I'm only going to say it one more time.Guns don't kill people.PEOPLE kill people.It's true.If people don't have the guns,they'll find another way to kill you.It's all there is to it.*+++++*

In the American constitution it says that every citizen has the right to bear arms where as in the UK we have no such right.

Because we live in a FREE country and the right to bear and own firearms is held in high regard because it's in our Constitution. Secondly, if guns kill people, spoons and forks make people fat, pencils mispell words and condoms make people have sex. People kill people, not tools used to commit such an act.

Because America kicks ass.

It's in our second amendment in our constitution-the right to bear arms. I'm not a gun owner myself, but it is a right. Not saying the criminals should have them, though...

You do NOT go to prison in the UK for owning a gun, you can go to prison for holding an illegal gun but if you have a license for it, it is perfectly legal to own a gun in the UK.

Well I just felt like adding something to the rest of these answers. Even though guns are in our constitution and some people say like a couple of the answers here that people kill you not the tools or guns used to do it. I say that if people didn't have the guns they would have a harder time killing others. and they wouldn't be as efficient and quick to do it. I bet the murder rate in America would nose dive if there were no guns for people to have. Only hunters and police should be allowed to have guns. That ancient law should be abolished and should have been abolished 200 years ago when it was created because of the Revolutionary War. But the world is a twisted and stupid place run by idiots in high power. So what can we do? Wish we could do something about it.

Short answer: Because of the Brits. Long answer: Because back when the U.S. broke away from the British Empire, they felt repressed by the mother country. Britain was taxing them at the highest rate in the British Empire. American ships were being boarded (even in American harbours) by British press gangs and their sailors were impressed to serve on British warships. So when the U.S. revolted, they made it part of their constitution "The right to keep and bear arms". This was to ensure that if the new government ever got too full of itself and stopped looking out for the average citizen (like the Crown back then or the U.S. government now), the populace would have the ability to rise up and overthrow that tyrannical government. "We have had 13. states independent 11. years. There has been one rebellion. That comes to one rebellion in a century & a half for each state. What country before ever existed a century & a half without a rebellion? & what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it's natural manure." - Thomas Jefferson writing to William S. Smith, November 1787. Of course the average American thinks their guns are there for protection... from burglars, from invaders, from cheating spouses. Very few Americans even realize the reason that they have the "right to keep and bear arms" is to protect themselves from a corrupt government. Hope this helps.

Cultural differences. Americans believe that guns solve problems, Brits that they make problems worse. So Americans have laws for owning guns, Brits against.

Guns are inanimate objects. They do not kill people just because they want to. It takes someone who wants to pull the trigger. I'm an American who carries a gun, and I hope never to have to use it. But if I'm being attacked by someone who is much larger than me or is armed, I will. I will also use it in defense of those who are not armed, and to back up my deputy friends.

I've been around more than enough killing in my day and I have NEVER seen a gun kill someone. Where they making robot guns in UK or something? Did spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat? Or do you suppose it was the arm shoveling the spoon that was responsible? Here was an interesting interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCHtw6WbbnM

1. We are not ruled by British law. We fought two wars in order to drive home to the motherland that we did not want to be ruled by you any more. So, if you want to outlaw gun ownership in your country, then that is your business. However, you don't get to make laws for us anymore. 2. Unlike you, we value the right to be able to defend ourselves against those that would do us harm. We think that the person who is actually preying on people (i.e. rapists, robbers, would be murders, etc.) should be sent to prison rather than their prospective victims who defend themselves against such criminals.

guns DONT kill people!!!!! People kill people!!!!

Guns dont kill...people kill. a gun is just an object, and is usefull for mature sane non-criminals, in the hands of a nut case then it becomes bad, but the gun never kills, its the person that pulls the trigger that does.

We have more enemies.

It is part of the American Constitution the Right to bear Arms. It is people that kill not guns but of course the easier access to weapons does increase the odds.

Guns don't kill people - it takes a person to pull the trigger, even if destruction is what guns are designed for. America is renowned for it's militia mindset. It's just tradition. And btw, it's illegal to own unregistered or illegal guns in either country, there's just a lot less country in the UK to hide them :p

As an American gun owner, and one who has a carry permit, let me say there is a huge responsibility that goes with the right. Using a weapon is a truly 'last resort'. You must be able to defend your actions in a court of law. Sure, the laws have been liberalized so we don't have to be in our domiciles, but may defend ourselves anywhere we have a right to be. That's only fair because the bad guys don't care where you are. They will attack anytime they have the opportunity. They prey on the defensless. If you care to be a victim, just keep pushing for more gun control laws. I refuse to be intimidated by the bad guys.

