I’ve just returned from Lunch with an American who’s working in the UK on an internship. Over the course of lunch, which in my case consisted of some dodgy soup and a red Thai Prawn sandwich (Very posh), some startling remarks were made! The discussion centred around the following; ‘Why aren’t you allowed to carry mace?’, and ‘Don’t you trust British people to carry firearms in order to defend themselves?’. You would have thought after yesterday’s incident in Amish country, the Yank wouldn’t be fighting this argument. However, she was and I must admit I found it all rather alarming. For the record, I wish to state why we Brits do not carry firearms, and why we don’t feel the need to carry mace. Firstly, we are a civil society who no longer live in a ’state of nature’. We entrust our police to protect us, who themselves are unarmed. By introducing the right for citizens to bear arms, massacres which have occurred in the States would undoubtedly occur here. Why the need? If one person decides to bear arms, others will have no choice but to do the same. In essence, stepping outside unarmed means you are more vulnerable than ever before. This allows for the prospect of over 40 Million people out and about; and armed! Second. we are not always looking over our shoulders, terrified that the next person we see walking down the street is some homicidal manic; hell bent on doing us harm. Unlike the US of A, here in Britain we retain strong moral dignity, which dictates respect and toleration. Ultimately, we don’t go about our daily business constantly terrified of others. As a direct result, society and cohesion is able to flourish within the UK. In the US, it is not. That’s not to say we don’t have problems, but we’re not topping each other in record numbers! 1 – 0 to the Brits!
October 3, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Never trust a man that can’t spell mace…
October 3, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Generalisations and stereotypes are a sure sign of poor journalism and education.
October 3, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Well then, thankfully Samba has enought good and thorough knowledge of the US of A from his visit to NYC- obviously an adequate representation of the rest of the nation. it is interesting that you attribute the incidents in the US are a result of the right to bear arms. Of course, this is assuming that those who engage in such acts will get their firearms legally, even if say, they are still in high school. It follows that you assume just because Brits dont have the right to bear arms automatically erases all possibility of a British person owning a gun. Because if you are not completely naive, then you must ask yourself how many people in the UK own guns? Who knows? Of course, in the morally bankrup, parinoid US of A we have laws that include a tracking system, waiting periods, and know how to spell correctly. Perhaps the fault lies in the Brit false sense of security- or the faith they have in the ability of their government to watch 24-7 by the government… what kind of mentality would you consider that?
October 3, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Many thanks Spell-check, but why were you so useless when I used you prior to publishing the article? After a lengthy consultation with work mates, it was decided that the spelling of ‘mace’, was correct. Clearly, we all now stand corrected. Perhaps you could share with us the correct spelling?
October 3, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Clearly a sensitive subject, but wonderful that so many have felt the need to comment! Many thanks. Firstly, I am not attempting to be a journalist. This is a blog where thoughts are shared, irrespective of political correctness. I apologise for the misspelling of the word ‘mace’, but until I receive the correct spelling I am powerless to change it. Second, in regards of ‘Yank’, there are many sound arguments. As a man who legally owns a shotgun, you are right in saying that there is nothing to prevent me from using it for ‘ill’ means. However, the avenues through which one must go through in order to acquire a licence here in the UK, is much tougher and stringent than in the US. Lastly, if the right to bear fire arms has no impact on the casualties that occur from gun crime, how do you explain the high numbers of those killed by guns in the US, compared with those in the UK? (This is irrespective of population percentages. Fact)
October 3, 2006 at 1:51 pm
‘firearms’ is one word not two. The correct spelling of ‘mace’ can be found by simply googling it.
Glad you are not attempting to be a journalist…
October 3, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Spell-check, stop being so pedantic. Considering I have already worked as a journalist, I suppose its a bit late! Anyhow, must crack on with work. Don’t want to be accused of using my computer for the wrong means. Many thanks for your contribution! (Incidentally, spell-check is not one word. Use the spell-check in future.)
October 3, 2006 at 2:06 pm
Too late, indeed. And a travesty…
Thank you for the non-ironic thanks for my contribution. Always happy to help…
October 3, 2006 at 2:25 pm
‘Ultimately, we don’t go about our daily business constantly terrified of others. As a direct result, society and cohesion is able to flourish within the UK.’
1. Have you ever been to Hackney?
2. Isn’t it a little up yourself to imply that society and cohesion can only flourish in the UK? I think we have quite a few community cohesion issues of our own at the moment, mainly due to high crime levels (and that’s crime with or without guns!)…
October 3, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Samba is correct in arguing that the availability of firearms does not necessarily elicit gun crime but certainly increases its frequency. However as Spellcheck has pointed out he is an illiterate and his opinions should be discarded post-haste. Yank on the other hand would do better to perfect her filing talents rather than mocking the intellectually deficient.
October 4, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Although there are many problems in both the UK and the USA, reducing weapons can only be a good thing. In an civilised society we must make a trade and give up some of our own autonomy, and allow the police and social systems to protect us. If we do not do this we are resorting to fear and violence to protect ourselves, and not to justice and the law.
You just have to decide what kind of world you want to live in.