scott wright, london, hardly. It's a matter of what they record as violent crime. You'd have to compare murder rates or similarly comparable records... for instance, there were 765 murders between September 2005 and September 2006 in the UK, while there were 16137 murders in the US in 2004. So that means about 4 times as many murders per 100 000 population in the US. The US still leads.

Andrej, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The violent crime rate in England is seven times that of the United States. Purely for your information.

scott wright, london,

There is only one solution to rid gun crime and that is to introduce the DEATH PENALTY.
Not only will this reduce gun crime but all other serious crimes in the country.
I would suggest that the goverment implement Death PENALTY for a year trial period and ther will definately be a noticeable decrease in all crimes in the country.

Rob Lailvaux, Isleworth, Middlesex

"No, if you want to rid your self of the gun violence, require everyone to own a gun. Then the criminals will be afraid, very afraid"

Ha Ha - Thats one of the most amusing things have read coming from an American. I asume the terrified US criminals have resulted in your Gun crime rates being lower than everyone else in the civilised world.....oh hang on a second.....

David, Milton Keynes, UK

they wouldn't have guns if the types of crime that involves guns wasn't happening and it seems to me that the crimes that make people carry guns are on the whole to do with drugs. I think we need to look at the drug laws. Nobody wants a crack den next door to where they live, but it's not the crack we are scared of, it's what people do to get the crack and to ensure the supply of the stupid drug. Guns are illegal in this country and long may it stay so. Drugs are also illegal, but more people take crack etc for pleasure than people shoot other people for a kick, but I think these stats are clearly saying that this attitude is changing, so perhaps it's time to take away the reasons for the guns no matter how that may upset the middle england hypocrites who had a puff at university and now say they never should have, people like, for example, jackie smith and david cameron.

tina simon, london, uk

Love all the Americans chirping in when they have a shocking amount of deaths by firearms.

John Smith, Germany ,

The problem today is that there are more and poorer single parent families where the children are not given the nurturing and guidance necessary to become responsible adults. The kids and their peers raise themselves with their drugs on the streets. Obviously that isn't the total cause but it is a big part of it. Guns are always accessible to criminals. The key element is to prevent the kids from being hardwired as criminals. Perhaps abortion or sterilization should be encouraged or rewarded instead of the need to provide welfare to their babies.

In the USA much but not all of the crime is committed by minorities. They usually end up as the victims too. What are the statistics and ethnic makeup of victims and perpetrators in England?

andtheansweris, podunk, USA

Ed in Edmonton, what a fool you are. Tighten the gun laws more? No, if you want to rid your self of the gun violence, require everyone to own a gun. Then the criminals will be afraid, very afraid.

Carl , brandon, ms, usa

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!"
Adolph Hitler
Chancellor, Germany, 1933

"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
George Washington
First President of the United States

Perhaps our British cousins need to relearn some of the great ideas of the 18th century, and abandon those of totalitarianism.

Nathan, Overland Park, US

It is very interesting to see how the anti crowd is smart enough to choose not to own a firearm to protect themselves and are also smart enough to make the decision for you too.

What the anti-ownership crowd fails to realize, is the ability of the people to choose for themselves makes criminals suffer.
The right of all law abiding citizens to arm themselves and defend against threats foreign and DOMESTIC is the duty of the citizenry.
Think of a neighborhood where gun ownership is lawful and by choice of the homeowner. Homeowners place a placard in the window indicating who owns and who does not. As a criminal, which house would you choose to invade?
Now consider a town such as Kennesaw, Georgia where it is a law that homeowners MUST own a firearm. Which neighborhood would you choose to rob?

Chris, Atlanta, Georgia

You people in England have some of the tightest restrictions on firearms in the free world. Obviously they aren't tight enough, given all this gun crime you are experiencing. Better tighten them up some more, if you can.

Ed, Edmonton, Canada

Wait a minute. Guns are illegal in the UK. Well, I guess that solution didn't work any better than "Gun-Free Zones" in the US work.

It is time to restore the ability of law-abiding citizens to have the best means of self-defense available, and for individuals to take responsiblity for themselves and their actions. This has worked in 48 of 50 States in the US. Guns don't cause crime any more than matches cause arson.