Americans have rights.

LarryH54..when it can be documented that guns save more lives annually than they take, perhaps your position will have some merit. Until then it's just NRA-speak.......

self defense

Check the Bill of Rights,,,we can have 'em because we founded this country with rights.

Commentator..........If you have a better definition of a gun, I'd be interested in hearing it. FYI, a definition is supposed to reduce the defined to is lowest common denominator. You call it simple, but that is the manner in which Noah Webster went about his craft. Anything beyond my definition is a personal opinion and fails to qualify. But, have a go at it anyway........ Furthermore, you don't really know you're safe, you merely have that feeling of power and dominance one gets while possessing a firearm. That kind of invincibility is the primary example demonstrating my fear and apprehension over gun ownership in America. In reality, you and your firearms are no safer than I am.

Our government gives us the right to bear arms. It's "okay" as you say, because the laws are written for *all* the people not just the nut jobs that shouldn't have access.

The question should read: "You can go to prison in the UK for owning a gun....." I am sure not everyone in the UK who owns a gun will go to prison. I'm sure also that lots of criminals have them. Knives kill people. Is it OK to own a knife in the UK? Automobiles kill people. Is it OK to own an automobile in the UK? I bet in both the UK and the US automobiles kill lots more people than guns. See my logic?? Yours is just as faulty. In any case, people kill people. The means they use is dependent on what happens to be handy. Gun, Knife, automobile, etc., etc. Myself, I would use poison, and we haven't mentioned that yet or home made bombs either. Stop trying to create unrest!!! Americans can own guns because it is legal to do so.

For the same reason that people own cars, alcohol, booze, baseball bats, knives, swords, brass knuckles, cigarettes, or dogs. All of those have killed people. Don't get caught up in one item on the list when there are thousands of things that can do the same thing.

The Constitution Of The United States allows citizens to bear arms. Different laws for different countries.

we have the right to bear arms http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution "kill time not life, shoot pool not people!"

It's wired into the source code for our country: it's a part of who we are. . So, perhaps is the level of violence and related death in the US. Whether the two things are linked - gun ownership and our murder rate - is endlessly debated and unprovable.

guns don't kill people, people kill people...and laws don't stop those who want guns from getting them; they just create "black markets..."

Different country, different laws. +5

The one big difference is that the U.S.A is not the UK.

Because this logic would require us to also outlaw knives, bow and arrows, electricity, aspirin and pain medications and countless other items because all kill people as well. Think about it!

because people kill people not guns

If guns kill people then spoons and forks made Rosie O'donnel fat and cars kill ppl and it's the ciggarettes fault ppl have cancer ppl kill ppl the simple answer to this is that it is legal in the US to own and carry a gun if you have no criminal record and can obtain a permit to carry The constitution give the right to protect on-self and family, with deadly force if warranted The problem is that, the law comes down harder on ppl who leagaly own guns than the criminals who use them

Because our Constitution says we have a right to bear arms. What the Constitution did not take into account is that "we" includes a lot of uneducated morons.

why does the UK allow children under the age of 15 to legally consume alcohol when they have a huge teen binge-drinking problem? the answer is the same, differing cultural expectations http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/3356

Owning guns is part of our ability to defend ourselves in this country and should not be disrespected outright. Those that disagree should work to improve gun safety education and eliminate the root causes of criminal misuse of firearms.

I don't think it's OK. Just because it's not illegal doesn't mean it's OK.

1-10-2017 You are babbling. Laws in UK have nothing to do with laws in US.

America is a more violent country.

We have a constitutional right to have firearms. It was put there as a last resort against tyranny from our government. UK doesn't have that because your monarchy didn't want the peasants rising up against them. Like we did.

Its in the constitution of the US. Its called the Second Amendment the right to bear arms. You have to change what our country is based on by changing the constitution to get rid of guns. Good luck with that.

Its okay in a middle eastern country to stone a woman to death. Why doesn't America allow the same thing? Use your common sense. Different nations different beliefs and the UK doesnt have a second amendment.

