Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Dunedan
Mr. Mephisto:
I wonder what Padraic Pearse, Mick Collins, and James Connolly would have to say about the current state ot Irish gun laws? Considering that their response to English laws of a much less restrictive nature was to purchase 20,000 rifles, 500 machineguns, and 10 75-mm howitzers from Germany in 1916 ( in one shipment alone; the one that went to the bottom with the Aud and got Roger Casement arrested ), I think I can guess.
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What kind of nonesense is that?
Pearce, Collins and Connolly were leaders in the Irish War of Independence.
Comparing military leaders who are embarked upon a war of independence (or "rebels" if you will) with our current societal opinions towards an armed citizenry more than 80 years later is completely ridiculous.
Ireland remains one of the few countries in Europe with no armed police (except for Detectives and special armed units) and Irish society is strongly against personal ownership of weapons.
What would they say? Well, their actions speak louder than words. When the Irish Free State was created, the Government
specifically decided to create a gun-free society and chose to have an
unarmed police force.
What's your point?
Mr Mephisto
EDIT: By the way, the Aud carried 10 or 20 thousand rifles (depending upon your source) and "several machine guns" (not 500). There were no howitzers