You'd be surprised at just how common gun ownership is in the British countryside.
Discussion
Same in Spain. It's regulatory hell, and the "authorities" make it as ridiculous, arbitrary, expensive and time-consuming as possible. But hunting is still legal, so the country is full of long guns (most of which are definitely not used for hunting).
That said, the government is clearly playing a long game. Little by little hunting is increasingly unpopular, so gun ownership decreases. In fact, every time I go to the paramilitary police, who is in charge of gun control, for whatever paperwork, there is always someone with a bunch of shotguns and rifles from a recently deceased person, surrendering them for destruction because they don't want them anymore.
I myself have a sports license for pistols, another one for shotguns, and one for rifles, these last two associated to "hunting". Yet, I do not hunt at all, and have no interest in it. However, that was the only way to get a shotgun or a rifle. So whenever they decide to close that "loophole", it will not be possible anymore.
Needless to say, despite all those licenses, using any of my legally acquired guns for self-defense, even in my own home, is absolutely verbotten. Should I smoke an intruder who broken into my home, beat me up and raped my family, for example, I´d end up in jail regardless.
Same in the UK, if you hurt an intruder you can be prosecuted, however, reasonable force can be used.
"The use of force is reasonable if it is proportionate to the consequences it is intended to prevent".
Yeah, it's the same here of course. But that's the first problem, interpreting the future. It's not like in the US where the victim has the benefit of the doubt. Over here, in order to be justified to kill an attacker, you have to... let them kill you first (and once you're dead, then call the cops).
And in the case of firearms, the law is design to trap you, because if you follow it, you can't possibly have the gun at hand to be used in an emergency. I'm sure it's the same in the UK - it has to be dismantled and kept under lock in a safe and away from any ammunition (which you can't really keep much of at home anyway).
The court will never accept something like "oh, the attack just took place exactly when I happened to be cleaning my shotgun, I was so lucky". Keeping your gun "combat ready" is considered intent to use it with premeditation. In short, you become the aggressor regardless, and you're fucked.
yep, pretty much the same here and it's probably a good thing. not sure I like the shoot first, ask questions later approach.