The same reason you're allowed to own a truck or rent a van.

You guys had cowboys & Indians.

Cars and drugs kill more people than guns do. Why is it OK t own a car when cars kill people? People texting while driving kill many people, so why are telephones legal? Guns are the best means of self-defense. I am a 5'-2.3", 99 lbs. lady. If a 6'-5", 300 lbs. lunatic tried to kill me, I would need a gun to save my life. Guns are used far more often to stop crimes and defend people than to murder them. The liberal news media does not wish to cover such news that is contrary to its anti-gun bias. You wish to penalize hundreds of millions law-abiding gun owners because a few maniacs kill people? That makes no sense.

UK has a queen too. Nobody needs queens and kings, but people need guns for self-defense against criminals and tyrants. Guns do nothing alone. Bad people use them and other weapons for murder. Good people use guns for self-defense and to stop crimes. You want to penalize hundreds of millions of law-abiding gun owners for the actions of some criminals. That's totally senseless.

The USA broke away from the UK because of its tyranny. The UK has kings and queens and a state church. The USA got rid of all that. Muslims are taking over the UK, but we won't allow that in the USA. Killing in self-defense and to stop crimes are justifiable homicide. Guns stop tyranny and crimes. You only look at the negative side of them. Such a narrow viewpoint is senseless and subjective to a immature level.

Guns don't kill people. People kill people. You go to prison in America for killing people. Owning a gun is not against the law in America it is a right protected by our constitution.

I agree. Donald Trump's presidency is proof America is incapable of running itself. Therefore, England should reclaim it for Her Majesty, and make it one her colonies again. I know many Americans who would help you do this.

Americans can have a licence for protection,,. trouble is they dont recheck Yearly to see if the people in the whole house are stable and not mental and the mental one gets hold of the gun!!.....here in australia,peole over a certain age have to visit a Doctor yearly to see if they are fit to drive, well people who have a gun licence need to do the same yearly, actually all the people in the house need to if old enough to shoot a gun cause the mental one always gets the gun and does all the killing..parents say oh he got into the so called locked gun cabinet!!

Because in America the law allows private ownership of firearms.

You do not go to prison in the UK merely for owning a gun. You can legally own guns in the UK. The ability to do so is simply more restricted than in the US. In fact, there are other countries in which gun ownership is legal if certain criteria are met. The reason that gun ownership in the US is NOT very restricted is the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which was included owing to the fact that the British had attempted to restrict gun ownership in the Colonies. The former Colonists feared that they might once again have to fight off a tyrannical government or some other enemy and wished to be free to arm themselves against that possibility.

Probably because most American are not as pussywhooped as Brits. You go to jail for owning a gun? You all go to jail for hate speech (i.e. Free Speech) like Tommy Robinson. You got CCTV cameras on every street corner with facial recognition, MI5 crawling up your butts at every opportunity, your crooked politicians trying every trick to delay Brexit, and importing masses of islamaholics while citizens can't find work. Your country is on the fast-track to becoming a craphole, and you all can't do squat about it...because you let them take your guns!

I own several guns, and none of them have ever killed anybody. The govt issued me a gun a long time ago, and that one did, but the govt said those deaths were ok. Since I came home, there has never been a death attributed to my guns. So, I think that prove the point that guns don't kill people, PEOPLE kill people. Citizens of the US have an article of our govt called the bill of rights. These are truths that are fundamental, inalienable and basic human rights, not "granted" by any govt.

mental people need to be banned from owning a gun ...so a yearly check at a doctor to prove the person is sane,,,,,{ here in australia people over 75 have to go to a doctor yearly to see if they are fit to drive, so same can be done there in america to prove the gun owner is sane ..if not take the gun licence and gun away from them

"If Guns Kill People, Pencils Miss Spell Words, Cars Drive Drunk, and Spoons Make People Fat" Just because the UK wants to be able to heard their subjects and make them unable to defend themselves doesn't mean we have to be just as stupid. Gun laws may change GUN violence, but not total violence. This means if you take the guns away they will find another way to kill if they are intent on the idea. And next time I suggest you do some more research and educate yourself before posting such rubbish.

people kill people. The gun on its own doesn't kill people by itself. If I hit a person over the back of the head with a baseball bat would you want all baseball bats banned too?