Gun Myths Page 3

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Surely passing more gun legislation is the best way to deal with armed criminals ?

Passing more laws will never reduce Britain's crime as criminals, by their very nature, don't obey laws. This also means they don't obey gun laws.

It is the simple fact that they aren't willing to obey laws that makes them criminals in the first place.

Why would a criminal who is willing to risk life in prison for murder, or many years in jail for armed robbery or wounding be deterred by a 5, 10 or even a 15 year prison sentence for gun possession ?

In fact, increasing minimum sentences for gun possession will almost certainly result in an increase in gun-related violence and murders as a criminal carrying a gun will be far more likely to use the weapon (particularly against a police officer) as he would face a long prison term regardless.

In 1997, the UK government passed a law banning the private sale and ownership of handguns in England and Wales.

Between 1997 and 2006, crimes involving handguns increased by 223 percent and is now a serious problem.

How can anybody regard an increase of more than 200 percent in handgun offences as a success ?

Criminals just ignore the handgun ban, and there is now a huge underworld market for guns, with criminals making vast profits selling illegal firearms.

They also ignore the laws concerning imitation guns, and they'll continue to ignore any new laws that are passed as well.

(Source - Gun Control Network 2004 - 2005)

 

The police will protect us, won't they ? We really don't need guns.

Assume you're a victim of an attack at knife or gunpoint.

You reach for your cellphone and call the police, it takes a couple of minutes to tell them where you are and what's happening.

Even if the attacker stands there and lets you call the police, it will still take the police 10-20 minutes to turn up, if they decide to turn up at all.

How would you protect yourself from injury or death in the meantime ?