Should the UK loosen handgun restrictions?

[Ucropi]

I'm in the US, and I own pistols for target shooting.

UK based target shooters would probably like handguns for the same reason.

But you can do that anyway, shooting ranges in the UK can get handgun permits from the Home Office.

Guns are made for murder not sport, please stop pretending

[Gun Manufacturers]

But you can do that anyway, shooting ranges in the UK can get handgun permits from the Home Office.

Guns are made for murder not sport, please stop pretending

Firearms are made for a multitude of reasons, not just murder.

[Aurora Novus]

The problem with America...

America has several problems. None of them are the topic of this thread.

It is the topic of conversation if one is trying to use crime rates in another country (in this case, America) to justify legislation in their own country (Britain).

Perhaps if you had put more effort into reading the conversation, instead of filling your post with undue snark, you would have seen that.

[Imperializt Russia]

I'm in the US, and I own pistols for target shooting.

UK based target shooters would probably like handguns for the same reason.

But you can do that anyway, shooting ranges in the UK can get handgun permits from the Home Office.

This would imply the GB shooting team can indeed shoot in the UK and that the Home Office could have designated all shooting ranges as... shooting ranges and granted them handgun permits, rather than having to issue a temporary clarification to the law.

Since neither of those happen, there's a more pervasive issue abound.

[Ifreann]

What would even be the point in a military if they weren't allowed weapons made to kill?

We need somewhere to put our youth who aren't in education or training.

Our unemployment figures would be terrible otherwise....

At least they'll learn how to make their beds and march in formation.

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America has several problems. None of them are the topic of this thread.

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What would even be the point in a military if they weren't allowed weapons made to kill?

None dissolve them save some tax money and lives that would be thrown away in a pointless war.

That's rather beyond the scope of this thread.

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Why on Earth would you want to own a handgun anyway?

Reenacting Dirty Harry.

[The UK in Exile]

Why on Earth would you want to own a handgun anyway?

Perhaps it's because I live in a relatively rural and affluent part of this country, but it seems that British gun advocates are just uneducated teenagers from our roughest cities that have watched too many American films.

I'm in the US, and I own pistols for target shooting.

UK based target shooters would probably like handguns for the same reason.

Indeed, if they wanted them for something other than target shooting it would probably be a little weird that they considered themselves target shooters. Regardless, there are a wide swath of legally available firearms to shoot at targets.

[Syndicapolis]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!

Aside from the fact that gun restrictions increase the State's monopoly on the use of violence, which I absolutely oppose, putting gun laws in place are not going to stop criminals from getting guns. Criminals are criminals because they break the law, so if they want a gun, restrictions won't stop them. And they're less likely to shoot if they know that civilians have handguns and can shoot them back.

[The UK in Exile]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!

Aside from the fact that gun restrictions increase the State's monopoly on the use of violence, which I absolutely oppose, putting gun laws in place are not going to stop criminals from getting guns. Criminals are criminals because they break the law, so if they want a gun, restrictions won't stop them. And they're less likely to shoot if they know that civilians have handguns and can shoot them back.

Crime in England and wales is at its lowest for 30 years.

[Gun Manufacturers]

I'm in the US, and I own pistols for target shooting.

UK based target shooters would probably like handguns for the same reason.

Indeed, if they wanted them for something other than target shooting it would probably be a little weird that they considered themselves target shooters. Regardless, there are a wide swath of legally available firearms to shoot at targets.

Pics?