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Possible trip to Scotland--anything I can take?

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TamThompson

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I am considering a business trip to Glascow, Scotland next year, which would benefit my business. However, I know crime is high in the UK and that many guns are banned. Therefore, I'm wondering about my safety.

Is there ANY kind of gun I can take over there so that I'll feel safe? I'm quite sure pistols are out, but shotgun? Just to keep in the hotel room?
Also, are folding knives OK, like Spyderco's?

Thanks,
 
No.....Even my ancestral country has been turned into a bunch of sheep when it comes to self defense and RKBA. They will even hassle you (or arrest you) if a pocket knife looks too "evil". Really sad in a country with a history like Scotland. :(
 
Fortunately the UK is our allie in the war so they are generably very favorable to Yanks. We went to Glasgow and Edinburgh (pronounced Edin-burrah) and had a great time. London is also a great town.

I haven't heard of any Americans having problems with crime in the UK. Just remember the Force Protection guidlines. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't do things that make you stand out as an American. Although they'll know from your accent.

The British Pound has really slammed the dollar so save your money. If you can, take a bus trip up into the Highlands. It's very beautiful.
 
If you avoid late hours, bad neighborhoods, and public housing projects you won't have much of a crime problem in Great Britain. Don't even take a pocket knife. A flashlight is OK.
 
I was in Edinburgh last summer on business. Talked with some of the guys a bit about guns. They had an interesting take on them. Not so much an anti stance, more of a *say this in a thick Scottish accent* 'If you run into trouble, just use yer fists, lad.' Edinburgh is a great city. Only place outside of the US I would even remotely think about living. (The women are rather...agressive if you happen to be single and looking. :D )

The year before that I lived in London for 6 months, also on business. Very little gun talk at all. Only time I ever talked about guns was with a guy that had been in the Royal Marines in the first gulf war, and a couple South Africans. It was funny with the Africans...they were like, "You'd love it down there, mate. Full Auto AKs for sale on street corners for a few rand." (Rands are worth like...50 cents I think) The other Londoners had more of an Anti take. But....it's a very wierd experience over there. They're subjects of the Queen...very wierd to talk with them about political stuff...
 
No guns, nada, zip, NONE. Knives limited to under 3".

I haven't heard of any hotel jackings even in the UK so how is a shotgun in your comfy secure hotel room going to do you any good? Take a nice Louisville Slugger baseball bat as a "gift" and keep it in your room if it makes you feel better.

Go to britishblades.com and ask your question from the source.
 
When I was last in Edinburgh there were 2 drive by shootings, both resulting in fatalities. Drug related.

Scotland has signs posted telling people to turn in their neighbors who have guns.

And whatever you do ....... NEVER TRUST A CAMPBELL!
 
Everything I know about Scotland I learned from Trainspotting. :D

You might look into blackpowder - cap-and-ball revolvers, etc...?
 
OK, since this board is about 95% men, I suppose I should've pointed out that I'm not a laddie---I'm a lady. 46 year old, blonde-haired, blue-eyed WASP lady. I'm also extremely strong physically (competed in sports all my life, including American and world records in powerlifting and weightlifting).

So...from what I'm hearing, medieval weapons it is! And yes--I'm always very vigilant about my surroundings; I have attention deficit disorder, so I'm always scanning. Actually, I've never been attacked in my life, probably since I give off a very aggressive predator vibe.

If I keep my mouth shut (highly unlikely), I can blend in, being 1/4 Scottish with a little French, a bit of German, and the rest English ancestery.

But once I open my mouth...I've been told it's QUITE obvious I'm from Texas. :) Hay-ull, we maht even have oursefs a landg-widge bar-e-yuh heah, y'all know whut ah mean? ;)

WT--of course, you had no way of knowing, but my family ancestery on my mother's mother's side IS the Campbells--our clan was Campbell of Argyl, like the socks. Campbell is my dear, 94-year-old grandmother's maiden name. But yes, I've heard from a Scotch ex-pat the story of Campbell treachery. They shoulda not pissed us off.

