Gun control is virtually impossible because this country based its freedom on guns. We have a constitutional right to do so. The problem is people lacking morals and untreated mental illness.
To some extent I agree, everybody "should" be able to have a gun, and everybody should be able to be trusted to have a gun. But that is not the case.
Once upon a time people were property you had a right to own slaves. then the law was changed and you didn't.
Now it is only the criminals that own slaves.
Once upon a time a husband could not (in the sense of the law) rape his wife. Now it is only criminals who rape their wives.
Sometimes those laws being made that restrict previous freedoms are necessary/right, yet still unpopular.
essentially given that we know that some people should not be able to own guns, (and that is currently the law in the US. why is there such objection to changing the premise from everyone should be able to have a gun, except those people.
to everybody should apply to own a gun, and be allowed to own a gun, except those people that arguable should not. (basically the same people who could previously own guns before could now, and the people who cannot now could not now -the only difference is the oversight.
You obviously do not understand the US or how we view our freedoms. Trying to ban or confiscate guns here would only disarm those who abide by the law(s) already. It blows my mind that people cannot understand that.
That is the same everywhere in the world! (if you cannot legally own a gun only the criminals own guns.) yet gun crime is not a significant problem elsewhere.
Besides which, I don't think that anybody has suggested taking guns in entirety, just having better, (and enforced) control. (the idea that the government are coming to take away your personal property is a myth pedaled by people who want unregulated gun ownership.)
As Celery pointed out, the guy should not have owned guns in the first place, someone failed in their job to control guns properly. - I assume that you agree with the principal that criminals and unstable people should not be able to own guns, (else things like this happen.)
I think a part of the problem is that the system is too porous, by which i mean, if you melted all the guns in the US today, more would filter in through land borders with Mexico and Canada tomorrow.
Also, even if you managed to control the flow of guns into the country effectively, there are still sale issues, (as pointed out,) face to face sales are permitted, and pretty difficult to regulate effectively.
A huge part of the problem is that really, nobody knows how many guns are in the country, or who owns them, or who can access those.
-and yes it would take a hugely restrictive law, like a total ban to get a handle on that in a single year, but why would you aim to do it in such a short time frame?
I don't think that the UK has "the best" gun laws in the world.
but, I offer this as a suggestion on gun control.
After a mass shooting (in a school) (I guess a bit over 20 years ago.) where a "pillar of the community" type guy, (really involved, scout master, active in local church type guy.) systematically murders a load of kids, hand guns are essentially banned.
the only people who have handguns now are:
the police,
the military
sporting clubs that are licensed to have them.
criminals.
We have two categories of gun that "anyone" can own, Shotguns, and "firearms".
Shotguns are simple double barrel, break barrel type. we can't have either automatic, or pump-action type shutguns.
the ownership of these is a fairly simple affair.
you apply for a license at your local police
your gun store is inspected by the local police
your application must be supported by a person of "good standing" (i.e a doctor, police officer, solicitor etc.)
you get your license, you buy your shot gun, register the serial numbers etc. and you keep it.
every five years you renew your license.
if for some reason you don't re-new your license, you may still own the gun, but you cannot keep the gun at home, - that means you need to store it at a local gun shop, (where most reasonable size town will have a gunsmith/gun shop. or club.) - I'd be surprised if everyone didn't live within 20 miles of one.
You can go and get your guns and take them hunting... there are a few eccentricities about how you can take them places. (for the purpose of the law your car is a "public place" so you can't throw them into your car and go to a bar. but you can throw them in your car, go hunting, put them back in your car, take them home, unload the guns, then go to a bar...
Firearms, is a bit of a strange classification in UK law, it covers everything from high powered air riffles, (where classification is based on the pressure used to launch the projectile.) to hunting riffles, it used to include handguns, (but now doesn't as they are entirely banned.) I think it includes black powder rifles/muskets, and cannons etc.
(but black powder may be governed by a pyrotechnics licenses.)
We don't have automatic, nor semi automatic firearms in public hands, only the police/military/criminals get those.
the process to get a firearm is more stringent, and takes a little longer. but there is no reason that you would be denied one unless you have a history of criminality or mental problems. (i've a friend who has just been granted his.)
Again, you need to register serials, must have secure storage, that secure storage must be inspected by the police on a regular (five year) basis.
(secure storage is just an all metal gun safe that is double locked and secured to an exterior (brick) wall.)
I'm afraid that you'll never take away our guns so don't restrict us good citizens from carrying our guns everywhere we go and uphold the laws ourselves because you sure ain't doing it but make more BS laws.
you already are stopped from carrying guns everywhere you go as there are "gun free zones"
Another peculiarity of the UK is that we don't have gun free zones. I suppose this is due to an expectation that most people just don't have guns.
(so in that small aspect we have more gun freedom than the US!)
my view may be skewed by country living, but I would not find it either alarming or unusual to hear gunshots during the day.
I would not find it alarming or unusual to see a guy stood on the edge of town with a gun, not in a case just being carried.
I would not find it either alarming or unusual to see a person carrying guns in a soft gun case through town. (if they were walking.) possibly going into shops or supermarkets with their guns.
There is no such thing as a carry permit. (either open or concealed)
you either have a gun, (and what's the point in having it if you can't take it places.) or you don't have a gun.
Imagine this scenario: In the old Western days you walk in a saloon intending to shoot up people. Guess what? You'll be full of holes before you empty your six shooter.
There is a you tube video about that. where a guy walks into an office with a musket and shoots one person, then stops and spend a couple of minutes reloading whilst everyone runs away.
Also, i'm not really sure that history was actually like spaghetti western films where everyone was murdered and whoever was left in the bar just went back to their drinking.