Jack , Chicago, USA

Gun restrictions only restrict the law abiding citizen and make them more reliant on "the government". In the USA, the courts have already ruled, it is not the responsibility of the police to protect you. It is the job of the police to arrest criminals.

Continue banning law abiding citizens from defending themselves by force. And while you are at it, check the rest of this "paper", maybe we should be banning golf clubs and knives also.

Chris, Atlanta, Georgia

I favor absolute and total control of firearms! And, as a model
let me suggest the policies implemented in Nazi Germany or perhaps Stalin's Russia, or the current policy in Communist China. Under all of the aforementioned policies the "Government" was armed and the civilians were not.
Under these systems the "Government" could address crime issues and effectively administer Gulags and Concentration
Camps for the well being of all! An unarmed population is a defeated and colonized people. Too many of us are willing to give up our rights and freedom to "Government" control.

Rick, Chicago, USA

STOP!!!
I have had enough of this rant against the U.S.!
The bottom line is: parents need to be responsible for their children at birth and remain so. Comparing how both countries write and abide laws regarding guns and crime is not as relevant and families raising respectful, caring, and kind children. There are far too many systems in place that do NOT get at the direct source of the problems in families and children get lost in the foray of bad policies in both countries. Fix or remove the bad policies and start training parents on how to be parents. Early family and childhood education should be our priorities. The more educated we become the less likely we would be having this conversation.

Adrienne, Minneapolis, MN, USA

I'm a Korean high school student attending an international school in China. As someone who spent most of his life in Asian countries, where it is forbidden to carry guns, I felt very safe whereever I went. Although recently someone in the Korean military ran away with live ammunition, for the most part Asian countries such as Korea and China are safe.

In fact, I think the culprit was caught this afternoon. I am going to check the news in a few minutes.

Anyways, I think Britain should prohibit carrying guns!

Ji Han, Chang Won, Korea

The problem in this country is far too many people have children who cannot or do not want to look after them properly. From a young age they roam the streets and the parents do not know what they are doing, they deny their child would do any wrong. Why, because if the admitted their child was doing wrong then they would have to deal with it, instead of sat on their backsides watching soaps, or in the pub.

I have lived on a South London Estate for the past 30 years less than 2 miles from Peckham, I have four children, each one of them is turning out fine, one has a degree, one is taking a degree now, one is doing her A-levels and the smaller one will follow, hopefully.

When I had my children I accepted it was my responsibility to bring them up to be good people and I took time an effort to make sure they had the best chances in life.

Parents need to be made to be responsible for their offspring and stop blaming police and schools, kids get their morals from home.

Kathy, London, UK

How can people live in that sort of terrifying situation?

Laws should be more stricted to thouse whom to be unconscious.

Also laws should be equalized to foreigners.

Like a Japanese murder who killed a British female teacher in Japan, British police should help foreign victims in the UK. I knew many unfair examples.

Especially, British Education emphasize more about life importance. Reducing juvenile deliquencies are not enough by police bail.

Junho, Busan, Korea Republic of

what has gone wrong with men of colour, being black myself, i say it is a disgrace, and shame to see this happening in the black community.

dabe , lon,

All those gun laws.Not much use, are they?

Nemesis12, Australia, Sydney

Over here, the other side of the pond, gun violence, gang deaths, and the like are associated with immigrants and people of color.

It is only permissible to indicate this when special relief is sought for identified groups, but is generally taboo, although widely understood as a basic underlying condition.

I suspect that similar caveats apply in the UK, and that circumspection and denial prevent the problem from being evaluated based on observable evidence, so that resources can be applied to the problem, and remedies developed that would benefit those primarily involved as victims and perpetrators, and the expense for the community as a whole, reduced.

We also suffer the equivalent problem of laws punishing those who engage in self-defense against those engaging in violence against them. It seems as if there is little recognition in the law of differation of the roles of aggressor and victim, and adjustment made to exonerate those whose "close" has been trespassed.

