Gun Ban Results

The British gun ban continues to function as expected.

Senior police officers have been warning for several months that a growing number of teenagers in big cities are becoming involved in gun crime.

But aren't they illegal? Don't those poor misguided children know they're breaking the law?

The age of victims and suspects has fallen over the past three years as the availability of firearms in some cities has risen. Liverpool and Manchester are the cities where illegal guns are most readily available, with criminals claiming that some weapons are being smuggled from Ireland. Sawn-off shotguns are now being sold for as little as £50, and handguns for £150.

So much for the ban, eh? Are you listening across the Pond?

Despite a ban on handguns introduced in 1997 after 16 children and their teacher were shot dead in the Dunblane massacre the previous year, their use in crimes has almost doubled to reach 4,671 in 2005-06. Official figures show that although Britain has some of the toughest anti-gun laws in the world, firearm use in crime has risen steadily. This year eight young people have been killed in gun attacks: six in London and one each in Manchester and Liverpool.

“Illegal firearms have become increasingly accessible to younger offenders who appear more likely to use these firearms recklessly,” a report on gun crime commissioned by the Home Office cautioned last year.

So the law-abiding have been completely disarmed and the courts favour the "rights" of the criminal class over those who obey the law- is it any wonder crime is on the rise? Note too that island Britain can't keep illegal firearms out of the country- only forbid those who obey the law in the first place from purchasing them. And while the so-called justice system forbids the law-abiding from owning firearms it also prohibits them from even defending themselves with any serious kind of force at all. Use a kitchen knife or a poker on a home invader for example and chances are you'll be the one facing jail time, not the criminal.

So, what's the government to do? Unlike other countries we already have a complete ban on handguns- they can't resort to their usual tactic of extending a ban. Well, it doesn't look like we'll be seeing a decrease in gun crime any time soon. Here are the ideas they're considering-

-a new law to compel the public to give information about gun crime

-Mandatory minimum jail sentences for carrying knives and requiring people to give information if they are aware that people have illegal weapons are among the ideas under discussion. Mrs Smith has asked the Serious Organised Crime Agency to look at ways to curb the importation of illegal weapons. - Ah, it makes so much more sense now- gun crime is up so let's try to ban knives! And let's not forget compelling people to inform on others.

-the Prime Minister said: “Make no mistake about this — the people responsible will be tracked down, they will be arrested and they will be punished.” - so what exactly, Gordon, are you going to do differently to see these results? He's kind of vague on that one.

Mr Brown added that families would be offered greater support. “The vast majority of young people are decent and law-abiding. They too want to feel safe and secure on our streets. Where there’s a need for early intervention, we will work very intensively with those families so that young people are deterred from going into gangs and guns and knife crime,” he said.

Mrs Smith has outlined a range of measures, including the increased use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and a crackdown on the sale of alcohol to under-age children. The Government has issued guidance to police and local authorities on how to use the contracts — written pledges to improve behaviour — effectively.

So, the way to combat crime is to stop under-age kids from drinking (isn't that already against the law?) and to hand out worthless "acceptable behaviour contracts". Gordon's so tough on crime, isn't he? I can tell that those young hoodlums so are not only armed but recklessly intent on using those guns to solve petty disputes will be quaking in their hoodies at the thought of having to sign a pledge to behave themselves.

Nowhere do I see mentioned putting violent criminals behind bars for a very long time where they won't be a threat to innocent people. I guess they forgot to put that in the press release. Right?