Gun Control in the UK—Still a Matter for Debate

Excerpt

The constitutional right of US citizens to “keep and bear arms” was introduced, after many alterations of the wording, in the late 18th century context of “a well regulated militia...necessary for the security of a free state.” In other words, if the wretched British decided to try to reassert themselves it would be a good idea to be able to call upon an already armed volunteer force for the defense of the realm. That context often gets lost in the US debate on gun control just as we in the UK tend to forget that carrying weapons was commonplace here up to about a century ago. For example, in the 1880s, when Conan Doyle was writing his famous detective stories, Watson would stuff a revolver in his overcoat as frequently as Holmes would inject himself with 7% cocaine. Presumably readers found nothing odd in either activity. In 1909 police pursuing armed robbers in London borrowed pistols from passers-by.1 Firearms licensing came in only in 1920, but since 1997, possession of a handgun has been illegal. …