To all. Evidently, from viewing some of the responses, my original message was lost.
My original intent was to discuss the hypocrisy of countries that feel an uncontrollable urge to control our lives here complete with unsolicited opinions and, yet, at the same time, offer violent shows for our young children. Interesting. What kind of people do that?
As for "statistics" and "facts", as they were, it is abundantly evident that the law enforcement contacts I enjoy, and the sources that the London Times, et al, seem content to make do with, are not giving the same information. It's the same situation here.
Hmmmm.... Do I listen to newspapers and swear by ever word, as some of you are wont to do, or do I listen to the people who see it every day on the street, and in candid moments never ever revealed in the daily rags that pass for news here and abroad, tell us what is really happening? We both know what the better source is, don't we?
If I told you what my LEO contacts (including Scotland Yard) have relayed to me regarding what is happening over there, you would either dismiss it altogether, or come up with more, all too convieniently supplied statistics to refute what the "bobby" on the beat says. Hmmm... Do I listen to the cops,(not the politically ambitious ones that are quoted in the rags) or do I listen to someone unknown, quoting statistics on the internet? Very interesting....I guess if it is in print, it must be true. Yeah, right, sure. And the queen is offering rooms at Buckingham Palace for a weekend stay to the highest bidder.
So, when an armed intruder(gun, club, sharpened screwdriver, knife, pint of bitters, whatever) attacks in England, as happened to me once, I chose to bluff him by telling him I was an armed American.(I wasn't armed of course, because it's not necessary over their, right?) He left, without my money. What do the locals do, when the robber wants to rob and injure? Oh, well, so be it.
Sometimes, even if crime-free England,
criminals do seriously injure, cripple or kill compliant vitims.
Try to take this the right way, but, an unarmed victim is truly a victim. There are armed criminals everywhere, and the ones I've spoken with, absolutely love unarmed victims. Why do you think that some of our older armed gangs from U.S.A. are moving over to Europe and Japan? They have been interviewed and tell us in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that they like to have the upper hand, especially in Japan. They tell us that it's better for their business "over there" because they can break-in when the homeowner is home, because the homeowner can more quickly tell the robbers were the loot is! I'd love to see the London Times inteview those folks, but it will probably never happen. Oh yes! An unarmed society is a safe society. Hmmmm.
I consider the United States safe because I have self defense options that are not offered to others abroad. It's strange, but considering how relatively "docile" and peaceable the people of Canada, Britain and Japan are, why do their governments not trust them with firearms(or weapons) in general to protect themselves when necessary. Those people can handle such serious matters safely, if given a chance, IMHO.
The above was a bit of a rant(!?), but I don't expect other countries to be like us, and I sure as h*ll don't want my country to be as passive and fear driven as some of the other countries I frequent. Bless their hearts, but I wonder if some of those countries could actually defend themselves on their home turf if something happened. From what I've seen on the internet, I have doubts they could even protect themselves, let alone their loved ones or their homes. Sorry, that's just one man's opinion. An able bodied man that can't effectively protect himself and his loved ones, is no man, but a boy.
Ask yourself, were do you fit in? Hmmmmm.....
Have a great week!