Alphecca: Interesting View From A Brit

February 15, 2006

Interesting View From A Brit

Okay, I guess there are some rational folks in England. In yesterday's Telegraph, Stephen Robison writes:

The sort of person on this side of the Atlantic who deplores America's "gun culture" will almost certainly despise Mr Cheney's politics, and wish to see him carted off by a Texas sheriff and charged with reckless endangerment. But as one who, during seven years of living in America, occasionally went duck shooting - or huntin', as I learnt to call it - I confess that I loudly cheer the Vice-President's speedy exculpation.

In Britain, the man with the gun is always at fault. Our culture and our law enforcement agencies deplore gun ownership; rural police forces persecute owners, treating them as freaks.

Viscount Whitelaw, a blameless and splendid man, never recovered from a simple error on the moor when his shotgun accidentally discharged, winging a beater and spraying an old friend in the bottom.

It could have happened to anyone, but poor old Willie was forced to give up the sport he loved, such was the tabloids' glee at his misfortune.

Our world-beating Olympic shooters must practise abroad because of the post-Dunblane handgun ban - a ban ignored by gangsters on the streets of our larger cities, whose criminal antics have driven an exponential rise in gun crime since the legislation was passed.

This could never happen in America, where gun ownership is not just constitutionally protected, but is part of a great levelling exercise. In many of the southern states, the first day of the hunting season is a school holiday, so that fathers can take their sons out with rifle, shotgun, and paramilitary fatigues.

Hunting is an affirmation of the frontier spirit of the nation. More, it is a celebration of democratic participation - not, as is the case over here, an exclusive club for social climbers in plus fours.

Read the whole thing. He also offers an interesting take on the difference between our two countries as to what happens after the hunt.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at February 15, 2006 08:54 AM

Comments

I'm told that getting peppered is not pleasant and that the aftermath of doing the peppering is no more pleasant.

regardless of how it happened and who was involved. Here, is wishing a speedy and full recovery to both and many more happy years of safe hunting.

Posted by: Keith at February 16, 2006 11:37 AM

I'm also a Brit who hunts, and favours gun ownership, but I see nothing clever in the "speedy exculpation" of Cheney.

The spinners' attempt to pin the blame on the victim must have been downright confusing for kids learning gun safety, who are rightly taught that any accident is the fault of the man with his finger on the trigger. Credit to Cheney himself for eventually coming forward to make that clear.

My fellow Brit says that: "Viscount Whitelaw, a blameless and splendid man, never recovered from a simple error on the moor when his shotgun accidentally discharged, winging a beater and spraying an old friend in the bottom."

First off, no properly maintained gun goes off by itself. Saying "his shotgun accidentally discharged" is spin. The truth is that he accidentally discharged his shotgun.

Secondly, what got the far-from-blameless Whitelaw into trouble was not this genuine accident, but another incident where he argued with an airborne hot air balloonist who had drifted over his shooting field.

Whitelaw, who was the Home Secretary and ultimately the man with responsibility both for the police and for issuing gun licences, lost his temper and deliberately fired on the balloon, hitting the basket. This was several years after the accident in which he hit his gamekeeper.

Posted by: OD at February 17, 2006 01:02 AM

Hi OD,
I appreciate and aggree with your point about "Accidental" (Negligent) discharge, and, from the accounts that are coming out, Dick Cheyney appears to aggree with you too. Any spin doctors trying to say otherwise are doing no favours to anyone.

The muzzle should never be pointing in a direction where someone could possibly be hit. It is however little comfort for either party after the event. As I said before, a speedy recovery to both of them.

As for Willie Whitelaw shooting at a hot air balloon, I thought that it was Lord Mountgarret, or was there something of a fashion for it?

Posted by: Keith at February 17, 2006 05:47 AM

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February 15, 2006

Interesting View From A Brit

By Golly, you're reading an archived post. Click Here to head to the main page and read current stuff...

Check it out:

My group sci-fi blog novel:

Colony: Alchibah