“Firearms in Ireland are extremely strictly controlled,” wikipedia.org informs, “both with strict legislation governing licencing and very conservative application of that legislation by the Gardaí.” Skipping ahead a bit we learn that “self-defence and the defence of property do not constitute a good reason when applying for a firearms certificate. Applications made for firearms certificates for such reasons will be refused.” And yet there they are, farmers and farming communities plagued by crime, admitting that they’re sleeping with shotguns under the bed. Also illegal! But what you gonna do when gun control somehow mysteriously fails to curb firearms-related crime – or any other crime. Quite the opposite in fact. As they say in the Old Country, God is good, but never dance in a small boat. Or something like that . . .