NRA-ILA press release [via ammoland.com]:
This week, UK authorities effectively admitted that the “gold standard” of gun control is not enough to protect the country from extremists that are intent on using illegally obtained firearms to commit terrorist violence. Warning that terrorists could bypass the country’s strict laws, the UK’s National Crime Agency and National Counter Terrorism Policing have issued a desperate appeal to the public for any information that could prevent terrorists and other criminals from acquiring firearms.
In an October 31 press release, NCTP head Mark Rowley made clear, “The current threat to the UK from international terrorism remains ‘severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely.” Rowley went on to note, “Despite our good work we know that firearms can enter the criminal market through a variety of means, including thefts from legitimate holders or dealers.” NCA Director General Lynne Owens also noted that criminals bypass UK law, stating, “Criminal networks, who think nothing about who they sell firearms to, present a significant route by which extremist groups will try to access the sort of weapons used in recent attacks in Europe.”
U.S. politicians could learn something from this episode. Efforts to ban commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms or prohibit firearm possession based on secret, and dubious, government lists won’t prevent terrorist violence.
Most of the UK prohibits nearly all semi-automatic firearms, and the licenses and certificates required for gun ownership can be denied for the thinnest of reasons. Further, the UK has strict firearms storage requirements, which subjects gun owners to government inspections of their firearm storage arrangements. UK law enforcement seems to have little doubt in the ability of terrorists and other criminals to bypass these stringent measures.
Attempting to stop committed terrorists or other violent criminals by restricting law-abiding citizens’ access to firearms is a fruitless endeavor. However, there is an option pointed to by former Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble that could help to thwart terrorist violence, while respecting gun rights.
Back in October, 2013, shortly after a terrorist attack in a mall in Nairobi, Kenya that killed 67, Noble granted an interview to ABC News. Noble suggested that an armed citizenry could help to combat terrorist violence, stating, “Societies have to think about how they’re going to approach the problem…. One is to say we want an armed citizenry; you can see the reason for that.” Noble went on to note:
Ask yourself: If that was Denver, Col., if that was Texas, would those guys have been able to spend hours, days, shooting people randomly? … What I’m saying is it makes police around the world question their views on gun control. It makes citizens question their views on gun control. You have to ask yourself, ‘Is an armed citizenry more necessary now than it was in the past with an evolving threat of terrorism?’ This is something that has to be discussed… People are quick to say ‘gun control, people shouldn’t be armed,’ etc., etc. I think they have to ask themselves: ‘Where would you have wanted to be? In a city where there was gun control and no citizens armed if you’re in a Westgate mall, or in a place like Denver or Texas?
In a similar vein, during recent periods of unrest, Israeli officials have relaxed the country’s gun laws in order to permit more citizens to exercise their Right-to-Carry for the defense of themselves and the public.
UK law enforcement’s warning on terrorist gun attacks is a stark illustration of the fundamental flaw of gun control. Rather than scheming of new firearms restrictions that violent offenders will simply ignore, policy makers should be looking for ways to empower the law-abiding to better provide for their own defense.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
So Members of Parliament are going to propose Platinum Standard Gun Control?
Gun control doesn’t stop terrorists OR criminals? Wow, I never would have guessed.
W A T ?
Stripping you of your self-protection isn’t protection?
If anyone’s (especially your ahole neighbors who needed a job, a/k/a: “your government”) argument is such that they “cannot protect you, until you give up the means by which you can protect yourself” only the first part of their statement is true. They are not a more noble creature than you, and their purposes cannot elevate them any higher than the singular value which you also hold.
“Common sense will tell us that the power which hath endeavored to subdue us, is of all
others the most improper to defend us. Conquest may be effected under the pretence of
friendship; and ourselves, after a long and brave resistance, be at last cheated into
slavery…. Wherefore, if we must here-after protect ourselves, why not do it for ourselves?
Why do it for another?” ( Paine Common Sense pg. 47)
Countless millions of pounds spent only to conclude bad guys are bad and a disarmed nation is warned to watch out bad guys have guns.