Johnson, USA,

Everyone comments on the number of police required on the streets these days. You have the answer because In every street an average of 43 people live why can't they look out of their windows to see what is going on and report back to the police instead of hiding away with curtains drawn because one day it will be you who is a victim. The reason that crime exists on the streets is that it has become a no go zone. In the citys of my country of Spain everyone enjoys life out on the strret, sees what is happening and talks to their neighbours. Society here is so fragmented with no respect (which has to be earned) - I only respect people who can help others e.g. police, fireman, doctors, care workers etc. not stupid drug dealer morons...

clive solby, stoke, england

All these people who say having a firearm to defend yourself is the answer, think about what the consequences would be if you were to use it on an attacker. Judging by the current justice system in the UK it is extremely likely YOU would be the one stood in the docks for defending yourself, such as these cases where home owners beat up a burglar breaking into their house, in so many cases they are the ones to get punished for using violence. The current justice system is turning the country into a complete farce with too many loop holes such as human rights and racial equality, and yes, it will only get worse

Stacey, Dewsbury, UK

When the parents will be made responsible for their under 18's kids things wouls improved.
Fine the parents, jail them, admit they can stick their children and all will be back to a civilized world. No smacking fashion is an error from the 60's. And at school a stick Master above any stupid parents complaits wold be a serious affordable tool to solve some disciplinary troubles.
I never smacked my kids, I only promised to do it several times, I'm lucky they turn OK, I respected them as far they respected the family.

Jan, Surbiton, Surrey

This entire issue is not about guns or gun crime. Shooting is becoming more common because guns are easier to come by, but this is not the reason for the killings. The number of stabbings has also increased, but this has nothing to do with the availability of knives. Road rage has increased, but this has nothing to do with cars.

The problem is the glorification of violence in the UK, and the attitude of base individuals demanding 'respect' instead of giving it. I am sick of the word 'respect'.

TV, videos, music, games, even TV commercials for children, they're all becoming more and more violent. People are becoming more and more selfish, and we all want things our own way, immediately. Look at how road rage has increased because we're so impatient.

Caring for others and getting on in society is embarrassing for today's youth to think of. Manners and consideration for fellow men is old fashioned and out-dated.

Chris, UK,

law enforcement is law enforcement, not some psychological
treatment for the woes of a bad childhood.

bring back the cat-o-nine-tails

A D. James, Aarhus,

I am lucky to live in an area where gangs are not the norm thank god as I have four sons, three being teenagers. There is still crime in this area but usually it is petty and not life threatening and although I worry about my sons being out at night with their friends I never dream that they will be killed by a gunman. Surely police walking the streets is part of the cure.Surely they would deter these teenagers from hanging around looking for easy targets. The British Police are invisible and ineffective and I know this because I know a policeman in the West Midlands who is completely disillusioned with his job and feels he is fighting a losing battle. Bring back the bobby on the beat.

Francis Ward, Worcestershire,

He Michael,

this article is about street crime in the UK, not about a country in war. I dont think its appropriate to compare reasons of death like you did. I can choose to eat McDonalds, but I cant choose to get shut.

I am personally against any form of guns at home. If you have them around, you might abuse them. So better dont have them the first place.

Kerstin

Kerstin, London,

this has got to stop the kids are being killed and even though im one myself this is affecting the nantion

shantelle 11 from london

shantelle, london,

During the summer of 2006 I returned to the UK for a visit. During my Air Force career I spent three tours of duty in the UK, married a Liverpool lass and raised three children who were as English as they come. I was sadden by what has happened. Violence in America has always been a fact of life, but the UK ? I and many others saw the UK as a refuge from gun crimes. Maybe they were right when it is said we can never go home again

J Grimes, Omaha, Nebraska/USA

Ok,

I'm a Brit who lives in the USA , I am ex British Army and lost friends as well as men under my command in NI as well as elswhere.

I think it safe to say my perspective is considerably more balanced than Paul, Amanda, Kim etc.

Since the restrictions on firearms were implemented in the UK post '86, firearms violence has increased year on year.

Laws restricting the access of firearms to the law abiding have no effect on criminals. Why should the law abiding be penalised for the actions of the criminal?

In the USA, deaths by type including suicide by firearm, gang warfare, self defense shootings and criminals killed by police

Summary:
Major Cardiovasular Diseases 936,923
Malignant Neoplasms 553,091
Chronic Lower Resperitory Dis. 122,009
Diabetes Mellitus 69,301
Influenza and Pneumonia 65,313
Alzheimers 49,558
Motor Vehicle Accidents 43,354
Firearms 28,663

H'mm 40 times more likely to die from McDonalds

Michael, New York, USA

Well Amanda from the South of England. You sound like a typical anti, distorting the facts. What's your source for 300,000 gun deaths in the USA? I think the figure is more like 25,000 per annum. Well over half of these will be suicides, whilst of the remainder, the vast majority of victims will be people who got what they deserved, ie gang members and criminals. We need more guns, not less.

