The home secretary today said the Government would "consider all the options" on gun laws, as the prime minister cautioned against a "knee-jerk reaction".
The home secretary said the Government would “consider all the options” on gun laws in an emergency statement before the Commons this afternoon, as the prime minister cautioned against a “knee-jerk reaction” on gun ownership laws following the murder of 12 people in Cumbria yesterday. The comments came as police confirmed the weapons used by Derrick Bird were legally held firearms – he had held a licence for 15 years.
Though there was agreement from Alan Johnson, the shadow home secretary, that there should be no rush to change firearms laws but they should be reviewed, there were growing calls today for tighter gun control laws in Britain. Peter Squires, professor of criminology at the University of Brighton, wrote in today’s Guardian that “if gun owners weren’t able to store ammunition at home mass shootings would be less likely”.
Professor Squires explained:
“If firearm owners were not permitted to store guns and ammunition at home, the incident could not have happened… the risks are out there – if gun owners are to keep their weapons at home, as they want to, then they should not be allowed to keep ammunition at home as well.
“We can’t look into a crystal ball to say who may or may not be about to go off the rails/encounter depression/be consumed by murderous rage – but we ought not let them have the means to perpetrate a mass shooting outrage if and when they do. Keeping guns separate from ammunition would make such incidents preventable – and our communities safer places.“
International evidence shows that there is a correlation between the percentage of households with firearms and the rate of intentional firearms deaths per 100,000 of population, as the graph below illustrates:
There have, however, been some calls for gun licensing laws not to be tightened, but repealed – citing Israel and the United States as examples Britain should follow. Dr Sean Gabb, director of the Libertarian Alliance, said:
“The Libertarian Alliance notes that these shootings would have been extremely difficult in a country where the people were allowed to arm themselves. In the United States, at least one campus shooting was brought to a premature end by armed civilians. The same is true in Israel, where many members of the public go about armed…
“All the Firearms Acts from 1920 onwards should be repealed. The largely ineffective laws of 1870 and 1902 should also be repealed. It should once again be possible for adults to walk into a gun shop and, without showing any permit or proof of identity, buy as many guns and as much ammunition as they can afford.”
34 Responses to “Calls for tighter gun control in wake of tragedy”
Vortex
I’m curious if anyone here thinks a gun ‘made the situation worse’ in this attempted rape. I would like the same ability to defend myself and others as these people.
http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2010/06/05/armed-mother-saves-her-daughter-from-a-home-invading-rapist/
Would you advise these people to give their guns up to be destroyed?
http://www.learnaboutguns.com/tag/self-defense-example/
http://lpuk.blogspot.com/2009/09/crime-victims-uk-us-comparison.html
Anon E Mouse
mike – You are thrashing around looking for a argument dude.
Let’s get back to your first daft comparison between the Countryside Alliance and the National Rifle Association.
The reason I ask if you know anything about it is that the Chairman is the staunch Labour MP, Kate Hoey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Hoey
LABOUR MP mike. What do you think of that then dude? Are you now prepared to publicly revise your previous incorrect statements?
Mr. Sensible
This is the first chance I have had to comment here, and so I begin by giving condolences to those involved.
I agree we should wait until we know the full facts, but given what we know so far, I think we need to tighten up our gun controls. Firstly, I agree that people don’t really need to have guns in their homes; if people need to use them for sport and hobbies, which I think is dubious anyway, then they should be kept at a shooting club or something.
Second, we certainly do not need to reduce our gun controls; it is thanks to them that these incidents are so rare in this country. In America, where the Right to Bear Arms is enshrined in their constitution these are more common.
I also can’t believe that people are having a go at the police already. Given time, once everything has been sorted, we can have a look and see if any lessons can be learnt. But some of what the papers are doing now is irresponsible.
Anon E Mouse
Mr.Sensible – I agree with the majority of your post but not the bit where we all do the typical Labour reaction of rushing in a new knee jerk law. I expect better from this coalition government.
No offence but this country, as shown at the election, has had enough of Labour control freakery so I think we should let the whole thing calm down and then see what can be done in the cold light of day.
Fortunately Nick Clegg is in a position to repeal much of Labour’s draconian legislation and the sooner he gets on with it the better. We need more intelligent governance in this country.
Finally I agree with your remarks regarding the police but I remember the same paper, the Mirror, printed faked pictures of soldiers allegedly abusing Iraqi prisoners – they have form.
I just go from the fact anyone stupid enough to employ Kevin McGuire in ANY capacity, particularly in a political context, doesn’t deserve to be read anyway. It’s like Polly Toynbee lecturing people about private schools and climate change – hypocrisy should always be ignored.
Mr. Sensible
Mr Mouse, I agree with you to a point, however, this guy held a lisence for 2 guns.
To my mind, there seriously no need for an individual to have access to a gun.
It is a right in the US Constitution, and look what’s happened over there.
This needs to be placed under serious review here.