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I'm very curious about where the attackers got those firearms. France isn't as heavily disarmed as England, but it isn't exactly the United States for firearms

I'm very curious about where the attackers got those firearms. France isn't as heavily disarmed as England, but it isn't exactly the United States for firearms availability; if any of the offenders' weapons can be recovered, I'm sure there will be interesting things to learn from their serial numbers.

kryptiskt 11y ago
There are open borders in most of EU and it's a piece of cake to buy automatic weapons in eastern Europe, gangs in Sweden import theirs from Slovakia for example.
- clock_tower 11y ago
  I hadn't known that it was as bad as that! (Other posters here mention old Soviet arms caches, and the general surplus of weapons spread by the fall of Communism.) It sounds like the UK benefits quite a bit from being on an island... (Are they in Schengen or not?)
  - e12e 11y ago
    The UK and Ireland are outside of Schengen. Hence the improvised refugee/homeless camp on the Calais side of the tunnel.
- gozo 11y ago
  That is only because up until recently you could buy blank fire guns in Slovakia that were easily converted to real guns. Otherwise most of the weapons are from the Balkans as a consequence of the war.
mkhpalm 11y ago
Outlawing guns is a lot like outlawing drugs. If you want them, you can get them.
- TomGullen 11y ago
  Drugs I could find. Guns? Wouldn't have a clue where to start.
  - beachstartup 11y ago
    uh, well, that's probably because you're not a criminal or terrorist.
    - steckerbrett 11y ago
      Technically finding illegal drugs would make you a criminal.
  - uououuttt 11y ago
    Start selling drugs, then ask your higher-ups. Illegal guns are not hard to find in most US cities and surprisingly cheap too. Or just go to a gun show in the South.
  - DrScump 11y ago
    I'd bet that your drug dealer has suitable connections.
kalleboo 11y ago
Possibly stolen from the french military... http://www.france24.com/en/20150707-explosives-stolen-france-military-base-terrorism-miramas http://www.france24.com/en/20150707-explosives-stolen-france...
agumonkey 11y ago
see here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10564799 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10564799

kryptiskt 11y ago

There are open borders in most of EU and it's a piece of cake to buy automatic weapons in eastern Europe, gangs in Sweden import theirs from Slovakia for example.

clock_tower 11y ago
I hadn't known that it was as bad as that! (Other posters here mention old Soviet arms caches, and the general surplus of weapons spread by the fall of Communism.) It sounds like the UK benefits quite a bit from being on an island... (Are they in Schengen or not?)
- e12e 11y ago
  The UK and Ireland are outside of Schengen. Hence the improvised refugee/homeless camp on the Calais side of the tunnel.
gozo 11y ago
That is only because up until recently you could buy blank fire guns in Slovakia that were easily converted to real guns. Otherwise most of the weapons are from the Balkans as a consequence of the war.

mkhpalm 11y ago

Outlawing guns is a lot like outlawing drugs. If you want them, you can get them.

TomGullen 11y ago
Drugs I could find. Guns? Wouldn't have a clue where to start.
- beachstartup 11y ago
  uh, well, that's probably because you're not a criminal or terrorist.
  - steckerbrett 11y ago
    Technically finding illegal drugs would make you a criminal.
- uououuttt 11y ago
  Start selling drugs, then ask your higher-ups. Illegal guns are not hard to find in most US cities and surprisingly cheap too. Or just go to a gun show in the South.
- DrScump 11y ago
  I'd bet that your drug dealer has suitable connections.

kalleboo 11y ago

Possibly stolen from the french military... http://www.france24.com/en/20150707-explosives-stolen-france-military-base-terrorism-miramas http://www.france24.com/en/20150707-explosives-stolen-france...

agumonkey 11y ago

see here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10564799 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10564799