Rich, Gloucester, England

"See how hard they when there faced with the death penalty or the chance of not being alive for the rest of the day." - Imelda Sanchez Rodriguez

Good idea Imelda, then the gangsters will have nothing to lose so they can try and shoot their way out of a situation instead of negotiating. Even if they surender they will get death so they might as well fight on.

Karl, Bristol, UK

There is Gun crime happening all over moss side, its not suprising that children will get involed by choice or by accident or by being a victim. The problem is the police.

The police are taking more officers off the streets and putting on more PCSOs who cant do anything about the crime. they cant even arrest.

And when the Police do get envolved with such violent crime and the made criminals behind it they dont think it through and mess up like the drug raid that steven oak was killed in. And the police tried to cover it but the reality is we need bobbys on the beat, we need comunitys where we know our loacl copper and where there are strict punishments when you do anything wrong, not just fines for being a mile over the limit.

There needs to be somewhere that you kids can go safely with their mates and keep away from the older generations and detach them from this awful world. break them away and tackle the one who want to get them envolved.

Josh, Stockport,

From the Times Style Guide:

"Gunned down" - avoid this Americanism, which means shot; if you mean shot dead, say it

'Gunned down' makes this crime sound exciting. Excitement is perhaps the main reason people do it.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

banning anything makes it wantable and glamorous, to silly minds. I DO BELIEVE the government should bring back hanging and arm the Police with a zero tollerence approach to jackassess that cycle, hang about or that walk around like their the king o' new york.
See how hard they when there faced with the death penalty or the chance of not being alive for the rest of the day.
They are just scared little fools with no strong role models in there lives.

Imelda Sanchez Rodriguez, ENGLAND,

MD, London,

Are you heartless? These are children no matter where they live. How terrible this world has become.

Allison, Duluth, Georgia

Ashtonian- does it really matter?
this kid got killed, he's 11 years old

jerri, england,

Most of the offences listed above are committed by persons as far removed from normal teenagers as it is possible to get. The areas where these offences occur are some of the poorest in the country. I'd suggest that virtually all the victims in the London had already been in trouble with the Police and/or decided to embrace gang culture. Peckham, Brixton and Lewisham have numerous street gangs all with access to firearms and most of them are responsisble for the offences. The members start off on minor offences, quickly realising that when the Police catch them they WILL get NOTHING at court and are free to carry on offending in between court appearances. Therefore the offending pattern increases to drug dealing and firearms offences. You'd want a firearm if you lived in that world making £400 a day dealing crack with no other prospects. We're locking them up, the CPS and courts regularly embarass us with their decisions and sentencing. Of course we could build more prisons.....

MD, London,

after reading that i felt sad that such young people have been killed and the amount of people.

christopher hapeshis, west wickham kent, london

Windows Vista has a quick and easy "Red Eye reduction" feature so there is no need to show this picture of a kid with blazing red eyeballs.

Ashtonian, Burbank, California

Dumbing Down,of every public servant,especially our Bobby on the beat who needs a (PARTNER), Jobs for the Girls equality !!.Now, considering kids staying on til 18,they should be allowed to WORK at 14,(apprentiships).What bunch of FOOLS dismembered that excellent system.The liberal TURNCOATS no doubt.National Service and Identity cards MUST be re-introduced,with our new technology.

derek bevan, Huntingdon/Cambs, England/U/K

Children killing children on the streets people dont seem shocked anymore, the facts are very disturbing law and order is on the decline, how anyone can shoot a child in broad daylight is chilling, the baddies are ruling our citys up and down the country with fear we desperately need a new kind of brave role model who can lead the way and show us that true bravery is the love of freedom where children can grow up to respect each other and not be afraid of the bully, we can all play a part each and every one of us, start with making drugs look sad show more real life storys around the evil of drugs educate our kids before its to late to turn the clock back.

