Gun control past and present

[Christel]

http://www.ammoland.com/2011/09/14/gun- ... of-racism/

I found this article interesting, loads I did not know, some I did.
These last few days Ovenpaa and I have been reading about rifles and the past here in Denmark.
It of course all started with us buying a Schultz and Larsen, then while here visiting the S&L factory and I got the book about the factory as well. The whole shooting movement started back in the late 1800s. Shooting clubs were formed as a result of loosing a couple of wars to Germany. The defeats resulted in the Danes becoming incredible patriotic and wanted to be able to defend their little country. Hence shooting clubs and acquiring accurate rifles. Gymnastics was part of the shooting movement, I guess to keep fit if ever back in battle.

Just interesting how each country depending on background and events has developed their gun culture/laws.

The article is also about what they would like to change now, here in Denmark people seem fine about the gun laws, well apart from being able to shoot with a silencer maybe :) That is not allowed for most people, if they apply it is 99% a no.

[EagerNoSkill]

Very true words Christel :goodjob:

In south Africa we had several influences but few affected our nations history more than the "The Boer War".
A quote to give insight of a English perception of ther Boer!

The Great Boer War : Arthur Conan Doyle
"Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home and fortune and left their country for ever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take this formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances under which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquire exceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual, and you have the modern Boer -- the most formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of Imperial Britain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflicts with France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated us so roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theology and their inconveniently modern rifles.

Commando: A Boer Journal Of The Boer War : Deneys Reitz
For those who want to read a true story of a fight man and his rifle that will stir your soul, instill respect and provide great insight and provoke some thought I cannot commend this book for highly. It is an EPIC true story :!: It has a twist that will absolutely shock you. If you buy it, read it and you feel I have wasted your time - I will buy the book from you for what you paid for it (and I'll pop for postage)!
http://www.amazon.com/Commando-Boer-Jou ... pd_sim_b_2
"Review 1. Written in a matter of fact style, the simple experiences of a young man at war are piled one upon the other with no guile and in a straightforward manner. What emerges is one of the greatest stories of war of all time. This stands alongside Dispatches and Black Hawk Down but is perhaps even more remarkable as it was written by a young man at war, not a professional writer or journalist. "
"Review 2. First person account by Reitz of his experiences during the Anglo-Boer War. In-depth insight of day-to-day operations during war, its warriors, and the strength and pure ruthlessness of men from a generation almost forgotten. A real life account that compares with the best of action novels. A true classic. "

[EagerNoSkill]

This is another book that is a must read if you a Miltary History / weapons buff
It is now regarded as the definitive book on the Boer War

FIRST WAR with use of / lessons in
1. Extensive use of rifles with flat shooting smokeless cartridges
2. Application and Use of mobile sharpshooting troops verus siege
3. With extensive use of trenches - and impacts on artillery
4. "Modern use" of Machine guns / Artillary - ie not the mindless slaying as used before
5. Use and impact of formal scout / snipers - force multiplier
6. Modern Small unit tactics versus large packed formations movements
7. Use of concentration camps (+- 30% of Boer Woman / children died in concentration camps) :evil:

The German observers in this war learnt the lessons - the British generals did not!
This can be seen in the carnage of the british / Commonwealth forces from 1914-1917!

Winston Churchill named the "Commando's" after the Boer "Kommando" the basic boer fighting unit as a mark of respect :cheers:

The Boer War : Thomas Pakenham
"Review : A well done narrative of the Boer War. Pakenham has written a book which resists the easy path of political correctness and dosen't engage in simple minded ideology. He has attempted to show both sides as truthfully as possible. His one very daring act is the effort to show General Buller in a different light - going against decades of historians that have written him off as nothing but an incompetent. Just another example of the idiots that were in charge of the British military in the ninteenth century, as if comptence in the British Army ceased to exsist after Wellington died. It is a bold attempt and one which I believe Pakenham does very well.
Pakenham also excells in his effort to show how very difficult it is to maintain control of troops on the battlefield. Garbeled communications, faulty intelligence,monumental egos, morale, unexpected effects of new weapons metting up with outdated tactics - all of these and more are detailed beautifully by Pakenham. I was somewhat suprised that the Boers are shown as not all conquering and often had even more problems then the British. Their troops were wildly undisciplined and were better at partisan warfare or serving in defensive actions. When it came to offensive action against disciplined troops the Boers were actually miserable failures. This is a common trait found in what is now know as "irregular forces". Pakenham looks at both sides and shows that war could have been avoided at almost every step, but personal and national egos and ambition kept getting in the way. Naturally Pakenham draws the inevitable comparisons to World War One and they are very clear. "

PS if you hate polticians now - you will hate them even more after this.

SAME Rule applies!
If you buy it, read it and you feel I have wasted your time - I will buy the book from you for what you paid for it (and I'll pop for postage)!

[Sandgroper]

If I remember correctly, the roots of gun control in the UK began after the First World War to prevent a communist style revolution from taking place.

[Chuck]

SG, yes that seems to be the case, probably because we were about to be subjected to the same type of rule that caused the Russian Revolution....

[1066]

If I remember correctly, the roots of gun control in the UK began after the First World War to prevent a communist style revolution from taking place.

Anyone interested in the history of gun control in the UK should read Colin Greenwood's excellent book "Firearms control"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Firearms-Contro ... 0710074352

[Blackstuff]

If I remember correctly, the roots of gun control in the UK began after the First World War to prevent a communist style revolution from taking place.

Vagrancy Act 1824 was the first 'proper' firearms legislation, basically making it a crime for tramps to own offensive weapons, but yes the Firearms Act 1920 was the first 'biggie' and the biggest nail in the coffin for private firearms ownership in this country

[Chuck]

[Christel]

Chuck,

Just as an aside, last time I looked at numbers regarding terrorism in our country the domestic terrorism was higher than international terrorism.
So more trouble from local groups than from people from abroad.

[Chuck]

corect, they are already here..international terrorism is not as big a threat as those we have allowed in for whatever dubious and pathetic reason, although I reckon DM and Sim might know otherwise.