seem to be traded much more easily at a much lower level of crime.
My ex (police) did a stint on surrendered firearms and the number just in his patch was staggering sadly.

You can have them sent to you piece by piece via the dark web, or just sent whole if well concealed.

Theft from legitimate gun dealers or sale after the licence elapses.

Repurposing ceremonial weapons to hold live ammo.

There's also theft from armed forces/police but that's obviously a very tiny bit of it.

That's an exaggeration by some way!

It's not that far out. When I've been to the USA a couple of Walmart's (?) that I have been in had gun counters and a lot of towns have "sports" stores with an array of lethal looking large guns - definitely not air rifles or BB guns.
Not corner shops per se, but you can definitely buy a gun at the same time as buying your groceries!

In Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore opens a bank account to get his free gun. The bank has a shooting range out back. That's in the US where Wal-Mart sell guns, ammo, and flags. Your basic high school massacre starter pack.

No idea how many are coming into the UK while we aren't checking lorry cargoes at the moment.

(Although the best way to get a gun in the UK has always been to follow an armed policeman and wait until they leave their firearm in the bog).

My ex (police) did a stint on surrendered firearms and the number just in his patch was staggering sadly.

I dread to think how many souvenirs were bought back from WW2 and have ended up forgotten in crates in lofts up and down the nation.

From a gun shop! There are a couple in my nearest town, and there's probably one in yours too.

I dread to think how many souvenirs were bought back from WW2 and have ended up forgotten in crates in lofts up and down the nation.

I grew up in the 1960s. Virtually everybody's dad had a gun in the back of a drawer. At least in the circles I was moved in.

UK people, you can't just go and buy a gun here. You need a licence and also references or at least you did. My cousin has a shotgun, he had to get a reference from somebody who knows him like a doctor or policeman/woman

In America you get a semi automatic rifle as a free gift when you buy a Big Mac

Gangs in the UK have guns that have been smuggled in from all over the world. Replica guns can also be adapted to shoot live rounds. Ashley Walters (Top Boy actor) went to prison after being caught with one

@DGRossetti

In Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore opens a bank account to get his free gun. The bank has a shooting range out back. That's in the US where Wal-Mart sell guns, ammo, and flags. Your basic high school massacre starter pack.

No idea how many are coming into the UK while we aren't checking lorry cargoes at the moment.

(Although the best way to get a gun in the UK has always been to follow an armed policeman and wait until they leave their firearm in the bog).

I remember that story - whoops!

There's "country pursuits" stores for legal ones. For illegal there's word of mouth and the dark web (which I've never used but apparently it's full of kinds of dodginess)

@eddiemairswife

Walmart sells them!

@eddiemairswife

I believe that in the USA you can buy an assault rifle in any corner shop!

Or in Walmart when you go and pick up some bread!

They showed it in Bowling for Columbine - just a huge wall filled with assault rifles. It's absolutely insane.

I remember that story - whoops!

Story ????? Singular ?

Happened at least twice 2019 and 2020. And I am sure there was a gun left in a Tescos a few years back by a police officer.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/04/camerons-bodyguard-suspended-for-leaving-gun-in-plane-toilet

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54216511

Anyone who gives these clowns their unconditional support is part of the problem as far as I am concerned. Remember: they are allowed to carry guns on the rather flimsy pretext they know what they are doing.

There are quite a few (US) gun enthusiasts who have YouTube Channels. They occasionally pop up on my feed as I like history which tends to intersect with weaponry.

Videos about the real deal between a .44 and .357 Magnum, what strategies to take to deal with intruders on your property, and (for some reason) my favourite of "How to tell the police officer stopping you that you have a concealed firearm in the car ...."

I must admit, having seen quite a few I'm more relaxed about a possible NRA push to include guns in the US-UK trade deal. Looks quite fun. And loud.

when i was a teenager most of the ‘gangs’ in my city had at least one gun, normally bought from a friend of a friend that had connections. a lad i used to hang out with was shot and killed aged 15 over some silly argument, and it came out at trial that the gun and ammunition had been smuggled in from from turkey. another lad bought a gun from a friend, not knowing that it had been used in an attempted murder until he was arrested with the gun. thankfully the gang violence in the city has decreased since i was teenager and people don’t seem to be too bothered about ‘postcode wars’ any more.