mary, cheshire, england

I read the tragic stories, i felt sad to heard such boys allowed to use and play with guns like that, I do wonder!, How come teenage allow to use guns without any stricts of the government, we already seen the result? , its innocent people has been killed, every month we heard sadness stories,therefore, i felt so sorry of what happened, However, hope of the government prevent the children to be able to handle the guns, hope we hear good news

Mustafa, Tripoli, Libya

Hi every Body
I read all the a tragic stories. But, I do wonder and wonder, How come these children had a gun??? and be simple to use it for kill innocent people!,
the government should be soo strict against this problems of the guns use with teenage,rather than to hear or read so sadness story, therefore.
I hope of the government to act against this play of children and prevent the guns out of handle

Mustafa, Tripoli, Libya

Hey Chris,

J.S. didn't mention the Bible; he just said that it was a "God given right" to defend himself. If someone told you that you had to restrict your oxygen intake you might rightfully respond that it is your "God given right" to breath and at the end of the day I put defending yourself in the same category as being able to breathe as much as I need to.

Mike, grand junction, Colorado, USA

Let us look upon the 11th commandment 'Thy Shalt Not Get Punished'. Society today has been forged on this concept and ratified by the banning of corporal punishment and laws pertaining to protect the rights of children. As a child growing up with the threat of the cane and the back of my father's hand, I choose to take a step back from any bold actions that might evoke the wraith of punishment. I would like to make it clear that I do not agree with physical punishment, and the question must be asked how do we teach our children right from wrong? The answer is we cannot. As parents we no longer have the rights of parents. As teachers we no longer have the Privilege of teaching, and as police officers we can no longer uphold the law. The same Government who fed us the gruel of Iraq's WMD has now handed our rights over to overpaid, uneducated naive social workers who now believe they alone are the law of the land. The question we ask, 'How do we curb the violence on our streets'?

Kilroy, Belfast,

J.S. , Houston, TX - God given right? Where the heck in the Bible does it mention a right to bear arms? And I mean the REAL Bible, not your polluted evangelical oft-rewritten nonsense. Oh wait... TX, That's Texas isn't it, home of the world's greatest terrorist family...

Your attitudes in general about Guns and God makes Muslim extremism appear angelic...How did the idiots in charge of your military lose so many guns in Iraq? How many of those weapons are now being used to kill Iraqis and soldiers? You guys are less responsible with guns than ever.... Yet you think WE would benefit from relaxing our gun laws? Pffft!!!

Chris, nr Norwich, UK

During the past 20 years I have lived in both the UK and the USA. Both countries have problems with gun crime, violent teens and insufficient law enforcement personnel in certain areas. Instead of tearing strips off each other - it would be more instructive for us to understand how we differ from each other.

In the USA, outside of the cities and suburbs, effective law enforcement might be one or two hours away. It is therefore necessary for people outside the criminal element to have a chance to defend themselves against violent criminals.

As a result, having easy access to guns in the USA makes much more sense than it would in Britain - where distances, and police response times, are lower.

Both countries need to punish violent teens in a more comprehensive way, and to bring back real discipline into public schools. Getting a free education should be a privelege - not a right! Longer sentences, corporal punishment and better educational standards could solve this problem.

Andre, Machias, USA

Talk about Portugal being an unsafe country! I haven't seen the british police catch the killers of the young boy yet. Are they also inept?

Funny is that the people that accuse the Portuguese authorities and people in the McCann's case are mostly american and british......

Maria, Lisbon, Portugal

Mmk. After reading these melo-dramatic comments, it is common sense that having a gun does NOT help self defense. UK or US, I mean hell, stop whining about gun banning and whatnots. More guns = more crime. sleeping with a gun will not help you feel safe.

"huh? i thought guns were banned and illegal to own. oh, wait, silly me...criminals do not obey the law..."

grutan, london,

^^^^1) no they are not illegal, as long as they have registration or w/e. 2)just because you have a say in this whole comment-thing, does not make it okay to act like a moron

UK and US are similar more than you think...kinda like distant cousins, twice removed from your uncle's side to your mother's aunt's. Both our people have the whole 'gang/killing' chaos, well what will talking about it on an online news help? That's right, Nothing. It is all simple.. Guns are not the answer, so if you think wrong. Not our fault when you kill a sibling or loved one sleeping right next to you, Intentional or not.

R.F., taken one step atta time, US

Haha. I honestly can't understand you foolish english talking about how dangerous the USA is. I have lived in NYC my entire life and never been shot at once. England is going downhill real quick, very said indeed.

