Bearing Arms

Two very similar petitions.

The first petition is entitled Allow law abiding citizens of the UK to bear arms to protect themselves, their families and their property and the explanatory notes say

"Violent crime is growing and we want the right to protect ourselves. People feel totally unprotected by the British Government, it's Police force and it's laws. The people who have the guns right now are the criminals. Law abiding members of society should be able to protect themselves with a small firearm."

The second petition is entitled Ensure that people can protect their families, property and possessions against criminals with the force they feel is necessary and being treated as a victim rather than a criminal themselves simply for doing what is right and the explanatory notes say

"Allow people who are targeted by criminals, the right to use whatever force is necessary to protect. If more police cannot be recruited, normal human beings will have to use their own means of stopping these criminals."

The first point to make is that these two petitioners appear to want much the same thing. So why didn't they do a simple search to avoid duplication?

The second point is to ask whether they have examined the violent crime statistics for places where "bearing arms" is permitted and where people are allowed to "defend" or "protect" themselves. I rather assume they have not, since they do not bear out that violent crime happens less where people can "protect" themselves, or bear arms.