What is the modern equivalent of tar and feathering?
Liberal darwinism, hard at work.
Doing everything it can to ensure there are no first responders from the immediate public when evil strikes. Completely relying on the police force is just ill-advised, unless they are on every street corner and trained appropriately to deal with any level threat effectively.
Anyone can commit a crime today and it’s guaranteed the media and government will obfuscate the facts to be PC and cover up the bad guy’s basic motives to the point of hindering an effective timely response. Hell, even if the bad guys do encounter active resistance from law abiding citizens, changes are high the bad guy will still be able to ruin the lives of good guys doing the right thing because our justice system and SJW ridden society is so hoplophobic, armed good guys may as well be a 2nd or 3rd class citizens if they ever find themselves in a DGU in certain states.
Hard to believe that in WW II Americans were urged to send firearms to CIVILIANS in England so that they would be better prepared to fight off an invasion of their country–it is also often stated that the Japs did not invade mainland U.S. was because that there ‘was a GUN behind every blade of grass’–how easily the lessons of history are discarded because of liberal retarded idiots!
Please POTG-WHEN the next terrorist attack happens in the UK or continental Europe don’t plaster your FB page with flags of France,Belguim,Germany,England or Scotland…
Maybe they should wheel out our resident troll 2ASux to “reason” with the terrorists. I’m sure that after he tells them guns are bad and more illegal-er there, the jihadis will just drop their weapons and leave the country…….lol.
Haven’t seen him in a while. Here’s hoping he and his Correct The Record butt buddies finally got the hint to f*ck off.
The current threat to the UK from international terrorism remains “severe,” and it’s going to stay that way unless the UK stops importing potential or actual terrorists by the tens of thousands.
UK, you’re getting what you deserve. You wanted cheap labor to clean the toilets of the wealthy, and decent people are going to die for it.
%1,000 correct (correct to a factor of 10)
So they’re worried about terrorists acquiring weapons illegally and yet are still blaming the few legal gun owners by saying their guns could be stolen? It sounds like an excuse to double down on the harsh laws that already are in place!!
When I lived in the UK, I owned an O/U 12 gauge from the age of 17. You have to apply for a shotgun license from the police in the county where you live. You do have to state a reason (such as clay target shooting, pest control on farm land etc) but in theory it’s ‘shall issue’. You do also have to secure your gun safely, it didn’t necessarily mean a gun safe but some sort of wire restraining device was fine, especially if the house had a burglar alarm.
During the application process, a policeman/person (in my case a ‘civilian’ worker) will pay a visit to your residence to check the storage arrangement and do a very quick interview.
That was all fairly easy, the hardest part is that your application has to be countersigned by someone of good standing in the community who has known you personally (but is not a relative) for a number of years (can’t remember how many exactly).
Once you have your shotgun certificate, you can buy as many shotguns as you want (each one is manually written down on the license), you also need to show it to buy ammunition, but there is no limit to the amount of ammo and no record made. But, you can only buy shotgun shells, not centrefire cartridges for example.
There is a similar but more onerous system in place to own a rifle (yes, even a .22 or an air rifle with a muzzle energy greater than 12 ft lbs).
As to a handgun, fuggedaboutit!!!!
A famous quote from Terrorist McShooty-Guy:
“I don’t always commit violent jihad, but when I do, I prefer to stay within the infidels’ gun laws.”
A famous quote from Sociopath McShooty-Guy:
“I don’t always commit mass murder for the thrill of it, but when I do, scoffing at gun-bans just adds to the thrill.”
A famous quote from Thuggy McCartelEnforcer-Guy:
“I don’t always have to enforce our claims on respect, turf, and product, but when business requires it, I prefer to use only legally-approved tools of violence to make my point.”
A famous quote from Psycho McCrazy-guy:
“I don’t always shoot people up, but when I do, the voices always tell me to comply with the guy laws while I do.”