Brits and Aussies study American Gun Owners

[chasfm11]

From my experiences in the UK, I found the vast majority of Brits to be pathologically passive and submissive. Those who retained enough fortitude to be able to fend for themselves were disgusted with their countrymen.

Whenever I needed a little more elbow room in a bar, I started a casual conversation about the many benefits of licensed carry in the U.S.

It's a wonder they can manage to dress themselves in the morning.

Unfortunately, I've found some of the same characteristics in NEW England. I certainly understand that Vermont and New Hampshire have their share of gun supporters and people who would never be considered passive or submissive. I suspect that many in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island would find a lot kindred spirits in that UK bar that you visited. There are some gun rights activists there, too, but they are badly outnumbered by those with morning dressing issues.

I remarked to a couple of the people that I know in the Northeast that I had gotten a concealed carry license. They were on to a different subject so fast that my head almost spun. Pacifism there abounds

[bauer]

There was a recent website that I ran across, UN I want to say, that published crime rates of every single country in the world. It had so many different breakdowns of the crime rates that my head was spinning. The sad fact that was underscored by these crime rates was that of all countries on the face of this planet, Australia was the absolute most victimized nation. Now, I see this and wonder why the Aussies do not study the effects of citizen carry and the subsequent drop in crime rates, they could actually learn a thing or two then.

Dear God, I wish I could find the numbers and site. It was truly mesmerizing at how bad the rest of the world really is. The United States just gets a bad rap because of our liberal, agenda pushing media.

[CHLLady]

If your friend flips out, or maybe even if she doesn't, send her an update each week your gun doesn't exert its prodigious influence and power to shoot someone. Remind her too that there are hundreds of thousands of other carrying individuals whose guns also aren't shooting someone without provocation in Texas alone -- and probably millions of gun-owners who don't carry that have seemingly pacifist projectile dispensing tools.

Lol. We will see how she reacts.

[Excaliber]

Somewhat OT, but i had an interesting talk with a British import working the gun counter. His perspective was enlightening and observations interesting. A couple of the takeaways were:

1) There were areas he would not go because of the crime rate though he was a tall, well conditioned person. That he wasn't too worried about being shot but the possibility of being clubbed or stabbed was always in the back of his mind.

2) His opinion was that Australia was worse than England on gun laws but he never knew anybody that owned a gun, long or otherwise. However as new restrictions would be applied there was an immediate increase in crime rates both against persons and property though shootings were rare.

3) and the one that cracked me up, how polite we were in Texas and the other states he's been two where concealed carry was the norm.

Picking up a gun does not change most people. If a person was polite and thoughtful, they will be just as polite and thoughtful when they are carrying.

Part of that politeness in Texas is quiet confidence and willingness to act decisively when necessary. It is qualitatively different from submissive politeness.

[PUCKER]

Wife and I were on a transatlantic cruise from Spain to Texas a few years back. I found the cigar lounge on the first night. It was a mix of folks, a few of us Yanks, a Canadian and a few Europeeans, small group, intimate setting. We were going around the room doing introductions (name, state, country, etc.) and when they got to me I mentioned Texas...oh boy, the Euro gay boys (and I mean this with respect, we were all friends by the end of the cruise, and yes they were gay) were like sharks that smelled blood in the water "I hate Bush, do you carry a gun, are you a cowboy" and general US-bashing. I knew that this was a 15-night cruise and that I planned on smoking cigars pretty much every night and that I needed to put a polite, but firm, smack down on them....my reply: "This boat is going to the US, when we hit Miami you don't have to get off the boat if you don't want to, matter of fact you can depart the boat before we reach the US...now gentlemen I propose that we stay off the subject of politics and just continue to have an enjoyable night!" A chorus of "here, here" and a toast came from around the room. Politics put away we continue to have an enjoyable two week cruise.

[VoiceofReason]

I have become very disappointed in the Brits. I have not read anything concerning the attitude of the Irish and Scottish people concerning self defense. Can anyone enlighten me?

I think you know this Scotsman's opinion.

Andy, have you been to Scotland recently? Have any idea as to how they look at self defense? I imagine the Scottish and Irish are more prone to defend themselves than the British.