Blake, Brooklyn, NYC, USA

Where ever there are black people, there will be increased violence, especially shootings.

I know this is an unpopular thing to say, but it's true.

Here in America, where blacks make up much less than 20% of the population they commit 50% of the homicides. Look out UK, it's going to happen to you too.

Michael Reed, Denver, USA

Comments on here are ignorant on both sides of the pond. Let us Yanks stop making comments regarding the UK's laws and those in the UK need to stop making generalization regarding the U.S.

Some comments have been, "we are scared to walk down the street" uhh ok what streets are you talking about, having lived in England for a time there are streets that most law abiding citizens would not walk down either at night. However most streets are perfectly fine.

As a law abiding citizen, I have fairly easy access to purchasiing a firearm, and where I live I have a concealed carry permit, which anyone law abiding citizen can have and the violent crime here is almost non-existant. Yet go across the river to Jersey where guns are banned, and the crime rate is through the roof. Why commet crime where people will defend themselves, when you can go to where they are not allowed to be armed.

Lee, Spring City, U.S.A.

For all the american people who feel the need to lecture us (the UK) on our gun laws. Don't bother, the day we become like america is the day I will move out as I have no desire to be a country overrun with psychopath's (which america seem to sepcialise in!) who have extremely easy access to a deadly weapon!

Freedom does not equal defense! You many think that you are free because you can defend yourself. Well how free are you when you cannot even walk down your own street or how free are you when you fear others so much you have to arm yourself!

kim, London, England

If the UK relaxes gun laws, folks will feel safe with a gun under their pillow, WHILE the British gun death rate soars as high as the US's.

Karen, Janesville, USA

The causes are plural, but can be ordered. Central government is probably most to blame, having removed the police from the streets, a Liberal move I believe, initiated by Roy Jenkins, someone full of bright ideas! The few that are left have been firmly discouraged from doing anything positive for fear of upsetting our ethnic minorities, who strangely seem to have completely taken over a TV programme called Crimewatch, on the BBC. Then these "Liberals" attacked the teaching profession, such that now, it seems, kids in school do what the hell they like, with very few boundaries.
The "Libs", and therein I include left wingers, were to disable parents from the upbringing of their children. Parents these days are TOLD how to bring up their kids.
It's simple: central government should retreat from its constant meddling in the every day affairs of Joe Public, and do what it's elected for: run the country, or what's left of it these days. Gordon, go top yourself, for all our sakes.

John, Wirral,

"we have the right buy a gun for self defense"..Do you sleep better with a gun in you hand?Do you live Better with Guns? To me, this right is something I can't understand, the fact is now there is an other young boy dead thanks to the possibilitie to buy a gun! Well i'm french and proud to be in a country where people don't have to buy a gun to feel safe.

Robert, U ASS,

Any one who believes that MORE GUNS is the answer (Francis in London, J.S. in USA) has to be short of a few facts.
Comparing the populatiion of UK and USA and the number of deaths by guns, 36 people die in the USA for every 1 person in UK.
Having USA-style access to guns caused 300 THOUSAND deaths in USA. 163 people died in UK.
The population of USA is 5 times greater than the population of UK. The number of gun deaths is 184 times greater.
Watch the movie "Shooting for Columbine".
WHERE IS THE ARGUMENT FOR more GUNS?

Amanda, South of England,

While more and more criminals can easily obtain guns, ordinary people are left there as moving targets. It's time that a new gun law is passed that gives the right of the people to protect themselves. The police can't always protect you and we have the right buy a gun for self defense. Of course there must be regulations that prevent criminals, mental ill people or minors from obtaining a gun but the bottom line is that England needs more guns.

Francis, London,

How people from the USA can make comments on the demise of English society is beyond me. The facts are we remain one of the safest countries in the world to live in. The US has thousands of deaths per annum due to firearms, whereas we have tens.
The one thing we do unfortunately share is a breakdown in families and society, a generation of males who lack positive role models, who then chose to adopt the gang culture presented by much of the music industry etc.......... and the negative violent values of mythical figures seen on the screen.
Canada shares the USA's right to defend with arms, but there are fewer deaths there than in the UK.
I sat and feared for our society when I saw the parents of this poor boy who has lost his life due to the stupidity of foolish thugs.
Who has the answers, well I am afraid it will take a generation of change, education, social welfare, the criminal justice system, the side of law and order.The list goes on and on.

