TimeShareOnMars t1_j6oao7p wrote on January 31, 2023 at 7:11 PM

Reply to comment by CuriousGeorge__82 in McDonald's to play Beethoven in bid to deter yobs after rampage by Convair101

In the UK, it’s illegal for any member of the public to carry a lethal or non-lethal self-defense weapon. The maximum sentence for possessing a weapon in the UK is 6 years in prison, whilst possessing firearms is 10 years. This includes pepper spray, any knife, or other weapon for self-defense. Any knife you can cary that opens one handed and locks...illegal. pepper spray...illegal to use. Your only option is to be faster or stronger than your attacker. Period.

https://brittontime.com/2021/10/22/everything-you-need-to-know-about-self-defence-law-in-the-uk/#:~:text=Are%20self%20defence%20weapons%20legal%20in%20the%20UK%3F,possessing%20firearms%20is%2010%20years.

CuriousGeorge__82 t1_j6ofroi wrote on January 31, 2023 at 7:42 PM

If I lived in the US I’d want to be armed, because it’s so dangerous.

The UK isn’t dangerous. British people don’t need to be armed to the hilt on a daily basis. The US has 18x as many murders despite only being 6x larger in population. Last year there were six months with no shootings at all in London. That would be unheard of in NYC or LA. Even stabbings are worse in the US.

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Crime/Violent-crime/Murders

TimeShareOnMars t1_j6oiasa wrote on January 31, 2023 at 7:58 PM

It is definitely an issue. I live in a pretty rural area. It's relatively safe, but we have our share of gang violence and plenty of guns. I carry a firearm and other items for personal defense daily. I don't like going to other states where firearm carry is prohibited. My permit to carry is good in about 33 states.

I have to travel to NYC soon. No guns allowed for me there... very restrictive knife laws (most locking one-handed opening knives can be classified as an illegal gravity knife through a very tortured interpretation of their law).

Guns have always been part of my life growing up. Going hunting or shooting for recreation at family holidays.

CuriousGeorge__82 t1_j6ok69v wrote on January 31, 2023 at 8:09 PM

Yeah I get it if guns have always been a part of your life, or you live somewhere rural.

For me it’s something I never think about, because virtually nobody is armed. Not even the police usually. And gun crime is so rare it’s not really a worry for me. I feel bad that you have to worry about it daily.