Hello J.D.
Colin Greenwood was indeed a Police Officer around the time I was one myself. (1960's-70's). He rose to the rank of at least Superintendent, only three ranks below that of Chief Constable.
He did a PhD Degree on the Criminal Use of Firearms. One thing he noted was, that there is no record of any criminal ever applying for a Firearms Certificate (here in the U/K) in order to obtain a weapon with which to commit a crime. Something I also found to be true, during my many years as a Police Firearms Instructor and an Authorised Firearms Officer. Here in the U/K only a very small percentage of Police Officers are trained and Qualified in the use of Firearms.
Sadly the ability of Authorised Police Firearms Officers is far lower today than it was prior to 1997 when Handguns were banned completely in the U/K. Prior to that date nearly every authorised firearms officer I knew was also the member of a Pistol Club, and they owned and shot their weapons, at their own expense, on ranges every weekend.
Today the Authorised Police Firearms Officer gets one day a month on the Range, and they get to shoot perhaps 50 rounds on that day, if they're very lucky. No way at all enough to become even slightly proficient with their service issue handgun.
Sadly the Socialist, left wing Government we have had here in the U/K (New Labour) since 1997 has done away with so many of the Civil Rights we once enjoyed, rather like your Democratic Party who think they know more about firearms and their restriction of ownership than is good, for the average US citizen.
A disarmed civilian population, is not only at risk from the Criminal Element, but also from the Government they have unfortunately elected.
Harry
