Why firearms are so strictly controlled in Ireland and UK

Johnboner

Should be relaxed, let's take a look at our European friends such as Germany and Switzerland, soldiers after serving get to keep their firearms at their homes in Switzerland and it is one of the safest countries in the world. In Germany the rules are strict but it is still possible to own a firearm after all the tests. These are only 2 examples but most other European countries have similar rules where it is actually possible to obtain a firearm. I am not talking about the system like in the USA where in many states you just enter a shop like centra, choose a gun you want and walk out. I would love to be able to shoot watermelons if I want with guns as I find that it is one of the most fun activities you can do which is unfortunately illegal in Ireland, it mostly prevents law abiding citizens from obtaining guns as you can see that it doesn't stop constant gang shootings in Dublin with illegaly obtained firearms.
Also why do we copy everything just from the UK?

AndyBoBandy

Guns in the wrong hands are very dangerous.

Shooting watermelons is just wasting good watermelons.

I'm quite happy with the current rules.

stimpson

What have you got against watermelons?

brevity

Watermelons

Johnboner

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Guns in the wrong hands are very dangerous.

Shooting watermelons is just wasting good watermelons.

I'm quite happy with the current rules.

Most of Europe is doing fine, it's just the United States that have problems as their gun laws are obviously ridiculously relaxed.

HeidiHeidi

Where exactly do you shoot these watermelons?

So I know to stay well away.

El Tarangu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate

Op - Switzerland has the 3rd highest firearm-related deaths in Europe, precisely because of the fact that soldiers bring their weapons home with them.

Johnboner

El Tarangu wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate

Op - Switzerland has the 3rd highest firearm-related deaths in Europe, precisely because of the fact that soldiers bring their weapons home with them.

Why are we doing everything for health and safety, we need a bit of danger in this world, you cannot be protected from everything if that's the case let's ban cars, alcohol and cigarettes as they are huge killers

corner of hells

El Tarangu wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate

Op - Switzerland has the 3rd highest firearm-related deaths in Europe, precisely because of the fact that soldiers bring their weapons home with them.

And water melon casualties?

B.A._Baracus

I say keep the current laws in place.
If you started to allow your average Joe blow to buy a firearm there would be more deaths.

You know yourself...

AndyBoBandy

Johnboner wrote: »

you cannot be protected from everything if that's the case let's ban cars, alcohol and cigarettes as they are huge killers

Those things are not designed to kill though...

Poor Uncle Tom

Johnboner wrote: »

Should be relaxed, let's take a look at our European friends such as Germany and Switzerland, soldiers after serving get to keep their firearms at their homes in Switzerland and it is one of the safest countries in the world. In Germany the rules are strict but it is still possible to own a firearm after all the tests. These are only 2 examples but most other European countries have similar rules where it is actually possible to obtain a firearm. I am not talking about the system like in the USA where in many states you just enter a shop like centra, choose a gun you want and walk out. I would love to be able to shoot watermelons if I want with guns as I find that it is one of the most fun activities you can do which is unfortunately illegal in Ireland, it mostly prevents law abiding citizens from obtaining guns as you can see that it doesn't stop constant gang shootings in Dublin with illegaly obtained firearms.
Also why do we copy everything just from the UK?

Jog on Donald, no market for your guns here.....

Johnboner

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

I say keep the current laws in place.
If you started to allow your average Joe blow to buy a firearm there would be more deaths.

You know yourself...

That's what I am saying, require strict vetting before being able to purchase a firearm.

suicide_circus

We need mother state to make all our decisions for us

El Tarangu

corner of hells wrote: »

And water melon casualties?

A veritable holocaust of smashed cuckoo clocks and spattered seeds.

Johnboner

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

Jog on Donald, no market for your guns here.....

Did you ever try it? Pretty sure you would change after shooting things yourself, it is an extremely fun and relaxing activity.

Johnboner

suicide_circus wrote: »

We need mother state to make all our decisions for us

Should protest to become a direct democracy

Bubbaclaus

Johnboner wrote: »

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

Jog on Donald, no market for your guns here.....

Did you ever try it? Pretty sure you would change after shooting things yourself, it is an extremely fun and relaxing activity.

Describing shooting as fun/relaxing puts you on a watchlist.

B.A._Baracus

Johnboner wrote: »

That's what I am saying, require strict vetting before being able to purchase a firearm.

That works in theory. But not always in reality.

Johnboner

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

Describing shooting as fun/relaxing puts you on a watchlist.

