Do British People Believe Not Carrying Weapons for Self-Defense Produces a Safer Society? Are You Happier?

I am British, and members of my family and friends own guns. They use them for sport, getting rid of vermin on farmland, or just because they enjoy collecting them. However, not a single one of them has a weapon for self-defense. It would never even cross their minds. We don’t live in the same fear as many in the US seem to do. Their guns are safely locked away in a gun locker where they belong. So yes, I guess we are happier because we aren’t scared like many Americans.

Not Just British People but Anyone with Any Sense

Am I happier? I am certainly happier than I would be if I thought that wherever I went, there might be people carrying guns or other weapons. I am in my late sixties, and in all of my life, I have never been in a situation where I wished I had a gun or other weapon to ‘defend myself.’

Most people with any sense understand this. Just take a quick glance at the murder statistics from both the UK and the US. It will show that we don’t believe it, we know it. Don’t waste my time with that ‘most US murders happen in a few big cities’ nonsense. Yes, I know that. Guess what? It’s the same here. You can’t skew the data by taking your cities out and leaving ours in.

Public Perception and Safety Concerns

The answer to this is a very obvious yes... generally speaking. The UK is a very safe place to live, with levels of violent crime a fraction of those seen in other parts of the world. However, in recent times, a belief has emerged amongst young men in certain minority communities that carrying a knife makes you safer. Of course, the reverse is true, which is why in London, in particular, so many young people of color are killed each year.

Dont get me wrong; young people of other ethnicities are also sometimes caught up in this behavior. But sadly, for their families, friends, and society as a whole, it is principally teenage black lads. This is not a racist observation; it is simply the truth. Unfortunately, it is rarely openly discussed in public, in the media, or by our political leaders because, of course, they are all terrified of being thought racist.

Addressing the Issue

What can be done about it? Education is number one. More focus on the value these young people can bring to society would help. Less glamorization of criminal lifestyles would help. Less money from drugs would be good. Less American TV might help, too. More efforts to break gangs and their anti-social behavior are needed. The list goes on.

Overall, the data speaks for itself. While the UK has its own violent crime issues, particularly in some minority communities, the benefits of not carrying weapons for self-defense are clear. The British mindset is not one of fear and insecurity, but rather one of safety and well-being.