Funnily enough Simon, I was on an RMP and latterly a Police Explosives Search Team when I was asked to design a tie in keeping with what we did, but not to disclose any word or direct meaning to explosives or literally what we did.
My result......................![]()
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Thanks for finding the info about the farmer Gil. I remember that the whole incident caused a big "stink" and much debate at the time about what you can and can't do in your own home to defend yourself and your family.
He was a very lucky man!!
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
It's very interesting to see the comments of our American friends on this subject. in Europe we are not allowed to defend ourselves properly; that's for sure. However I'm not convinced the Pistol under the pillow or the rifle under the bed is such a great idea.
The majority of burglaries happen when your out of the house. So if there are arm's in easy reach; surely you are just supplying the criminals?
I know they can rob anything if they have enough time; but keeping guns locked in a safe not only slows down the criminals access; but it can also stop accidental shootings when you wake your missus when returning from the loo at 3 am in the morning!
Now this is going to get political, and I don't wish it to get out of hand, and I agree with the NRA and their values in the States, and I know a bucketload of Law Enforcement and other units operating in the States and around the world today, but as its late here its worth on this BREXIT day talking about these very same values we all treasure wherever you are.
Yes Europe has a variance to the USA, but in that, and if you interrogate the logic, we are polls apart.
The U.S. amendments are there for good reason, it was the English that caused those very amendments to be written in defence of their lives and property. But, this was written in the days of single shot muskets, and not automatic weapons as I see it.
What I can't get my head around is..............if "they" in the U.S. Congress believe they are all singing off the same songsheet, as individual States, why do some States let you buy what you want without restriction, which is predominantly in the southern States, others don't, some have a variance of ID to get a weapon, and others wear their firearms openly, like Texas.
Now that, as a comparison to the UK, would mean every County would have a different firearms law.
As an ex Police Officer, that in itself is self destructive, and I am sure, the Westminster attack would have been so different, had the guy had a firearm or access to any automatic weapon!!!. Attacks luckily on home owners in the UK are fairly rare. When they do happen and firearms are used, they are in the main used in the right context.............self defence and reasonable force.
I know we are talking a completely different landscape with thousands, not hundreds of miles apart as States, compared to our Counties of England, and in addition, we had no Indians or British soldiers or French
soldiers to contend with, which helped the individual arming process along.....but surely there has to be one regulation on the issue of "deadly" automatic weapons today, and a modicum of common sense applied to this whole subject right across the western logistical sphere??
Then, and only then, can "we" Teach are children well, which is what this thread is about.
"Incoming......................"![]()
Last edited by Gil Boyd; 03-29-2017 at 05:48 PM.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
England and the US are two totally different countries today - with totally different traditions and attitudes. This sounds suspiciously like the "guns cause crime" bit I hear from liberals. If that were true, how do you explain Switzerland?
Gil,
I didn't take the time to check the actual sizes but perhaps a better comparison instead of counties would by your individual "kingdoms". England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. We have counties, or parishes in the south which are probably similar to yours Probably a lot of our states are bigger than the UK alone. If I want to go from eastern PA to western PA it would probably take me about 8 hours on an expressway, maybe more, never did it. States tend to get bigger the further west you go, and smaller towards the northeast. Each state has it's own laws about everything. Traffic laws are even different although they are generally similar enough to not have to worry too much in going from one state to another. You can talk on a cell phone in some, not in others. You can turn right on red, maybe in all now but when that first started it was hit or miss. Speed limit maximums are different. So gun laws shouldn't be a surprise to be different. So long as they fit into the greater framework of the 2nd Amendment, which some don't, there shouldn't be an issue. And each state also has it's own Constitution. PA has it's own Amendment regarding firearm ownership and I expect the other states for the most part do as well.
The Amendment itself remains relevant. I know it's hard to believe that people still fear an oppressive government in this day of enlightenment but it is very real here. We take it very seriously. So the one shot musket then translates to an AR now. Although we are restricted against full auto for the most part.
What is called an assault rifle here is not a true assault rifle. We are not allowed to own them unless we go through an even more extensive background check and pay a tax fee for each firearm and there are no new ones. Only full auto weapons are those that were here on a specific date, 20-30 years or so ago. So if someone finds an unregistered MP40, it has to be destroyed, even though gramps brought it back legally. A semi-auto, which we can own, are not true assault rifles but try telling our media that.
I do know someone who keeps a metal fire poker under his bed in order to try to defend himself should he get burgled during the night. I'm not sure that even doing this is a good idea and I did suggest that perhaps it may be better to swap it for a large metal bodied torch. The reason I said this is because a fire poker could do a fair amount of damage to either a burglar or to himself if the burglar was to snatch it from him and use it against him. Also it could possibly be argued that having a fire poker under the bed indicated an element of premeditation to do harm to any intruder but the simple excuse of a power cut could be used for having a torch under ones bed.
Here in Canadakeeping a loaded handgun beside the bed is against the law. Still they(hidden handguns)exist, you would have to be discovered to be taken to task. If you have one around long enough things happen. Back in the early '80's I had a model 19 S&W and then later a German
produced Browning Hi Power. Once when I came home late and my then young wife was in bed she heard me at the door and grabbed the Browning...now this is where problems start because she would be less than competent under duress. All ended well. Another time I woke with a start for unknown reasons and when sense came realized I was already mobile with a loaded Hi Power. (Came from living at the edge) I decided loaded firearms might not be a good idea for me. Yes, there was a gunfight one night close to my place, even in quiet Victoria...easily recognizable in the middle of the night, I was still able to remain un-involved. Here in Canada, there would be no talking your way out of any gunfight situation I fear...
Regards, Jim