The Cumbria shootings was a killing spree that occurred on 2 June 2010 when a lone gunman, Derrick Bird, killed 12 people and injured 11 others before killing himself in Cumbria, England. Alongside the two other mass murders since WW2, 1987 Hungerford massacre and the 1996 Dunblanemassacre, it is one of the worst criminal acts involving firearms in British history. He used a 12 guage double barrel shotgun, and a .22 calibre bolt action rifle. The general Background to the incident is at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbria_shootings
My aim in writing the article is to put some meat into a lot of contradictory firearms chat on The Vine, resulting from the recent massacre in the US and comparisons with the UK. What I have done is to give live video of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Cumbria massacre setup to run the Inquiry going about some of its business, and a video of the full firearms committee. It includes evidence given by Peter Nickles, who was Attorney General for the District of Columbia in the US in 2010, and the latest Official UK Firearms deaths.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_Kingdom
The committee videos below are a little long, about one hour each, however if you have an interest in what happened, the why's and wherefores , understanding the background culture, and related aspects etc, you will not get a better input, as its from "the horses mouth" as they say. There are many vested interests who will draw there own conclusions on this, and deductions, depending on their agenda; thus its always been, and will always be frankly.
I think the best way to illustrate the ethos and how it all works - remember that the approach is different in the UK, as its a Privilege not a Right to own a weapon - is give links to Parliamentary TV. In the three links I've selected the same Committee are taking evidence from Victims, Victims Families, UK agencies, and Peter Nickles, who was Attorney General for the District of Columbia in 2010.
The latter will be of particular interest I suspect as its a live recording of the Columbia Attorney General giving evidence to the UK Select Committee, so I listed that first :)
Colombia AttorneyGeneral (they had link troubles for the Live Video link for about the first two mins, its fine then) evidence to the Select Committee:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=7001
Parliamentary Select Committee, which includes statements from some families of those who lost relatives in the Cumbria Shootings. Its a sombre video, but its evidence direct from those directly affected by the shootings:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=6846
Parliamentary Select Committee, taking evidence immediately prior to Colombia Attorney General, this is a full Committee meeting
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=6999
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The related documents that give background:
UK NRA Website
UK NRA Quarterly Magazines going back 10 years or more, which will help give a flavour of UK Gun Owners, Clubs, Gun Sales et al, which will help put some meat on Gun Owner Culture and weapons
http://www.nra.org.uk/common/asp/general/journals.asp?site=NRA
Final Recommendations of the UK Select Committee on the 2010 Columbia Shootings:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/news/101220-firearms-control/
Statistical News Release to Editors Jan 2012, Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb0212/hosb0212snr?view=Binary
Related Detailed Formal UK Stats (select the tabs as needed on spreadsheet - Guidance Tab gives breakdown - many stats cover a 10 year period)
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb0212/hosb0212-tabs?view=Binary
Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2010/11 The full formal UK Report:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb0212/hosb0212?view=Binary