Cumbria. England 12 shot dead and 25 injured by local taxi driver

[Brithunter]

Yesterday (Wednesday) a local Taxi driver took two guns, a shotgun and a .22 rifle and went on a killing spree:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Seems he first shot dead his twin brother and a solicitor (lawyer) with him then people at random before killing himself.

The usual calls for more laws and more bans are being heard especilly from parts of the media.

Although little is being heard from the same media areas about sympathy for the victims and their families  usual old story sell the hype  > .

Please bear the survivors and their families and those who have lost loved ones to a lunatic and murderer in your thoughts and prayers they are in sore need of any comfort that can he had in this trying time.

Thank you in anticipation  .

[magooch]

First of all, why did he have to use firearms; he was already armed with a lethal vehicle.  Second, let's see--taxi driver--hmmm, could it be he was a raghead?  Anyway, it's a good thing they've got lots of gun bans and controls over there.  It really seems to work well.

[Sourdough]

All those gun bans makes for lots of soft targets.  No need to worry about anyone shooting back.

[Bigeasy]

Well, kiss your assault water pistols and tactical butter knives goodbye.  I understand this rampage went on for quite a while.  To bad the local cops probably weren't armed.  By the way, the violent crime rate in England is about 4 times higher per 1000 then in the US.  They just don't use guns as often.

Larry

[Brithunter]

Well thank you all or the support for the ones who need it  .


The man was local and by all accounts English not some "raghead".

The area is quite rural although Whitehave where it started it seems is a holiday spot with harbour/marina and beaches. I have never been to that part of the country. our Polcie are thin on the ground ....................... cutbacks and extra B/S paperwork you know.

Oh well we know who to supprot.

[wreckhog]

Sorry about that. In America, Americans don't drive taxis. Might even be a law against it.

[Dand]

I first saw this checking BBC News online. In a related article I was amazed at how few citizens of UK have permits for firearms and how few total firearms there are.

Check it out from BBC:

"According to the most recent figures for England and Wales, there are 138,728 people certificated to hold firearms and they own 435,383 weapons. There are 574,946 shotgun certificates which cover 1.4 million shotguns.

Statistics for Scotland show that 70,839 firearms were held by 26,072 certificate holders at the end of last year. Some 50,000 people in Scotland are certificated to hold shotguns - and 137,768 weapons are covered by that scheme.

Police chiefs can revoke certificates if they conclude that the holder can no longer be trusted. In 2008-09, almost 1,300 certificates were revoked.

In Cumbria, there are 9,868 shotgun certificates covering 22,476 shotguns, figures which are broadly similar to those in other rural counties. Of the 370 new applications between 2008 and 2009, two were refused. Seven licences were revoked."

more at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/10220974.stm

Go to BBC again and you'll see an article where a govt leader is calling for calm and saying don't expect more restrictions.

David Cameron opposes 'knee-jerk reaction' on gun laws
Page last updated at 14:35 GMT, Thursday, 3 June 2010 15:35 UK


 Derrick Bird was a self-employed taxi driver
David Cameron has said there should not be a "knee-jerk reaction" to changing the laws on gun ownership after 12 people were shot dead in Cumbria.......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/politics/10225885.stm

[magooch]

I meant no slur against the English for wondering about the taxi driver possibly being a Muslim.  It just seemed like a logical possibility.  Now if that offends Muslims--I'm okay with that.

The British have chosen to allow themselves to be virtually disarmed as are a lot of high density areas of the U.S.  Shooting incidents such as the one being discussed probably cannot be entirely prevented, no matter what the state of the law, but at least an armed citizenry has a fighting chance.  And that might be the best any society can hope for.