UK firearms

[Øystein]

I wish someone could explain to me why firearm suicides are so low in the UK. While i am aware that it's not so easy to gain access to them, it's really far from impossible to get yourself a shotgun. Is it the efforts? The general lack of knowledge that you can own one? The fact that most suicides are done on impulse?
I mean, maybe I'm missing something even more obvious, but I'm not really a smart guy, so yeh.

 

[Superdeterminist]

I wish someone could explain to me why firearm suicides are so low in the UK. While i am aware that it's not so easy to gain access to them, it's really far from impossible to get yourself a shotgun. Is it the efforts? The general lack of knowledge that you can own one? The fact that most suicides are done on impulse?
I mean, maybe I'm missing something even more obvious, but I'm not really a smart guy, so yeh.

I don't know for sure, but I would guess that as you said, it's mainly due to accessibility being limited, and probably because people don't know how to reach a supplier, and fear attempting to. People also fear the potentially enormous legal issues if caught in unlawful possession of a gun, and to own one legally requires a license, which adds another barrier.

 

[FireFox]

I live in the UK
Here is why gun sucide are low.

1) Gun laws in the UK are very very restrictive which makes it harder to access any gun. This is what NRA think the democracts are trying to do.

The americans have the 2nd amendement which allows them to bear arms . In the UK there is no right to own a gun in the law or our constitution.

To have a gun in the UK you must get a licence. There is licence for each gun . Semi automatics are illegal . The licence must be renewed for the person to be allowed to own a gun.

When you get apply for a licence the preson must prove to the authorities they are using the gun for good reason ie maybe you want to join a gun club or live on farm. There backgrounds checks which a person must have to go through ie criminal and mental health checks as part of applying for the licence.

Any mental health problems in the past or current can complicate your application. There is a huge stigma toawrd mental health. Mentally ill people are still seen as dangerous .

Certain criminal offences can ban you from.having a gun lience.

A process like this is buruarcatic and long people may not bother as they may not see it as worth it.

2) Uk is not a gun culture as well

In 1996 mass shooter went in to a primary school in dumblane which is in sctoland and shot dead the children and a teacher. The children were under 10
Similar to sandy hook
I was born in 1997( 23 year old female)
It shocked the nation and. This incident led to a change in UK guns laws

That community and the UK was never the same again after that incident

My generation is anti gun and often we are shocked at mass shootings in america.
I am liberatarin but i believe gun ownership is bullshit personally. I hate guns they weapons of destuctiom and i will never date a man who owns a gun. I am scared he will harm me . I dont feel comfortable

If person wants to own a gun fine but should keep away from everyone else . Guns should not be in the public domain. I do thinks checks should do be done. You licence for a car so why not a gun


3) who needs a gun anyway for sucide?
Britain has plenty of stunning cliffs , countryside , forests to hide away in

Many people have killed themselves in these stunning places.

Beachy head is a good exmpale which is a beautiful cliff in east sussex known as sucide hotspot
So many places i dont even know where

 

[Iwantoutrightnow]

We're not allowed to defend ourselves against intruders in the UK so legitimately getting a gun is an issue.

 

[Jumper Geo]

Good question but the trouble is depending on the area you live if you try to apply to a gun club it sounds simple on their websites but in reality if your face and class doesn't fit they say there is a waiting list or membership is closed, clubs say you don't need a license but you can be sure someone is checking your details and I think if they did manage to join a club the majority of people don't want a business to suffer with them ctb.

 

[WhatIsMyLife]

Suicide is usually relaitvely impulsive. To acquire a firearm in the U.K, it can take many months. Suicidal people often can't wait that long.

 

[Winter_Flower]

All down to licensing. I believe in our gun regulations, especially after Dunblane happened. I'll never forgot that day. I was in the sixth form common room and the news came through around lunch time that 15 young children had been shot dead and a teacher and 12 young children seriously injured. We were all in tears. It's an horrific moment in time that changed our gun culture forever and for the better xx

 

[FireFox]

All down to licensing. I believe in our gun regulations, especially after Dunblane happened. I'll never forgot that day. I was in the sixth form common room and the news came through around lunch time that 15 young children had been shot dead and a teacher and 12 young children seriously injured. We were all in tears. It's an horrific moment in time that changed our gun culture forever and for the better xx

@Winter_Flower i was not born when dumblane even happend

I am 23

I found out about dumblane in the documentaries they showed about it.

I like our strict gun laws . We are so lucky in the UK we dont have mass shootings like the USA. Peoples right to life and wellbeing are more important than an individual right to own gun.
A licencing sytem sounds fair. You need a licence to drive a car, a licence to buy a beer . The same should apply to guns

I am a libetarian i believe in indivual freedom but not at the expense of majority.

If a person wants to own a gun fine but i would rather people would keep it far away from the public .
Dumblane is so sad and horrific.

those children never got a chance to grow up and live life. So many things those children missed out on. I am so sad and angry at the same time.

I hope of piece of shit shooter is burning in hell.

This is why i dont want children the world is such an evil place. There is too much evil.
I believe it is immoral to bring a child in a world full of suffering and evil.

I hate it when people tell me i will change my mind. It is so partonsising.
Not every woman wants to be a mother. I more interested in being someone wife than a mother

I plan to be sterilised in the future or find a man who will undergo a vascetomney.
if a doctor told me i was infertile i would be relieved.
i am sorry

Good question but the trouble is depending on the area you live if you try to apply to a gun club it sounds simple on their websites but in reality if your face and class doesn't fit they say there is a waiting list or membership is closed, clubs say you don't need a license but you can be sure someone is checking your details and I think if they did manage to join a club the majority of people don't want a business to suffer with them ctb.

@Jumper Geo I dont any know gun clubs in the UK. I didnt even know we have such clubs only until recenstly

@lostangel why the angry face emjoi
@Aap why the angry face emoi

 

[Øystein]

Well all these replies are making my heart ache, as they are sort of a reality check. This was my ideal method of choice and the only thought that made me excited for the future, but now I have no idea what I should do with myself. Thanks for your thoughts though.

 

[FireFox]

Well all these replies are making my heart ache, as they are sort of a reality check. This was my ideal method of choice and the only thought that made me excited for the future, but now I have no idea what I should do with myself. Thanks for your thoughts though.

@Øystein
I thought you lived in denmark or norway due to ø in your name

you live in the Uk.

 

[mediocre]

I am in the UK, Northern Ireland. We probably have the most guns here than the rest of the UK because of the IRA and the violence that lasted from 1969-1998. There are people here that have handguns still which are illegal. But mostly if people are shot it's gang-related and still relatively rare. Very rarely if ever are regular civilians involved. I have never been afraid of getting shot.