If you don't want to know the answer...

... don't ask the question.

Generally speaking, I don't overly concern myself with British gun policy, as American gun policy is sufficiently complicated enough that I don't have much time to spare. But it's hard not to snicker at least a little at the surprise and irritation engendered by some of the people involved, including the MP who's been stuck with actually introdcuing this to Parliament:

But yesterday, 26,000 votes later, the winning proposal was denounced as a "ludicrous, brutal, unworkable blood-stained piece of legislation" - by Stephen Pound, the very MP whose job it is to try to push it through Parliament.

Mr Pound's reaction was provoked by the news that the winner of Today's "Listeners' Law" poll was a plan to allow homeowners "to use any means to defend their home from intruders" - a prospect that could see householders free to kill burglars, without question.

"The people have spoken," the Labour MP replied to the programme, "... the bastards."

Having recovered his composure, Mr Pound told The Independent: "We are going to have to re-evaluate the listenership of Radio 4. I would have expected this result if there had been a poll in The Sun. Do we really want a law that says you can slaughter anyone who climbs in your window?"

Charming fellow the Independent makes him out to be, huh? I do hope for his sake that his original comments were just cut-'n-slashed - it's rarely smart for a politician to gratuitously and openly insult the intelligence of voters* - but don't color me surprised if they weren't**[UPDATE]. The above article also holds out the hope that the original vote was hijacked by supporters of this guy: I suppose that for a certain mindset that's somewhat preferable to the notion that possibly, just possibly, one isn't as much in tune with the mindset of the rest of the country as one thinks...

(Via Instapundit)

Moe

*This cheap shot opportunity has been graciously provided by the Management.

**[UPDATE] In point of fact, he was, somewhat. Via Samizdata (who are having fun with this story in their funky, hardcore libertarian fashion, as you might have guessed) we see this Guardian article and quote:

"My enthusiasm for direct democracy is slightly dampened," the MP told Today. "This is a difficult result. I can't remember who it was who said 'The people have spoken - the bastards'."

A bit more nuanced a response, that. Note that I am not saying that it was appropriate, mind you.

Comments

[Jesurgislac]

Since the bill that was a frontrunner was a piece of legislation that gives everyone the right to opt out of organ donation - but if they don't opt out, after death their organs can be used to save lives - well, can't help feeling that Stephen Pound has a right to be annoyed.

Particularly as the idea that Tony Martin had a right to shoot a sixteen-year-old boy who was unarmed and who was running away is really a sick joke.

[James Casey]

What Jesurgislac said.