Paul, Dorset, England

The UK has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world, and look how safe it makes all of you. Here in the U.S. our God-given right to self-defense has not been stolen by our government. I sleep easier at night knowing that my government has not forced me to disarm myself, leaving me at the mercy of criminals. When police can travel faster than a speeding bullet, then your gun laws might make a little more sense. Until then, enjoy the shackles your forefathers formed for you.

J.S. , Houston, TX

huh? i thought guns were banned and illegal to own. oh, wait, silly me...criminals do not obey the law...

grutan, london,

"Have you noticed how the police have stopped saying 'thankfully things like this are very rare' ...What's happening in the UK."

We'll the fact is it is rare - this is exactly why this is news story. I'm unsure of what the solution is, I've been out of the UK far too long, but I will say this: don't look to the USA for answers. Here in California, this type of teenage gun death is a weekly occurrence, hardly deemed newsworthy. Please ignore 'Frank Silbermann from Memphis' and the type that agree with this 'guns for all' fallacy of logic.

Maurice , California, USA

Murderers do not kill because they have weapons. They obtain weapons because they have in mind to kill. Did you think that a gun ban would somehow be more effective than the ban against heroin? If so, then don't you feel silly now for having believed such a thing for no good reason? You had leaders who assured you that laws would prevent criminals from obtaining guns, and that this in turn would make it unnecessary to kill, imprison or exile them. Did these political and cultural leaders deceive you, or were they merely stupid? Either way, how do you now feel about them now? How do you now feel about their promise that the government will protect you?

Frank Silbermann, Memphis, USA / Tennessee

I have just listened to an English politician on Sky News this morning who perfectly explained the current dire state of certain sectors of British society....the causes and effects. Scarily it shows little hope for the future of Britain without radical changes in education, the benefit system, the judicial system and parenting skills.

Please listen to him...he spoke with such passion and common sense....and no party political points were made at all, just an intelligentm worried man speaking from the heart.
His name ....Iain Duncan Smith ...please listen to him.

Fraser, Saffron Walden, UK

It is a tragedy. I am afraid it just provides another example of how poor we are as parents. I hope that more focus is placed on improving parenting skills, a tightening up of the laws to do with liability and responsibility. The children in these gangs do not need prison - they need love and attention - which obviously they never got, otherwise they would not have such a low regard for life - both their own and others. I do think they should also set up a think tank to address the culture of violence. From happy slapping to shooting.

Stephen Pain, Odense, Denmark

Another failure of the police force to do their job, they should have decent undercover unit finding the sources of the guns instead of swanning about in flack jackets and yellow tops in their dozens for minor incidents.

Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain

In the articles above there appear to be several people involved in deaths from February still out "on police bail".
What confidence can the public have when, even when they catch people for crimes, it takes so long to see any justice.
In the extreme this could lead to people taking the law into their own hands.
This could really escalate.
I don't think having the "Bobbies on the beat" will improve matters, it's pretty obvious these people have no fear or respect for the law, their parents, themselves, or anyone else.

Paul, Perth, Australia

We need the restoration of our patrolling police force. Bobbies on the beat. It created security when we had it, and youngsters didn't feel the need to opt for DIY self-defence with guns.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

And what is the Government doing? Banning the sale of replica guns...
From HMGs own figures, last year replica gun crime fell 24%, the year before it fell 11%.
So, why is HMG bothering? Is the replica ban just smoke and mirrors to give the impression they are tough on "gun crime".
When will our politicians learn that bans don't work? The Handgun ban post Dunblane was supposed to "protect our children". Well I'm sorry Mr Brown, but children are still dying, because you thinkk wishing hard enough and passing a law will change the world.

John, Borehamwood,

Have you noticed how the police have stopped saying 'thankfully things like this are very rare'

What's happening in the UK.

Dave, Aspin, France

So we have crimes for which no proper statistics have been kept for ten years or so, caused by a failure in an education system that has had ten years of extra money and extensive reform and commited using weapons that were banned ten years ago in order to make our streets safer ... according to our cabinet these crimes cannot happen.

KR, Stockport,