Politics and religion.

[lizbud]

Oh gosh, no, that was never my intention! I'm a firm believer in not tarring everything with the same brush. Personally, I love the way things are run in America, in general. Every branch of politics is far from perfect, British politics being very, very far indeed. I suppose we are just a more tightly-run country and we let too much compassion override our politics (the release of the Libyan Lockerbie criminal a prime example), so the idea of people walking around with guns just does not seem right to me.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I have a question please.

May I ask you a question about English Laws & customs . I read a column
on BBC about three people who had been sentenced for the death of a
child. The Police seemed to be saying that they need protect these criminals after
they served their sentences , and they will receive police protection. Is that normal
for England? They sure wouldn't earn any protection from society after
they were out of prison.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8196143.stm

[Miss Z]

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I have a question please.

May I ask you a question about English Laws & customs . I read a column
on BBC about three people who had been sentenced for the death of a
child. The Police seemed to be saying that they need protect these criminals after
they served their sentences , and they will receive police protection. Is that normal
for England? They sure wouldn't earn any protection from society after
they were out of prison.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/8196143.stm

Ah yes, the baby 'P' case. A very sad story indeed, and one that our social services has received a lot of criticism over.

That is correct, once released from prison these people do have a right to call for police protection (although as far as I'm aware, it is for a limited period of time only. Quite how long that is, I don't know. It varies from case to case). This happens often in cases of a sensitive nature, particularly those involving children.

The 'idea' is that the criminals have served their punishment in prison, and that upon their release they are likely to be subject to further abuse and discrimination from the public, job interviewers, etc. In order for the people in question to continue with their lives without the risk of assualt, or worse, the police protection is there to ensure that.

I must say that in the majority of cases like this, those convicted are kept anonymous, thus police protection is not usually needed. However, for some reason or another, the anonymity request expired.

It's an issue that divides our nation, just as ES explained that gun laws divide America. Many people feel very, very strongly that ex-cons should pay the full penalty for the crime they committed, and should 'get what they deserve'. Others question whether that sort of attitude breaches human rights and that, if someone was wrongly convicted, which does happen occasionally, they would be subject to undeserved hatred and hardship for the rest of their lives.

It's another issue of perhaps considering compassion a little too much in politics.

Crime goes up when the means to defend yourself are taken away. The criminals dont care what weapons they cant legally have, making law abiding citizens victims.

I think in the UK it's more to do with a lack of fear of being caught and reprimanded. We have far less on-the-beat bobbies than we used to so this sort of crime is much easier to get away with. Also, we keep letting all our petty to moderate criminals out early on 'good behaviour' because we don't have enough prison space to cram them all in. I don't think it's got much to do with self defence, except in Manchester/London gang culture, which do not count for all stabbings.

[lizbud]

Ah yes, the baby 'P' case. A very sad story indeed, and one that our social services has received a lot of criticism over.

That is correct, once released from prison these people do have a right to call for police protection (although as far as I'm aware, it is for a limited period of time only. Quite how long that is, I don't know. It varies from case to case). This happens often in cases of a sensitive nature, particularly those involving children.

The 'idea' is that the criminals have served their punishment in prison, and that upon their release they are likely to be subject to further abuse and discrimination from the public, job interviewers, etc. In order for the people in question to continue with their lives without the risk of assualt, or worse, the police protection is there to ensure that.

I must say that in the majority of cases like this, those convicted are kept anonymous, thus police protection is not usually needed. However, for some reason or another, the anonymity request expired.

It's an issue that divides our nation, just as ES explained that gun laws divide America. Many people feel very, very strongly that ex-cons should pay the full penalty for the crime they committed, and should 'get what they deserve'. Others question whether that sort of attitude breaches human rights and that, if someone was wrongly convicted, which does happen occasionally, they would be subject to undeserved hatred and hardship for the rest of their lives.

It's another issue of perhaps considering compassion a little too much in politics.

Thanks for explaning. Seems like the victim's rights are overlooked
in that case.IMO.

[Miss Z]

Thanks for explaning. Seems like the victim's rights are overlooked
in that case.IMO.

No problem, and I, personally, agree with you.

[Puckstop31]

You are not allowed to use such a fire-arm to attack or defend yourself, nor is it permitted outside of its designated area of use.

This is key....

The American founding fathers believed (Federalist #87, amongst others) that a human being has an inherit right to defend him/herself and his/her family from those who would deny their right to life from others. I agree with them. I pray to God I never need to (again) exercise that right.

The US 2nd Amendment CONFIRMS a God given right. It does not grant one.

There are idiots in every group. Idiots should not define the entire group.

I pray to God that my firearms are only ever used to harvest game animals.

Your nation is different. Thats cool.

[RICHARD]

People are worried about a black guy with a gun strapped on his back?

What about Grandma?

She's got her finger on the trigger of an RPG and doesn't look like she has anyone with her.....

"Come on grandma!, Let's go grab a Coke!"

"NO Imperialist Western Devils drink COKE!, Let me go!!!"