Thanks, y'all!
 
As said in post above, take a few maglights. Whatever gets thru gets thru, the airport authorities. Take a $5 kubaton with a few dummy keys on it and tell them its your key-ring locator thingy.
Try to buy some pepper spray if they have it legally there [a stretch].
 
Tam .. regretably about anything you can dream up a being a weapon ... will be potentially a problem.:(

If time permits try and travel out of Edinburgh a bit and head over the tay bridge and go North into Perthshire .. look for places like Blair Atholl, Loch Tay (close to which is a charming village called Aberfeldy) .... this a very scenic area ..... and if time permits to go much further North .... try for GlenCoe and even up to Inverness.

If time short then at least ... cross that Tay Bridge and drive on a bit as time allows - very pretty. I am sure you will enjoy (apart from feeling nekkid with no piece!)
 
Actually Scotland is the Worst in the Whole UK for being phobic of any weapon.
(Glasgow being the worst of the lot partly due to an out of control crime rate)

If you land at any Scottish airport with anything that they deem a weapon, you'll spend your vacation time & then some behind bars.

Agrocola's Link is Useless in Scotland, despite it being legal & above board, if you used that, you have a 99% chance of it being totally ignored.

Hell, they recently convicted a guy in one area just for wearing a belt!.:barf:

In Short, Avoid the UK like the Plague!.
 
Egads, and me of Clan MacDonald descent talking to a young lassie of Clan Campbell. You live in Austin? Next you will be telling me that you are a Longhorn whilst I be of Aggie bloodlines.

No doubt your blonde hair and blue eyes trace back to the Vikings wrecked on Scotland's shore.

I never felt at risk in the Highlands.

Enjoy your stay in Scotland. Try out some of the single malts.
 
I was there in 84 and had a great time.Edinburgh Castle has some amazing displays of weapons in the Great hall and lots of other interesting stuff to see.Got to hike to the top of Ben Lomand and around the Loch.Lovely country.Don't forget to have some Haggis while you are there.
 
It was that shooting at that school in...was it Dunblane or something like that? Around the mid-90's? I think that was what pushed the UK, and Scotland, over the gun-grabber edge.

It is truly appalling to think that my ancestors, who painted themselves blue and fought naked with brutal medieval weapons, are all prissy about guns now. Maybe in a few years they'll come around, after enough of 'em get killed by thugs.

Where's Braveheart when you need him?
 
Sadly, lately the courts UK in general have treated their criminals like victims, and their victims like criminals. I have friends in the north of England and the laws have effectively "emasculated" law abiding gun owners and have turned citizens into criminals with the stroke of a pen. The limp wristed liberal elitist have taken over the government.


PS: I think the name "Tam" is a male nickname in Scotland!!!
 
"Shipwreck"?

We Vikings didn't "shipwreck," we came ashore to help the locals improve their lot, and offered to build them finer houses than the hovels they lived in.

Sadly, a language barrier intruded. We were demolishing their old houses and firing the rubble to make room for new construction when they attacked us. Thus, we were forced to defend ourselves. When it was all over...well, no point in letting good land go to waste.

Crazy Einar's Seagoing Concern
"Interior Desecration Since 793 AD"

We're not "Savage Viking Raiders," we're experts in:

Pre-emptive Archeology
Incendiary Slum Clearance
Stray Cattle Relocation
Precycling
Decedent Property Repossession (That's "Decedent," not "decadent.")
Osteofractic Debt Collection (Compound fracture interest our specialty)
Maritime Property Transfer
Adopted Offspring/Bridal Acquisition

Mike (of Clan Gunn, after Gunnar) (and I have the passport to prove it;))
 
Bainx

As said in post above, take a few maglights. Whatever gets thru gets thru, the airport authorities. Take a $5 kubaton with a few dummy keys on it and tell them its your key-ring locator thingy.
Click to expand...


Better make sure your kubotan really does look like a key locator, or you could be in trouble for carrying an Offensive Weapon.

Although if you wear traditional Highland costume, I think you can carry a small knife in your sock.
 
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