Should Britons have a right to carry concealed guns ?

[Mandy]

The issue of "gun-totting" came up in a thread.

Since criminals seem to have easy access to guns and knives (as George discussed recently), and with the recent fatal shooting in the face of a pregnant lady in London, I thought it interesting to have a poll on whether law-abiding citizens should have a right to carry concealed guns in Britain (like a 2nd amendment right in the USA).

Note that people can be licensed in Britain by the Police, e.g. for shotguns. The issue would be whether this should be extended to allow concealed weapons to be carried by citizens (e.g. a female having it in her handbag for protection).

As background, from :
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http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/columbineeight.php

"The historical context of Columbine seldom gets any mention in the mainstream media. State after state had legalized conceal carry laws for law abiding citizens. As each state passed those laws, crime plummeted."
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[Skylace]

In order to be able to carry concealed weapons in the US you need to go through special training and pass a course. If you are carried a concealed weapon and do not have the proper training and license it can carry serious penalities.

[Mandy]

[faceless]

I'm against it simply on the grounds of the accidental victims that would without doubt occur.

In a close-quarters attack pepper-spray or even a taser would probably be more effective - unless you actually wanted to kill the person.

[Mandy]

[faceless]

I didn't say anything should be legalised or not. I just said that it would be better to have non-lethal protection for the sake of innocent victims.

Being a big guy I've seen women at night look frightened cos I happen to be on the same bit of street as them - if they had guns then what would stop one who was scared from using it in "self-defence"?

If you need a gun to feel safe, I recommend moving somewhere else.

[Aja]

I am against guns Full stop .....

I live In USA now ....have done for 15 years ..... But I am a Londoner.... Guns Cause nothing but Dead People ...

[Mandy]

[faceless]

preserve of the rich? Most people who live in council or housing association houses are able to do exchanges with people in just about any other area in the uk.

as for wealthy parents buying their kids stab-vests? Surely that just proves that they'd rather put their offspring at risk rather than do the safer thing? Their incomes seem to be more important to them than their children if you ask me.

[Mandy]

From the voting numbers, looks like the 2nd amendment is a preserve of the center-right constitutionalists.

[Brown Sauce]

no.

I cannot think of anything more foreign than carrying a firearm.

[Mandy]

[faceless]

how would having a gun have protected that woman who was shot last week? Also, it should be noted that she was only 2 months pregnant, so it wouldn't have been apparent to the shooter. Not that that makes it any less bad in real effect...

[Skylace]

[Mandy]