**** DISCLAIMER ****
I'm based in the United States of America so my POV is American, principles on the otherhand are universal, please remember that when discussing.
**** END DISCLAIMER ****

In the USA firearms are a common place. The military has them, law enforcement agencies of all types and sizes have them, and yes our civilians have them.

Each of these groups have and use firearms for different reasons. Some must take out (yes I mean kill) the enemy. Others must control a situation to protect the public. Some use them to intimidate and gain their illegal objective, some use them to get food, and some use them to simply survive in their environment.

The civillian in the US would do well to learn about firearms. The ways that they can be used, and yes there limitations. This way one understands the windows of opportunity if they decide to defend against one.

What are some good tactical uses for utilizing a firearm?

1. Never let your opponent get into touching range of your firearm.

A firearm is a ranged weapon, don't be like a thug and try to intimidate a person, stay at range. If they can't touch it they can't take it from you. Also it gives you a better view so you can respond to potential threats.

Ok any others out there who want to add and enter this discussion?

MP a post ive been dreaming of.

Using one of Mules expressions here, Im sitting back with the pop corn as this one could get heated.... or is that because owning a firearm is an alien concept to a UK citizen?

Now to the average citizen of the UK firearm use may be alien. But what about your SAS? Do they not utilze firearms? There must be a reason why they are armed? You don't need that group against sit protests etc.

And what if you are a UK citizen that happens to be rounding the courner of something bad? NOT likly mind you but possible. Also what if you are a former member of the British Armed forces, don't you learn about firearms there? I think a lot of people around your country know more about firearms than people let on.

I do wish gun violence was gone, but then I also don't want my weapons removed from me. But seeing as I don't intend to leave the service of the United States Navy or the Saunders County Sheriff Departmant any time soon, I don't think I have to worry too much.

Yes, owning a gun in the UK is an alien concept. The simple fact is that the majority of people wouldn't have a clue how to get hold of one and are aware of the fact that being caught with a hand gun involves a lenghtly prison sentence.

Of course there are guns in the UK, the military and some parts of the UK police force but again, the majority of the police don't carry guns either. There is some gun crime as well, but it is minisclue compared to the US.

In my opinion, there is a massive cultural difference regarding guns between the US and the UK.

My question is, exactly how easy is it to buy a gun in the US?

and ...

Are there any other police forces in the world that still do not carry guns?

Well provided you are not a felon then getting a gun is as simple as having an identification showing your current residence, purchase the weapon wait for your state's background checks to complete and pick up your weapon.

In Nebraska you go through the background check process and purchase a hand gun purchase lisence. Then you just purchase the handgun.

Now if you are a felon its not too hard, you just steal one, or buy one from someone who hasn't been conficted of a feolony and has no problem making money.

To tell you the truth in a NCIS investigation in Ireland a couple of years ago its not to hard for a none citizen to purchase a handgun over there (at least it wasn't) About 168 pounds and 3 days of networking. Granted you must be very careful after that point because like you said if you get caught the consequences are troubling. (SO TO SPEAK)

defiantly keep the opponent at range,

MP wrote:

Now to the average citizen of the UK firearm use may be alien. But what about your SAS? Do they not utilze firearms?

Yeah they do but there offical figures place the SAS at around 25o men, grouped into squadrons of 50 men (i.e. A,B,C,D sqaudron etc)

Thats not many to a population of 60 million.

There must be a reason why they are armed?

Sure, they have played a special role in war theatres across the globe.. Falklands, Kuwait, Iraq etc...

You don't need that group against sit protests etc

haha damn right. Did you see the way British police handled pro tibetan supporters when the Olympic flame was carried through London.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7332942.stm

I think a lot of people around your country know more about firearms than people let on.

Oh yeah spot on! I mean I remember a news story a couple of years ago where you could buy a handgun with one bullett for £25!! Obviously illegal.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/politics/21724.stm

I do wish gun violence was gone, but then I also don't want my weapons removed from me.

Well, I can sympathise with that. People in the states have been brought up with that particular liberty. Alot of people in the UK would probably like to see alchol sales restricted but how many would want to give it up?

But seeing as I don't intend to leave the service of the United States Navy or the Saunders County Sheriff Departmant any time soon, I don't think I have to worry too much.

Total respect for the police force in the states. My family have a place in Florida so ive had some experience of the professionalism. Mind you, border control could do with explaining that British people are there closest allies!! Man, we feel persecuted sometimes coming through border control!!

It is always easier to give than it is to take away. I'm not going to debate whether or not the US Constitution's 2nd Amendment is needed anymore, but it is there. I know that at this point, if the gov't overturned the 2nd Amendment, then they'd be taking weapons out of the hands of law abiding citizens. The criminals wouldn't give a rip. That and law abiding Americans would wonder exactly what was on the gov't agenda that they feel the need to disarm us.

I used to work for a man who was a UK native. He'd moved to Canada and then the US later in life. While still in the UK he'd been a police officer. I don't think he ever encountered a gun from the wrong side, but he did encounter many other things (knives, etc) that could've been dealt with easier if he'd had a firearm to use.

I remember training in the US a few years back and the guy next to me getting a magazine out of his bag and I noticed that he had a gun in there as well. It was such an alien concept.

Later on in the trip we went to a shooting range with a load of the guys we had been doing Krav Maga with. I had never been that interested in guns, but I have to say it was a really fun day and gave me a much better understanding of how easy/hard shooting actually is.

Some of the guys we were with thought that the right to bear arms made them citizens as opposed to us Brits who are subjects. So I can't see any US govt closing the Pandora's box that is gun ownership.

I personally would not like to see all police officers over here have guns. I'm happy for specialists in each force to have them, but not your average police office.

take care
Steve

SteveBruce wrote:
I personally would not like to see all police officers over here have guns. I'm happy for specialists in each force to have them, but not your average police office.


Most definitely. The thing that makes me more comfortable with this is that you have to be in the police over here for at least 2 years before you can specialise in anything. I'd hate to have our police force doling out guns to anyone that signed up.

Imagine a state of brown shirts.

Not good Mr Evans, not good at all.

PeteMills wrote:
owning a firearm is an alien concept to a UK citizen

I live in the UK (Southern), and I feel that firearms are FAR from Alien.
Okay, so not as heard of as "America", but did you know that 1in4 people in the UK have access to a gun? (Official statistics, shown on the news a couple of days ago)