Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are gun laws U?

282 replies

Backwoodsgirl · 16/03/2019 10:59

In light of recent attacks in NZ, the increase in knife and gun crime in the UK, shootings in the US and France. What do people think are reasonable options for weapons related laws?

It's clear that none on the current system around the world are perfect.

I am a Brit in the USA, and a gun owner, I also have a concealed carry permit. and I am interested to see what people see as reasonable.

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 18/03/2019 16:23

“Not sure anyone “feeds their family” with a semi automatic....
Be sure. They do. Fully automatic, no, semi - absolutely.“

Fair enough. Then they apply, prove themselves safe and fit to have the appropriate weapon and are granted a licence. Simple.

THEsonofaBITCH · 18/03/2019 16:25

If that is how they make their living then that would make them a professional hunter
Yes, I agree if that is how they make their living they are a professional hunter - very good, words defined and all. No one said professionals though so your point is moot. In fact the majority of those who use hunting to feed their families are not professionals in my experience.
I just wish naïve people would get off their high horse and stop spouting absolutes without understanding the facts and experiences of others. Just because someone lives in a world different to your experience and knowledge doesn't make them "idiots" "morons" "egoists" or bad people. Ta Ta, you can't intelligently discourse with stupid.

BloodMeridian · 18/03/2019 16:33

Americans defend their right to own guns because they know that’s what stands between them and tyranny.

“That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there” - George Orwell.

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 18/03/2019 16:34

Yet here you are spectacularly failing to understand the views of others

Walkingdeadfangirl · 18/03/2019 16:35

In fact the majority of those who use hunting to feed their families are not professionals in my experience
Well if they are not professionals then they can't be trusted with weapons of mass murder. Every other country in the world finds ways to feed their population without handing out guns to kill their own food. Or is America so poor it cant afford to?

BertrandRussell · 18/03/2019 16:36

Anyone know what %age of Americans routinely use a gun to feed their families?

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 18/03/2019 16:38

Americans defend their right to own guns because they know that’s what stands between them and tyranny

That might have worked when everyone had muskets... pretty pointless being a hand gun to a tank fight....

Walkingdeadfangirl · 18/03/2019 16:39

Americans defend their right to own guns because they know that’s what stands between them and tyranny

LOL So true, every country that restricts the use of weapons turned into despotic tyrannies.

TheFairyCaravan · 18/03/2019 16:39

If anyone wants to see how fucked up America's gun laws are they should watch the Secret Life of 5yos on catch up. They did an international one, an American boy (who's mother informed me was 6 as if it made a difference) was standing on the top of play equipment asking the other boys, he didn't play with girls they're not strong, if they had their gun licenses. He then reeled off the names of multiple firearms as he was pretending to shoot round the playground. It was one of the most sickened things I've ever seen on the TV.

Twitter, including me, went mad. His mother defended him saying "at least he knew he'd need to be safe" wrt to the license and he wasn't shooting he was hunting. I watched it with DH and DS1 both of who are in the armed forces. We were all absolutely horrified.

I'd absolutely hate my children to grow up anywhere where guns become that normalised.

DGRossetti · 18/03/2019 16:41

LOL So true, every country that restricts the use of weapons turned into despotic tyrannies.

Pretty much the first laws Hitler and Mussolini passed were to ban private firearms ...

www.independent.org/publications/article.asp?id=2287

New research on the Nazi confiscation of registered guns—and execution of gun owners—provides a poignant lesson on why Americans have always opposed the registration of peaceable firearms owners.

(contd)
...

The irony that Britain was far more vulnerable to invasion than the US with it's two massive seaboards is not unnoticed ....