Then millions of people around the world tht like shooting are on the watch list according to you. That's the first part of ignorance, condemnation of something that an ignorant person does not understand. Countless videos on YouTube people shooting watermelons and targets or are you understanding shooting people? I guess people see what they want to see not what is actually being said.

corner of hells

Johnboner wrote: »

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

Describing shooting as fun/relaxing puts you on a watchlist.

Then millions of people around the world tht like shooting are on the watch list according to you. That's the first part of ignorance, condemnation of something that an ignorant person does not understand. Countless videos on YouTube people shooting watermelons and targets or are you understanding shooting people? I guess people see what they want to see not what is actually being said.

I think he might be joking.

cml387

Shooting watermelons is thought to be fun because it's like shooting a head. This tells you all you need to know about gun enthusiast s.

Bicky bicky

Will someone please think of the watermelons!

#watermelonsmatter.

listermint

What in particular gives you a hard on OP that you can't get from like I don't know a lady?




I mean your username seems a bit fakenews

Miaireland

Honest question Op but what is the attraction for shooting a watermelon? You shoot your gun and the watermelon explodes? Honestly does it not get a bit dull? I am a person who doesn't think our gun laws are strict enough tbh but trying to see all views

corner of hells

In all my years having a firearms licence , it never once occurred to me to shoot a water melon.

Johnboner

Most of you haven't held a gun so how can you condemn something if you have never tried it. Would probably spend days at the firing range after trying it out. This is why our civilization does not advance as people are introduced new concepts they immediately dismiss, condemn or destroy it instead of trying to understand.

Johnboner

Miaireland wrote: »

Honest question Op but what is the attraction for shooting a watermelon? You shoot your gun and the watermelon explodes? Honestly does it not get a bit dull? I am a person who doesn't think our gun laws are strict enough tbh but trying to see all views

Watermelon is just an example, targets are fun too, and other fruits.

Johnboner

corner of hells wrote: »

In all my years having a firearms licence , it never once occurred to me to shoot a water melon.

But occurred to shoot innocent birds or other animals in Ireland? As I am only aware of hunting licenses in Ireland.

Sonics2k

Johnboner wrote: »

Why are we doing everything for health and safety, we need a bit of danger in this world, you cannot be protected from everything if that's the case let's ban cars, alcohol and cigarettes as they are huge killers

That is some of the worst logic I have ever seen.

Johnboner

Sonics2k wrote: »

That is some of the worst logic I have ever seen.

If you say so, my son.

Mech1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iSOnbxocEI

corner of hells

Johnboner wrote: »

corner of hells wrote: »

In all my years having a firearms licence , it never once occurred to me to shoot a water melon.

But occurred to shoot innocent birds or other animals in Ireland? As I am only aware of hunting licenses in Ireland.

I shot traffic cones, the sky , water , hedges and banks of earth too

Sonics2k

Johnboner wrote: »

If you say so, my son.

No really. I say that as someone who was in the Army and also had a gun licence here in Ireland.

Guns have one real purpose, to inflict harm or kill. They aren't needed in society by everyday people.

tomwaterford

Johnboner wrote: »

But occurred to shoot innocent birds or other animals in Ireland? As I am only aware of hunting licenses in Ireland.

Guns are built for killing....airsoft/toy guns are what you need

I've shot foxes etc....can't say I found it particularly fun/relaxing tbh


A couple of hours shooting cards with a rifle and it gets a bit Meh. ....though I could see an opening for people to hire guns for shooting ranoes etc alright

blindside88

Our laws are ridiculous. I've been shooting for just over 10 years now (I'm the only one in my family that does). I recently looked into buying a pistol for target shooting and eventually decided against it. You can't buy a pistol in ireland in a calibre greater than .22, you can't hunt vermin with a pistol (even though it is as humane a method as a rifle of the same calibre). you can't have a pistol with a greater than 5 shot magazine. It is illegal to shoot targets (with any gun) on your own private land with the correct backstops in place. You can't licence a number of guns because they "look military". But yet a very small number of these guns are ever used for criminal purposes. I know that I could get an illegal firearm in my town tonight very easily if I so wished but because I'm a law abiding citizen I'm raked over the coals when trying to participate in one of my chosen sports

AndyBoBandy

Johnboner wrote: »

This is why our civilization does not advance as people are introduced new concepts they immediately dismiss, condemn or destroy it instead of trying to understand.

When I first heard of the left handed ****, I laughed, I dismissed it as a myth, something that would never happen.

But now, my views have completely changed!!!

Sonics2k

Sonics2k wrote: »

No really. I say that as someone who was in the Army and also had a gun licence here in Ireland.

Guns have one real purpose, to inflict harm or kill. They aren't needed in society by everyday people.

