"America's Safety Catch" - good article from the BBC of all places

[sb_pete]

Here is a BBC article from last year that was a response to the one year anniversary of the V Tech shootings. The subject is how America's lack of gun control strikes British people as so crazy and irresponsible but actually results in safer and better living. Given the inevitable blatherings for gun control we are going to hear in the coming weeks after this Alabama shooting spree, I think it is appropriate:

[nooner]

That was interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[yellowfin]

Interesting indeed, but a bit off colored by its introduction. It's really sad what the British have sunk to and the length of time any recovery effort would take.

[zachary2287]

Thanks for posting that. I never thought I'd ever read something like that from the BBC.

I do have experience with the shock and horror the British have with our gun laws. I lived in Malaysia for a summer and spent a weekend with a British family. I was showing them pictures of my family in Tennessee and we were all shooting rifles and handguns on my Grandpa's land and when they saw those pictures they completely flipped. They were amazed that people were allowed to own so many guns and shoot them as they pleased.

[Meplat]

I had no idea England was that violent!

[socal2310]

I had no idea England was that violent!

So violent they are actively pursuing knife control laws.

I wish I were kidding.

Ryan

[Palindari]

It is an odd fact that a nation we associate - quite properly - with violence is also so serene, so unscarred by petty crime, so innocent of brawling.

That's an odd backhanded comment... why are we "quite properly" associated with violence?

Gotta research some violence statistics from across the pond

[Palindari]

So violent they are actively pursuing knife control laws.

I wish I were kidding.

Ryan

It's the public drunkeness and the "hooligans" as they call them twenty-somethings that wander the streets polluted to the gills - so many are there that the police can't round them up and hold them

[Corbin Dallas]

So violent they are actively pursuing knife control laws.

I wish I were kidding.

Ryan

Not only that, but in order to own an "Airsoft" weapon you need to apply for a permit.

A permit for a friggen toy...

Brit's gave up their "GUN's" for a safer world and they got shafted by the same system that promised their safety.

This is why AMERICAN's should NEVER give in to the Anti's. It just doesn't work.

[rabagley]

I had no idea England was that violent!

Many middle-to-lower class teenage boys in England carry knives and get their jollies by terrorizing everyone else within sight. Called "yobs", these kids are angry, dangerous and downright scary.

To provide one possible explanation, England is in a bit of a culture war at the moment. England has always had a significant economic imbalances between the haves and the have not's, but any anger or frustration about it has been held back by parts of the culture that stated that it was natural and appropriate, that "good families" had more amid a deeper acceptance of class differences ("Family money comes with responsibilities." "I wouldn't want it." etc.).

With the US so successfully exporting it's culture of independent achievement and the possibility of upward mobility, many of these kids are born poor and still have very few opportunities but are not just sitting back and living with it. Most of them want upward mobility and fancy stuff they hear about and are willing to steal, rob, slash, and attack to get it.

Even in the rural countryside, it doesn't pay to be walking about by yourself or as a couple on a romantic walk at dusk. It's simply too dangerous. In areas with two or three pubs, being out on the street alone is asking to get mugged or worse. You go out in a car, with a group of friends, or you don't go out at all.

[383green]

Hmm, this kinda-related story just came up on Slashdot today:

The Prime Minister of the UK is being urged to impose high taxes on violent video games in an effort to reduce the number of knife-related crime. The request comes from Richard Taylor, who argues that young people 'feel that the law has no control over them. They just feel that they can go on the streets and do whatever they like.' He doesn't have a definitive number on how much to tax on the offensive video games, but says that they should be 'very high.' Rap music is also voiced to be a concern due to the alleged negativity and language. Taylor's son, Damilola Taylor, was killed in November 2000 at the age of 10 by knife stabbing.

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/03/11/176207

[petey]

I think I'll bring along my Calguns t-shirt when I go to England next month. I'd like to get a picture while standing next to the Magna Carta. Next year I'll get pictures next to the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution.

[N6ATF]

It's just Magna Carta. No the.

[mmbasser]

English not violent?

I spent one month in a smallish English City(York) back in the 90s, and during that time I saw more fistfights than I have witnessed here in 40+ years. A couple were like rolling, running meelees involving a dozen particpants.

Every one revolved around pubs & alcohol, and were triggered by sports affilation(soccer teams) or arguements about/over women (big suprise).

It's probably a good thing guns are not as prevelent there!

[N6ATF]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1052344/Gang-warfare-streets-London-Asian-black-youths-battle-outside-Julie-Christies-house.html

You can spot the screwdriver, but look just off the top right of the brake light. It's a freaking WELLINGTON BOOT in midflight!