Blair plans to overhaul U.K.'s gun laws
Love the statement at the end of this article. "ONLY" 46 homicides involving handguns last year in England and Wales. And this in a country that has totally outlawed gun-ownership. A sign of things to come, maybe???
LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced plans Sunday to overhaul gun laws after three teenage boys were shot dead in south London this month, prompting a national debate about guns and gangs among youths.
The age at which the mandatory five-year sentence for carrying a gun can be imposed should be reduced to 17 from 21, Blair said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television. Blair ordered the gun law review to help police deal with Britain's inner-city gang culture.
Blair said he was also considering other proposals put forward by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police including giving police new powers to monitor the homes of people suspected of possessing and using firearms.
He acknowledged there was a problem, but said gun crime - and violent crime in general - decreased in London in the past year.
"We have got to analyze what is going wrong here. Is it a general state of British society, British young people? And I think it isn't," Blair said.
"It is about a specific problem within a specific criminal culture to do with guns and gangs," he said.
Gun crime in London fell 14 percent last year, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair told reporters after an emergency meeting with commanders Thursday, but added that he was worried by an emerging trend which has seen boys with guns involved in killings and other serious violent crime.
Possession of handguns was largely outlawed in 1998, in reaction to the massacre two years earlier of 16 kindergarten pupils and their teacher in Dunblane, Scotland, by a man armed with four legally owned handguns.
In England and Wales, the total of 46 homicides involving firearms in 2005-2006 was the lowest since the late 1980s.
LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced plans Sunday to overhaul gun laws after three teenage boys were shot dead in south London this month, prompting a national debate about guns and gangs among youths.
The age at which the mandatory five-year sentence for carrying a gun can be imposed should be reduced to 17 from 21, Blair said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television. Blair ordered the gun law review to help police deal with Britain's inner-city gang culture.
Blair said he was also considering other proposals put forward by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police including giving police new powers to monitor the homes of people suspected of possessing and using firearms.
He acknowledged there was a problem, but said gun crime - and violent crime in general - decreased in London in the past year.
"We have got to analyze what is going wrong here. Is it a general state of British society, British young people? And I think it isn't," Blair said.
"It is about a specific problem within a specific criminal culture to do with guns and gangs," he said.
Gun crime in London fell 14 percent last year, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair told reporters after an emergency meeting with commanders Thursday, but added that he was worried by an emerging trend which has seen boys with guns involved in killings and other serious violent crime.
Possession of handguns was largely outlawed in 1998, in reaction to the massacre two years earlier of 16 kindergarten pupils and their teacher in Dunblane, Scotland, by a man armed with four legally owned handguns.
In England and Wales, the total of 46 homicides involving firearms in 2005-2006 was the lowest since the late 1980s.
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Keep in mind, while you read this, that this guy is one of Georgie's bestest pals.
Blair plans to overhaul U.K.'s gun laws
Sun Feb 18, 7:10 AM ET
LONDON - British Prime Minister
Tony Blair announced plans Sunday to overhaul gun laws after three teenage boys were shot dead in south London this month, prompting a national debate about guns and gangs among youths.
The age at which the mandatory five-year sentence for carrying a gun can be imposed should be reduced to 17 from 21, Blair said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television. Blair ordered the gun law review to help police deal with Britain's inner-city gang culture.
Blair said he was also considering other proposals put forward by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police including giving police new powers to monitor the homes of people suspected of possessing and using firearms.
He acknowledged there was a problem, but said gun crime - and violent crime in general - decreased in London in the past year.
"We have got to analyze what is going wrong here. Is it a general state of British society, British young people? And I think it isn't," Blair said.
"It is about a specific problem within a specific criminal culture to do with guns and gangs," he said.
Gun crime in London fell 14 percent last year, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair told reporters after an emergency meeting with commanders Thursday, but added that he was worried by an emerging trend which has seen boys with guns involved in killings and other serious violent crime.
Possession of handguns was largely outlawed in 1998, in reaction to the massacre two years earlier of 16 kindergarten pupils and their teacher in Dunblane, Scotland, by a man armed with four legally owned handguns.
In England and Wales, the total of 46 homicides involving firearms in 2005-2006 was the lowest since the late 1980s.0 -
I heard that on the BBC in an interview with tony blair. it's interesting to note that although they have a gun ban, criminals, when needing a gun, usually get them smuggled in from east europe. so they can't stop them from appearing in the hands of criminals.
it also goes to show how state gun bans here in the u.s. are futile for the same reason.0 -
It's just amazing for me to see how quickly he jumps to "surveillance of suspected gun-owner's houses".
Remember, America! Once we were British!0
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