As of 7:33am pacific coast time NO COMMENT YET from the tweet king about the Virginia Beach MASSACRE. Is he sleeping in? Too busy eating?

When the BBC news reported this incident it gave the number of such massacres so far this year... I can't recall if it's about 120 or 150 but certainly well over 100.

No I can't imagine Donald Trump saying anything. He can't be seen to encourage it but he daren't risk upsetting all the NRA and voters for him who like their guns and hide behind their interpretation of the USA's Constitution to justify it.

I do know it is a very controversial point in the US, with strongly-held divisions between those wanting the "right" to have a home arsenal and those wanting much tighter controls as are used in many other countries - including Britain. 

Though con-incidental with this latest American atrocity, Switzerland has just announced tightening its own gun laws, which included among other things, soldiers being allowed to keep their small-arms weapons at home.

There used to a British-born but US-resident ( and I think domiciled) journalist called Alastair Cooke, who gave a short weekly talk called Letter Form America on BBC Radio.

I touched on various aspects of US life, helping us understand social ideas and attitudes there, so help us understand the politics and veryday life of America.

He died some while ago now, but a few years ago after one particularly serious school shooting the BBC played a recording of a talk he'd given years previously on this gun obsession. He explained its origins were at least well-meaning, the ability to raise a militia if necessary before the young nation could develop proper Armed Forces. He also clarified the point that the motive has been lost since, and turned into an automatic right to bear arms without any reason or significant checks on the process, so people like the NRA now regard it as vital as the right of, say, free speech.   


The laws on gun ownership in the UK are based on the premise of need and want, and despite some rise in their number, criminal shootings in the last few decades are still rare. Indiscriminate massacres of the sort you see are almost unknown: even the Islamicist fanatics who have used van attacks in the last few years arm themselves with knives rather than guns. It has not led to popular calls to be allowed to own guns, just the opposite in fact, for tighter laws still.

You can own a gun legally in the UK for sport shooting (game and target), antique collections; and if a farmer or gamekeeper, for pest control. Most sports guns are pistols and shotguns; most game and vermin shooting uses shotguns but a gamekeeper who needs it can have a rifle for deer culling. The ownership has to be licensed, and useable guns and ammunition have to be stored in locked cabinets of appropriate standard.  

Our Police are not armed as a matter of course, but the Forces have small teams of specialist armed officers - and even then their use of their guns is subject to very tight rules and inquiry after the event. Mistakes can happen of course, but a fatal shooting by a British policeman has to be totally justifiable, and if not the officer risks being charged with manslaughter or even murder.

The last time English law allowed, and indeed required, all adult males to be capable of shooting anyone was in Mediaeval times - with a bow and arrow! As far as I know it was never converted to gun ownership and use, perhaps because by the time small-arms guns were becoming available, the country was already organising regular armies.

I think you could own at least pistols in 19C Britain without questions being asked, but this ended too. I don't know the history but I wonder if the experiences of being involved in various wars from the 19C to WW1, helped the country turn against unregulated, private gun ownership. 

(I am reluctant to enquire into gun ownership history on-line.... I don't trust Google etc!) 


As for His Nibs, he's about to come here on a State Visit - but it hasn't stopped him commenting too freely, publicly, on his host country's politics and politicians. Everyone accepts he has his views on them but he has no international diplomatic skill at all.

An item on the radio yesterday said probably the Queen's worst State Visitors were the Romanian Communist dictator Ceausescu and his wife. Not even good house guests (though the guest rooms are separate from the Royal Family's own accommodation). Allegedly when the Queen saw them strolling in Buckingham Palace gardens one morning, she hid behind a bush to avoid having to talk to them - very out of character for Her Majesty. 

Lol wow, do you just sit around waiting for Trump to tweet or not tweet? I feel like when you’re on your death bed you’re gonna regret all the energy you wasted on hating Trump..10 years from now it’s not gonna matter. Go for a walk or something in the morning instead of this crap....

I don't think it is a good thing to be so obsessed with anyone - especially not a politician.  Who is just a man after all.  He cannot control your life if you do not allow him to be the focus of it.  If you don't like him I think it would be prudent to change the channel or spend your time on things more pleasant and rewarding for you.

As long as people look to arms for their power there will always be massacres.  This post was edited by officegirl at June 2, 2019 8:34 AM MDT