United States Gun Law

It seems to me that it is a tragedy that it is so easy to obtain a firearm in the US. Every year thousands of people are killed by firearms in murders, suicides and accidents. The per capita statistics for gun crime and accidents are alarming when compared to the UK.

In the UK 50 murders are committed annually by a gun. In the US murders with guns run into the thousands. Hardly anyone dies as a result of a firearm accident in the UK and there are few suicides using a gun . In the US there are thousands of deaths from suicides and accidents using a gun.

In the UK it is illegal to possess a handgun or a rifle in your on home or out on the street. Shotguns are subject to strict controls and woe betide you if you are seen openly carrying a shotgun in the street.

There is no good reason for anyone to possess a hand gun or a rifle . If you want to shoot a rifle you have to join a gun club where the rifles are held and locked away securely.

Surely, the US constitution conferred the right to posses arms to the people rather than the individual. This right was to allow for militias to defend themselves from tyranny rather than individuals being given the right to roam around freely brandishing handguns and rifles. The founding fathers did not intend that thousands would be killed each year in tit for tat killings , suicides or silly accidents.

When the constitution of the US was first written firearms were like muskets, they were difficult to load and they were single shot. If the founding fathers had envisioned the type of weapons that are available today they might well have changed their minds about including the right to bear arms in the constitution or they would have reworded it.

I have made frequent visits to the US and have always felt uncomfortable that individuals can carry firearms. In one location, many years ago and, at a restaurant in Los Angeles, I saw someone take off his jacket to expose a huge pistol. I was horrified and shouted out "someone  has got a gun". Everybody laughed and assured me it was the local sheriff. It was no laughing matter to me and many years later I recall the incident with horror.

Surely, it is time for the majority of American citizens to change their attitude to the possession of firearms. Drugs and other dangerous materials are subject to strict control so why not firearms?