THEsonofaBITCH · 18/03/2019 16:42

Anyone know what %age of Americans routinely use a gun to feed their families?
US Fish and Wildlife facts: Greater than 6% up to 12%

BloodMeridian · 18/03/2019 16:42

I’d like to see American style “stand your ground laws” brought in in the UK, we’ve been neutered to the point that we can’t even protect our property without being dragged in front of the courts.

junecat · 18/03/2019 16:46

We have guns at home. My husband shoots both shotguns and rifles so has a firearms licence as well as as shotgun licence. His guns are in one safe, his ammunition in a second and the keys to those safes are in a third one. The police come and inspect regularly and he has to provide references and proof of legitimate need (he shoots in the county team for both clays and targets). His doctors records are also checked. People committing crime with guns don't apply for a licence in the first place so changing the laws wouldn't make any difference.

DGRossetti · 18/03/2019 16:48

I’d like to see American style “stand your ground laws” brought in in the UK, we’ve been neutered to the point that we can’t even protect our property without being dragged in front of the courts.

You have cites for that, of course, beyond tabloid headlines ?

firstbrightday · 18/03/2019 16:51

I felt sure that something would change after Sandy Hook. The youth and defencelessness of the victims struck me as just heinous, I felt something just had to change.

The fact that nothing did tells me loud and clear that nothing ever will.

DGRossetti · 18/03/2019 16:55

People committing crime with guns don't apply for a licence in the first place so changing the laws wouldn't make any difference.

But UK gun laws also keep the number of guns "floating around" quite low. It's not rocket science to realise that the more guns there are around, the more shootings there will be.

Tiscold · 18/03/2019 16:58

The whole of Europe isn't in tyranny because of stricter gun laws.

Also maybe the nazis were more of a threat to us as you know we were closer to them so easier to attack? If the usa was where the uk is, then they would've faced the same threat

thegreylady · 18/03/2019 16:58

Honestly I don’t think an ordinary law abiding citizen ever needs to carry a gun. I have been appalled by the cases of small children accidentally shooting someone by picking up a loaded weapon. In fact I am pretty appalled at the concept of a home having a gun in it ever.
As for country shotguns , rifles etc which are licensed and locked away or sports air pistols for competition shooting, they are appropriate as long as they are licensed and the owners monitored.
I have never have, and never would visit USA because of the knowledge that almost everyone has a loaded gun somewhere about their person, the police are armed and often trigger happy and a disgruntled teenager can have a powerful gun as a present and walk into a school or church with murder in mind.

BloodMeridian · 18/03/2019 17:00

You have cites for that, of course, beyond tabloid headlines

Tony Martin lost his liberty for having the audacity to defend his property and while I appreciate it never went to court the handling of the hither green case last year was disgraceful.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 18/03/2019 17:01

So America need lots of guns to 'accidentally' kill lots of its own people every year to prevent America voting into power a dictator president who will advocate using lots of guns to 'deliberately' kill lots of it own people every year.

How about you just don't vote an idiot dictator to president? Oh wait, to late Sad

But hey as long as you can still shoot wildlife with semi automatics to stop your family from starving, who cares how many people they kill

DGRossetti · 18/03/2019 17:05

Tony Martin lost his liberty for having the audacity to defend his property and while I appreciate it never went to court the handling of the hither green case last year was disgraceful.

Tony Martin was judged by a jury and found guilty of murder (later reduced due to his mental health). He was not "standing his ground" he was ambushing criminals. Last time I looked, the UK did not exact the death penalty for burglary, and even it it did, it was not TMs place to deliver it without a courts judgement.

Try again.

BertrandRussell · 18/03/2019 17:05

“we’ve been neutered to the point that we can’t even protect our property without being dragged in front of the courts“

We can, you know. And we do, frequently.

BloodMeridian · 18/03/2019 17:07

How about you just don't vote an idiot dictator to president? Oh wait, to late

Democracy and liberty sometimes can’t be defended at the ballot box, and must sometimes be upheld with screeching lead.

FrancisCrawford · 18/03/2019 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 18/03/2019 17:09

Tony Martin lost his liberty for having the audacity to defend his property iirc Tony Martin was NOT convicted because he was protecting his property. He was guilty of shooting them in the back as they fled.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.