I think that BigMick is referring to the strengthening of the gun control laws in the UK a few years ago. I`m not sure of the details but if memory serves me correctly it made it much harder for licenced gun owners to hold automatic and certain other weapons. It followed a similar school tragedy (Dunblaine possibly?) where the fact that an automatic weapon was used, dramatically increased the death toll.

The reasoning as I understand it, was that the legislators took the view that there is no legitimate reason for a UK citizen to have or use an automatic weapon or hand guns anywhere other than in a shooting range. It is still legal to hold a shotgun or similar with the appropriate licence and secure storage in the home. I may be inacurate in the detail here but I am fairly certain that this was the general principal that came into law.

I would be VERY surprised to see any change in the gradual rise in violent crime statistics over the last 20 or 30 years in the UK that could be in anyway attributed to the change in these laws. Yes there is gun related violent crime in the UK. But my feeling is that it is as it always has been, mostly gang/drug related "turf wars" involving illegaly obtained weapons, or tragic "domestic" incidents, often involving legitemately held weapons by people described as "pillars of the comunity" or in farming communities, where the presence of the "family shotgun" in the house puts deadly force into the hands of an unexpectedly disturbed mind. It has always been thus and tragically probably always will be.

Obviously there are exceptions to every rule. But I have to say that I sleep easier in my bed knowing that 99.9% (made up statistic but you get my point) of the UK population will never handle or know where to get hold of, let alone know how to use a gun. And will never have to face anyone carying one either. I know its a trade off of risk, to arm or not to arm the general public, but in the UK its a trade off that I believe is worth taking and makes for an (overall) safer society. IMHO.