UK: Deputy Chief Constable: Do not Arm Yourself, Run and Hide

English gun store

In the U.K., the mere idea that licensed gun owners could be considered a resource to defend against terrorist attack, is off the table.

A caller to a BBC radio show, a gun store owner and gun owner, asked Alison Hernandez, the Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, a question.  What would be the repercussions of legal gun owners using guns to defend themselves in a terrorist attack? The Commissioner suggested that the idea should be examined. From theguardian.com:

“If there should ever be a terrorist attack, what happens if I and other people try to defend themselves using those guns? What would be the repercussions?”

Hernandez replied that it was a “a very good question” and asked the woman if she would put it in writing so that the chief constable, Shaun Sawyer, could consider it. But she then added: “This might be some of our solution to our issues.” 

The Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton immediately put an end to any thought such an idea should be considered. From devon-cornwall.police.uk:

The following statement is in response to an interview given today, Monday 12 June, to BBC Radio Cornwall by Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, where it was discussed whether or not registered firearms licence holders could be of assistance to police during a terrorist attack.

(snip)

“Under no circumstances would we want members of the public to arm themselves with firearms, not least because officers responding would not know who the offenders were, and quite obviously they would not have the time to ask.

“Our message to the public is a simple one: to run, to hide and to tell.

The Deputy Chief Constable never allows any possibility of self-defense. If self-defense with guns is seen as legitimate, the entire scheme of victim disarmament in the UK falls apart.

Consider. A gun store owner in the U.K. is not allowed to defend themselves with a gun, at least not in any planned way.  According to U.K. law, a gun may not be kept in a ready condition in order to protect against attack.  It might seem that a Jihadi attack in the U.K. countryside would be implausible.  How about an attack on a undefended gun store?

The rigorous citizen disarmament scheme in the U.K. was never about crime. It was always about fear of a revolution.

The dogma of a disarmed citizenry has become holy writ to the British governing elite.  It must never be questioned.  Anti-rights activists in the U.S. should be asked if gun shop owners should be able to defend their shop with a gun.

"Under no Circumstances" is the answer if the U.S. follows the path of British gun control.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch