I'm not debating this because I'm going to my new house soon and I won't have internet. What I will say is all the hypotheticals regarding getting a shotgun out of a locked safe and then loading it are all moot. When applying for a firearms license "self defence" isn't a valid reason, hunting and target shooting are. If I had a license trying to get my shotgun out of a safe and load it would be stupid, because if the burglar doesn't find you trying to load it and gets scared and leaves/tries to stop you by force you're going to shoot him and end up with a lengthy court battle. Like this guy:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/apr/2 … n.ukcrime3Although that's a tad different because he shot someone in the back as he was leaving, either way I wouldn't risk the legal implications.
My stance on firearms in this country is this. Most people, regardless of nationality, are fucking stupid. The current system works for us because it's been this way for many years, and there are less guns in circulation than the US. If I lived in America, I'd probably have a few guns too because of the amount in circulation (and because shooting is fun). However I don't live in America, and despite me wanting a firearm I'd rather give it a miss if it means the vast majority of idiots don't get to have one.
Last edited by jord (2011-08-21 09:40:48)