There is an argument which the NRA have made and could make more forcibly that criminals do not obey the law and will get their hands on firearms regardless of ownership restrictions.

However as true as this is, it misses another key fact. The majority of gun related deaths are not caused by criminals (as the ancient observation goes: murder is the one crime seldom committed by criminals).

Take a look at gun deaths in Miami Florida. At one time equal to all those of the rest of the world outside of the USA combined. To the extent that US combat medics have to spend time at the hospitals there before deploying overseas. But the vast majority are not gang or drug related but domestic incidents and accidents.

I like the idea of a citizens militia. But the US actually got rid of that early on and went for professional armed forces (in large part because of how much more effective the French Army were against the British in the war of independence than the minutemen). The constitution specifically is about defending USA against (nit pick constitution cannot be talking about USA but I have Canadian friends who bridle at use of the term American) outside threats not killing ones fellow citizens.

None of this makes this (or previous or subsequent) tragedies any less tragic. But it does to my mind make them even more pointless, preventable and sad.

The cost of security for the islands is far outweighed by the benefits of the resources and claims that extend out to the natural shelf. Argentina would love this position.

Although technically off-topic I feel that madrats comment is bang on.

It was an open secret when I served (briefly and a long time ago) that there was oil by them there islands and that was the real reason for the conflict (that and an external threat suited UK domestic politics just as much as it did Argentinian)

It is the right thing IMMOO to respect the islanders right to self determination but I am afraid that this in and of itself would be insufficient reason for uk to do so.

FI is not poor. The corporation which runs does (or did: again I am speaking from old info) pay inhabitants rather than take taxes.

How many hours left on Spanish and Canadian f18s? With two engines, probe ifr and bvr these might suit Argentina better than f16s.

Who is the enemy, what is the threat?

If posturing to blame evil Anglos then anything from the boneyard will be fine. Nice long range corsairs and Vikings would be great.

Some ex Greek or Israeli f4s would give a capability they have never had.

(From personal experience only: which is not the same as definitive proof, Argentinians of my generation and of one older I have met and spoken to have been grateful for the Falklands defeat as it led to the end of the junta. Which suggests two things – but only suggest – the regime was more horrific than most of us can imagine, those posturing didn’t lose friends in the Falklands conflict or the dirty war which preceded it)

If the threat is other South American nations then ask the uk to station a squadron of tiffies on the mainland.

Keep ’em coming young man.

Cheating. It’s got a centreline drop tank so might actually reach its target

it’s not a first day of war fighter as the RAF have recently acknowledged..

They did? When? Do you have a link?

Or is this wilful misreading of RAF saying when our tyffies wear out no one will be building them any more so they’ll have to be replaced by something in production?

Am I the only one that thinks a real maritime SAR aircraft should actually be able to land on water .

nope not alone. Although I’m coming at it with romance rather than practicality. Plus the last time we had flying boats the RAF operated them so my dream that RN stands up blue and red ensigns again is only a dream.

With sensible trousers on its US 2s but actually I m wanting Martin Seamasters

Wrt OTS MPA PDQ we could have been launch export customer for P8 or P1 (and cue trigger line for swerve) in fact my understanding is that of all the options available Nimrod MP4 was always the most expensive and most unconstrained.