Incoming crossbow ban

mightyjebus said:
It's a bit of a stupid ban. Crossbows have been about for 2500 years or so. You can make them from sticks (
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTuzEFQNSU4
).
It seems to be more about control of the population than saving lives. I'd imagine bows and arrows will be next.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
The lengthy history of crossbows is irrelevant. There seem to be two main arguments against the new approach:

1. Criminals don't follow the rules. Indeed they do not; however, that is the argument of despair: "We can only have limited impact so let's not do anything".

2. It is about taking away freedoms/controlling the population. A small percentage of the population own crossbows; if a government wanted to control the population, they would probably do something far more effective. Living in society requires us to work within a balance of freedoms and limitations in order for that society to function; we trade off some freedoms in return for the benefits of being part of society; that involves compromise, which some people seem more capable of than others.
 
Colin Allen said:
Living in society requires us to work within a balance of freedoms and limitations in order for that society to function; we trade off some freedoms in return for the benefits of being part of society; that involves compromise,
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Th best way I heard it put was my freedom stops where my neighbour's freedom starts
 
Using a self defence argument for owning a crossbow is a real walloper, but there's always one I guess. Imagining this guy getting his goats foot lever out to rearm the crossbow after missing did make me laugh.

Personally the less inspiration we draw from the States, the better. Half the folk I know there are emigrating rn.

I think if you're in a very online bubble and don't actually go outside much, it does seem very scary out here and maybe an Emotional Support Pistol seems necessary to you as a result.

Having had my share of bad encounters and having lived in the cheapest part of every city I've moved to, I'm pretty glad firearms are pretty rare here. I've never had one pulled on me. Never seen one outside of a couple of overpriced range sessions. Had a knife pulled on me once but it was a jakey who could barely stand up, so I just walked away.
 
American Gothic Horror GIF by Barbara Pozzi
 
Cannonfodder said:
Just another knee jerk PR stunt by the government to appear to be doing something while actually doing bugger all. Crimes involving crossbows are pretty rare and I wonder if this incident, as tragic as it is, would've made such an impact if it hadn't happened to the family of someone in the public eye.

I agree that some kind of licence would be the best but unfortunately these things have a cost to them. An outright ban is quicker and far cheaper
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yes. I have a highly skeptical feeling that licensing is less about making things safer and more about fiscal benefits for the gov (not just this one, but all of them) imposed via licensing and fines though. Its a win - win for them as it looks like they are doing the pearl clutching and saving us all. And yet knifecrime...If it wasn't a cross bow used as a weapon - it would have been something else.

But where does it end with this sort of fiscal generation...Electric vehicles pay per mile, ULEZ, Kitchen knives at pay per slice next? (Gordon Ramsey will be VERY angry!) Or maybe they should do a BB tax where we get charged 2p per BB we fire? 10p per headshot? 6p per breath we take? Maybe 1p per 100 steps I take if using a dilapidated poor excuse of a public footpath? An Umbrella license anyone? (very dangerous!!) Or even a Lawnmower noise permit? (The noise Esmeralda, the noise!) A license to carry deep heat perhaps? A Dog bark permit? License to hammer on a Sunday morning? (Some people can be "driven to a rage" and "totally lose control" over things like this!) Screwdriver surcharge? A glass bottle and pint carrying permit for pubs and clubs? Potted‑plant weapon certificate where we can register houseplants over a certain pot size? (They'd make a fortune out of the wife!)

Hopefully no one from the gov is reading this - I don't want them getting any ideas! :ROFLMAO:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top