I don’t know about the Scottish and I don’t know about today but at one time I believe just about every Irish man had a shalale and knew how to use it.

[CHLLady]

I have been to Scotland twice, but have not lived there or had any Scottish friends. But i am part Scotish! ;) Absolutely beautiful country, BUT super extreme in their liberal mindset. I was so shocked to learn this about Scotland. I guess I had this romantic notion of them being more like Texans, but I was so wrong. Their parliament let the Lockerbie Bomber go home to a heroes welcome for "humanitarian" reasons because he was dying of cancer. Turns out he lived much long than expected and it was said they released him for an oil deal with Libya. It was so very disappointing. England criticized them big time for that.

[The Annoyed Man]

I'd like to know why it is they feel the need to study American gun owners, like we were some species of bug they can pin to a board and look at under glass. They would be a dadgum sight better off if they studied their own gun owners. They'd find most of them to be criminals.

[VoiceofReason]

Because they haven't had that level of personal responsibility in living memory, they simply cannot fathom having it.
Because the only gun-use they see is reported by their MSM, and all negative at that.
Because they don't have the right to defend themselves with arms (or otherwise), they can't possibly support others' right to do so.

And if they were invaded by another country, and their government overpowered, guess who they would expect to rescue them?

[Vol Texan]

Small note - England, Wales and Scotland together make up what is called Britain. Add Northern Ireland to Britain, and you have what's known as the United Kingdom ;)

You're right, Andy, and most folks don't know the difference. To be honest, it's quite complex, but this video should help out (and make a few folks laugh along the way):

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10[/youtube]

[CHLLady]

I have become very disappointed in the Brits. I have not read anything concerning the attitude of the Irish and Scottish people concerning self defense. Can anyone enlighten me?

I think you know this Scotsman's opinion.

Andy, have you been to Scotland recently? Have any idea as to how they look at self defense? I imagine the Scottish and Irish are more prone to defend themselves than the British.

Southern Scots eg. Glasgow and the like seem to me to be closer to Englishmen in terms of liberal attitudes (although they'd deny it). Northerners - of which I'm one - tend to prize education, conservative thought and self-reliance as it's more farming/fishing country up there and less industrial than the south.

Small note - England, Wales and Scotland together make up what is called Britain. Add Northern Ireland to Britain, and you have what's known as the United Kingdom ;)

Problem is, decades of attrition via loss of firearms rights and liberal encroachment have turned a fine people into zombie dullards, reliant on government for almost everything. Don't let it happen here.

Yes, I do know the difference, if you're referring to me. I lived in East Anglia, England for 4 1/2 years. I said "England" because our papers and locals I knew criticized them for it as that is what I saw personally, I imagine the rest of the UK did as well.

Gotta love the Scot accent and a man in a kilt! We renewed our vows in a castle in the highlands with Celtic knot rings purchased in Edinburgh. Scotland is one of the most beautiful places I've ver visited. Sigh... I'd love to visit again. We didn't get to see Nessie. Lol

[bauer]

There was a recent website that I ran across, UN I want to say, that published crime rates of every single country in the world. It had so many different breakdowns of the crime rates that my head was spinning. The sad fact that was underscored by these crime rates was that of all countries on the face of this planet, Australia was the absolute most victimized nation. Now, I see this and wonder why the Aussies do not study the effects of citizen carry and the subsequent drop in crime rates, they could actually learn a thing or two then.

Dear God, I wish I could find the numbers and site. It was truly mesmerizing at how bad the rest of the world really is. The United States just gets a bad rap because of our liberal, agenda pushing media.

I found one of documents I was referring too. The actual information I saw had taken this report and placed it into an interactive map... overall it was much easier to bear and more organized breakdown. That being said I could not find that map but did find one of the reports it was based off of. It is a pretty interesting and informative read should one find themselves bored enough to examine it. Yes, it is a UN report but it is all fact and not biased against the United States at all, surprisingly enough.

http://www.unicri.it/services/library_d ... report.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It also does not cover homicide rates as that takes a separate report in and of itself.