Bill Collins: Lars,you obviously have not experienced the bureaucracy that envelops the U.K. tax system!

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Bill, funnily enough, having looked up what legal hoops one has to jump through to own a gun in the UK, I'm starting to wonder if the reason few people own guns here is because it's simply too big a headache bureaucracy-wise!

(on a more serious note, it's a pretty impressive how strict the UK regulations are. Most of the 'assault weapons' being discussed currently are top-of the-list, 'Section 5' weapons, where the only things below Section 1 are the most basic air-rifles. And even those guns have to conform to the following:

"Air rifles with a power output of less than 12ft/lb are available to shooters without the need for a licence. For air pistols, the power limit is reduced to 6ft/lb. On no account should owners try to improve the power output of an air weapon because if they exceed these limits, they are considered ‘Section 1’ firearms.

There is no security requirement for air weapons but owners are advised to store them securely so that they may not be stolen or misused by another person.
To use an air-rifle or air-pistol on enclosed private land a person must have the requisite permission and must be legally old enough. It is an offence for a person under 17 years old to be in possession of an air weapon, or ammunition for it, except:
a. As a member of an approved club for target shooting.
b. Whilst at a shooting gallery where only air weapons or miniature rifles not exceeding .23 calibre are used.
c. Whilst under the supervision of a person aged 21 years or over, or whilst shooting, on private premises, including land, provided the missile is not fired beyond those premises.
d. From the age of 14 years old, whilst on private premises with the consent of the owner. No supervision is required."


Once again, these are the rules for air rifles (for example, BB guns). To re-iterate, these are sub-Section 1 in the UK - and yet weapons classed as 'Section 5' ("weapons that are prohibited unless special permission is granted by the Home Secretary") such as AR-15 variants can be bought of the shelf in the US with less hassle than purchasing a new car. The mind boggles...

Well, I never thought I'd be backing Piers Morgan on an issue of morality (even feels weird typing that...), but considering that 'even a broken clock is right twice a day', he's spot-on with this one.

Good mention of Dunblaine, too - and the government response to it. Namely, a handgun ban. And of course, we all know how that turned out, with spiralling gun violence in the UK due to a lack of armed professional 'good guys with guns' to take out the 'bad guys with guns'.

Oh, no, wait - that didn't happen. Meanwhile, the US has more guns than citizens at this point, and for the result of that, one only need read/watch/listen to the news. Common sense/logic, 1 - NRA, 0.

"What do we do now, arm firemen and EMT people?"

Of course! You haven't fogotten the NRA's good guys with guns grand idea, right?

Assault weapons such as those used in Newtown were created specifically to kill human beings. That's what they were used for. No "misuse" involved.