The UK has probably the strictest gun laws in the world. Handguns are illegal, only the armed forces and special armed response police can use a handgun. Owning a shotgun or rifle for hunting or vermin control or for using in a gun club requires a valid reason, police checks and character references from upstanding professionals. They are required to have them in a locked gun safe, even in the car and not allowed to carry in public.

The chances of getting a license in urban areas is practically zero. Even owning a high powered air rifle requires a license. I admit I do, every now and then partake in hunting and shooting for a sport, however the UK gun laws do seem to be having a positive effect on society. In the case of a national emergency, much like in WW2, the government would arm citizens under a controlled militia, that I would be certain of. We still do not have armed police, only armed response units. The only exception is anti-terrorism, airports, etc..

BUT if I lived in the USA where there are more guns than people the balance is different. I would want to protect my property and family against armed attack. I don't think you need an assault rifle, grenades, uzi's, RPG's etc to do that. If the US could start to remove some of those types of weapons maybe you would be left with less of a 'Hollywood Movie' type scenario and return to more sensible gun laws that allow US citizens their right to hunting and protection of property which does not require people to walk around in public armed and dangerous.

BBC News - UK Peace Index highlights rate of fall in violent crime

Some rozzers really do believe they are superheros! They get an adrenaline rush chasing cars. Most of the time the speeding cars are simply being driven by people who panic when they see blue flashing lights. Coppers are renound for winding up motorists in an attempt to induce a chase. It's dangerous, it kills people. They seem to think they have a right to drive their police cars at any speed, anywhere, anytime. Something should be done about it!

BBC News - PC Mark Milton

Google Glass and other augmented reality gadgets risk creating a world in which privacy is impossible, warn campaigners.

The warning comes from a group called "Stop the Cyborgs" that wants limits put on when headsets can be used.

It has produced posters so premises can warn wearers that the glasses are banned or recording is not permitted

BBC News - Privacy

Gift cards are another way for companies to make huge amounts of money for absolutely nothing because so many are not used, usually because they only last a year and people forget about them...

BBC News -

Another example of total lunacy!

BBC News - Council bans daughter contact over child images

At last councils are taking action against 'charity muggers'... I've forgotten how many times I've had confrontations with chuggers over the years, including one who turned out to be poising as a charity worker but was in fact a fraudster. Found out after I contacted the charity in question complaining about there hard sell charity tactics for them to inform me they they did not have any workers out on that day. They contacted the police who asked me for a description so they could identify this woman on the towns cctv cameras...

Many of us do not like being approached in the street by kids in benetton clad outfits wielding clipboards who try and get your bank details by giving you a sob story about dying children and starving Africans. One, they are on commission... that's exploitation and two, they are mainly students with near zero experience of life and are not qualified to lecture the public on such matters.

They are arrogant and frequently after you say no thanks and walk away make cryptic, sarcastic and abusive comments behind your back. In my case, guaranteed to make me immediately walk back and confront them... the sooner they are restricted to chugger areas the better, because then you don't have to play dodge the chugger on the high street. When they position themselves across the high street in an offensive maneuver they are seeking confrontation and alienate shoppers who simply order more online and start to avoid the high street because it no longer remains a comfortable place to be..

BBC News - Charity Battle

The pick of the 'silly season' stories... resulting in a 'angry mob' who were set on lynching the women. This type of thing is the norm on cartoon shows like 'the simpsons' and 'family guy'.. woman dumps cat in wheelie bin - angry mob - woman appologies - everyones happy again...

BBC News - Woman who dumped cat in wheelie bin

This seems like utter madness to me... an open invitation for people wanting to commit suicide and the odd heavy thats been paid off to kill and dump a body. When the platform is chockablock what happens when a visitor has a panic attack or a touch of vertigo? Also, leave the mountains alone... build your steel kicks in the cities.


BBC News - Protests at launch of dramatic German viewing platform

Why do some Americans like this dreadful woman. She is an utter disgrace to Britain and yet people across the Atlantic still seem to think there is something quaint about the bitch! If you are one of these people you need to read up on the facts! she's a freeloading waste of space!

BBC News - Duchess of York in the headlines again

Cash for royal access scandal:

There is an example in this article of a German man who was charged £41,000 for downloading a TV program whilst roaming in another country. And a ten minute video clip and five music tracks could cost as much as £200 !!

Seems to me it would be cheaper to leave your phone at home and buy a 'pre-paid' mobile phone upon arrival in a new country.

BBC News - Smartphone overseas internet warning from Which?