I say this as someone who has known a few criminals in the past, the bad guys can get guns easily. They are everywhere, so why can't law abiding citizens have guns to protect themselves?

uptherebels

blindside88 wrote: »

It is illegal to shoot targets (with any gun) on your own private land with the correct backstops in place.

and this is a bad thing?

AndyBoBandy

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I say this as someone who has known a few criminals in the past, the bad guys can get guns easily. They are everywhere, so why can't law abiding citizens have guns to protect themselves?

American logic?

Sonics2k

Deleted User wrote: »

I say this as someone who has known a few criminals in the past, the bad guys can get guns easily. They are everywhere, so why can't law abiding citizens have guns to protect themselves?

Because the average person would panic in such a situation. Gun crime is not a big issue in Ireland and as any smart person would tell you, if you're being robbed at gun point, the best thing to do is just give them your stuff.

Some bloke walking down the street after a few pints gets mugged and then attempts to pull a gun on the mugger is not going to end well.

In terms of self defence, pepper spray and/or a taser is the best thing to do. Tasers should be legal in Ireland

Little CuChulainn

Nothing stopping you shooting watermelons as long as you have a bit of land or are in a shooting club.

blindside88

uptherebels wrote: »

blindside88 wrote: »

It is illegal to shoot targets (with any gun) on your own private land with the correct backstops in place.

and this is a bad thing?

Of course it is, how would it be a good thing that a law abiding citizen that has gone through all of the legal background checks and taken all of the relevant safety precautions cannot shoot their gun at their target in their land?

mynamejeff

Johnboner wrote: »

But occurred to shoot innocent birds or other animals in Ireland? As I am only aware of hunting licenses in Ireland.

funny , i use mine for target shooting

if you dont know something just ask dont accuse please

corner of hells

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Nothing stopping you shooting watermelons as long as you have a bit of land or are in a shooting club.

You could pepper spray them and then tazer them too.

timthumbni

Deleted User wrote: »

I say this as someone who has known a few criminals in the past, the bad guys can get guns easily. They are everywhere, so why can't law abiding citizens have guns to protect themselves?

We have very strict gun controls due to the terrorist situation but to be honest I agree with it. Most sporting gun/farmers etc know the craic and will have one anyway.

America is just nuts. They are afraid of everything and as such they are in a state of constant paranoia. They should just issue everyone with tazers and reduce the death rate.

Calahonda52

Johnboner wrote: »

Did you ever try it? Pretty sure you would change after shooting things yourself, it is an extremely fun and relaxing activity.

Agree 100%
The pea shooter is a 50 Cal, the scope is $8,000 alone, the shells are $8/a pop.
The target was at 1,000 yds.
Mighty

uptherebels

blindside88 wrote: »

Of course it is, how would it be a good thing that a law abiding citizen that has gone through all of the legal background checks and taken all of the relevant safety precautions cannot shoot their gun at their target in their land?

Imagine living next to a guy that spends all day shooting targets, the other side of your garden.

Sonics2k

Sonics2k wrote: »

Because the average person would panic in such a situation. Gun crime is not a big issue in Ireland and as any smart person would tell you, if you're being robbed at gun point, the best thing to do is just give them your stuff.

Some bloke walking down the street after a few pints gets mugged and then attempts to pull a gun on the mugger is not going to end well.

In terms of self defence, pepper spray and/or a taser is the best thing to do. Tasers should be legal in Ireland

Oh I agree with you, anyone who wants a gun should have to go through extensive training courses and background checks. I do think through certain avenues though people should be allowed guns for self defense.

NiallBoo

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I say this as someone who has known a few criminals in the past, the bad guys can get guns easily. They are everywhere, so why can't law abiding citizens have guns to protect themselves?

People having guns in a conflict dramatically increases the likelihood of someone getting killed - ie. If you try to defend yourself with a gun then you're more likely to die.

"Defending yourself with a gun" is also quite rightly considered murder in this country. Nobody has the right to take your stuff, but the criminal still has infinitely more right to life than you do to have a TV.

blindside88

uptherebels wrote: »

blindside88 wrote: »

Of course it is, how would it be a good thing that a law abiding citizen that has gone through all of the legal background checks and taken all of the relevant safety precautions cannot shoot their gun at their target in their land?

Imagine living next to a guy that spends all day shooting targets, the other side of your garden.

I'm not talking about shooting it I'm your back garden ffs. I'm talking about shooting it on your own farm, there are laws as regards how close you can be to a property. I'm also not talking about shooting a grenade launcher. Have you ever heard a regular rifle being shot? You'd want to be very close to hear a .22