Gun politics in the United Kingdom

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History of gun control in the United Kingdom

There were growing concerns in the sixteenth century over the use of guns and crossbows. Four acts were imposed to restrict their use.

The Bill of Rights restated the ancient rights of the people to have arms by reinstating the right of Protestants to have arms after they had been illegally disarmed by James II. The bill follows closely the Declaration of Rights made in Parliament in February 1689.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_Kingdom#History_of_gun_control_in_the_United_Kingdom

Although the term "British subject" now has a very restrictive statutory definition in the United Kingdom, and it would therefore be incorrect to describe a British citizen as a British subject, the concept of a "subject" is still recognised by the law, and the terms "the Queen's subjects", "Her Majesty's subjects", etc., continue to be used in British legal discourse.[7]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject

Are you a citizen or a subject
By: Nick Sorrentino | Culpeper Star-Exponent
Published: May 24, 2012

t’s a good question. Most people probably would consider themselves a citizen, we’re Americans after all, not subjects of a crown.

But what’s the difference?

Simply, citizens have rights- subjects have privileges. A citizen is free. A subject lives at the pleasure of the sovereign.

But being a citizen implies an element of respect from the government. Citizens, we are told are ultimately in control in our constitutional republic.
http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2012/may/24/are-you-citizen-or-subject-ar-1938302/

Hugo Chavez's government says the ultimate aim is to disarm all civilians, but his opponents say the police and government may not have the capacity or the will to enforce the new law
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18288430

U.S. most armed country with 90 guns per 100 people
GENEVA | Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:57pm EDT
(Reuters) - The United States has 90 guns for every 100 citizens, making it the most heavily armed society in the world, a report released on Tuesday said.

U.S. citizens own 270 million of the world's 875 million known firearms, according to the Small Arms Survey 2007 by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/08/28/us-world-firearms-idUSL2834893820070828

Record-Low 26% in U.S. Favor Handgun Ban
Support for stricter gun laws in general is lowest Gallup has measured
by Jeffrey M. Jones
October 26, 2011

PRINCETON, NJ -- A record-low 26% of Americans favor a legal ban on the possession of handguns in the United States other than by police and other authorized people. When Gallup first asked Americans this question in 1959, 60% favored banning handguns. But since 1975, the majority of Americans have opposed such a measure, with opposition around 70% in recent years.


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For the first time, Gallup finds greater opposition to than support for a ban on semiautomatic guns or assault rifles, 53% to 43%. In the initial asking of this question in 1996, the numbers were nearly reversed, with 57% for and 42% against an assault rifle ban. Congress passed such a ban in 1994, but the law expired when Congress did not act to renew it in 2004. Around the time the law expired, Americans were about evenly divided in their views.


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Democrats, Eastern residents, members of gun non-owning households, and women were among the few subgroups to favor a ban on handguns in 1991, but now no key subgroup has a majority in favor. Those with guns in their household are least likely to favor a handgun ban.


http://www.gallup.com/poll/150341/record-low-favor-handgun-ban.aspx