Gunman ran amok in Cumbria. Should private ownership of guns be banned?

[sandyRoe]

What good reason can people have to keep guns?

[36TEAK36]

I recall reading somewhere recently that a vast majority of gun crime is commited using illegal firearms. I personally see no reason why someone would wish to own a gun, but I do not think legal ownership should be banned as this will not stop gun crime via the use of illegal firearms.

[jackthehat]

Bar the Police and the Military, I fail to see why anyone (bar Farmers/Gamekeepers), should require any firearm other than a shotgun.

If there were no handguns and no semi/automatic weapons, these could not be stolen by gangs and thugs.

Anyone seen in possession of a firearm would then be understood to be acting illegally.........

[joeluke]

Totally agree with JTH

[36TEAK36]

Jackthehat, a little niaive I think. That's like saying banning class A drugs will stop people getting hold of them, which we all know is completely untrue.

I don't think these illegal guns are stolen by thugs and gangs from people owning them legally, they are imported illegally and sold to these thugs and gangs. Banning guns will not change this, and may even increase the volume of guns illegally imported into the UK.

[sandyRoe]

The point I was trying to make is that the murderous rampage killers usually use their own weapons. Think of Hungerford and Dunblain.

[bobjugs12]

Sport.

[McMouse]

Need a clean shot with a rifle to kill deer. Shotgun most unsuitable for this purpose.

[joeluke]

Killing deer is gamekeepers WORK

I think the OP means everyday folk keeping guns in their homes

[bobjugs12]

More people die in car accidents, stabbings or pub fights than shootings. Why don't we ban those? Target shooting is a sport enjoyed by thousands, so why are they being punished for something that, although tragic, is very rare.

[nogginthenog]

Ban knives that will stop all this knife crime the only people who need a knife are the Butcher's the rest of us can use a spoon.
If you have a gun you should get 5 years that would put a stop to it

[McMouse]

It's rude to flame joeluke. I'm not a gamekeeper and I stalk and shoot deer.

[jackthehat]

Whenever this comes up 'proportion' goes out of the window.
Unfortunately, 'sports' weapons should never have come under the ban, and I am certain that there ought to have been ways of ensuring that their use and storage could have been tightened up, rather than a blanket ban.

Ok, perhaps I should have said 'rifle' instead of shotgun. I still maintain that no ordinary bloke/blokess in the street needs to have a gun kept at home *for any reason*.

36TEAK36 - I'm not in the least naive, but thanks for your input.

Bob - you know how much damage a single weapon can cause - a potential *kill* for every bullet/round/cartridge (have I missed any out ?) the gun-weilding loon has..........

[dinsdale]

would have thought that the answer is to register every gun, ensure that the owner is a member of a gun club, ensure that the weapon is always kept secure in a dedicated armoury located at said gun club.
Should any gun be removed a police appication must first be made and at least two gun club owners be present.
This allows legitimate use for clay pidgeon/pest control/target shooting, also removes legal guns from the streets.
This wont stop illegal guns, granted, but neither would any law. If something is banned under law all that results is a new opening in the black market.