I think you may be right about the anti gun people being those who've never handled a weapon. I guess I'm the exception to the rule then.

I disagree strongly with carrying personal firearms. I have worked with and fired a variety of them, and that with both 'live' and 'safe' conditions (live ammo and disabled weapons). I've never seen the damage a gun does to a human, but I know they kill. So do bread knives. So do cars. Hell, even some innocent little lamp can zap someone enough to make them think twice.... I try to be very careful in my car, because I know that they kill. One of them killed my brother. I don't carry weapons, because here it's a)illegal and b)doesn't act as a deterrant but completely the opposite. Trouble is, I'm quite happy for people to own them for personal sporting use. Gun clubs are full of responsible people with responsible jobs all wanting to practice their sport, to encourage sensible use of guns and to provide a safe environment to do so in. Trouble is, British law will not distinguish between the two ergo - If you own a hand gun, you are likely to use it to kill someone. Even antiques were strictly controlled. The museum I worked in at the time of the gun amnesty (hand in your firearms and we won't ask questions) benefited by at least 40 new weapons, ranging from a WWII Webley officers pistol to a brand new, just out of Argentina, MiG machine gun...... and that was a little rural county! So go figure.....!

The only heat we're packing this Christmas is the heated foot spa for Camilla.