Look at any list of gun-related deaths by country, and you'll see America near the top, and England near the bottom. The English seem to be doing very well without every citizen and cop owing or carrying firearms, one loose lion notwithstanding. If a lion got loose in parts of this country, there would be be lines at the local gun shop and AK-47's sticking out of every other window.

Why on earth would they wish that?

Do you honestly think they'd be better off with armed people running around in the dark shooting at any rustling noises they hear?

I haven't heard of anyone needing a gun to shoot a lion there before. Further, with armed officers out there looking, why does the general population need guns? Even with one, you'd be a fool to go outside right now, if you lived there.

Since they don't have to worry about being shot, their criminals very rarely carry guns, too. Everyone is safer. The problem with guns is that cowards can use them.

Such a shame that the gun lobby is so strong here in the US because the fact of the matter is that private citizens simply don't need to own them. But if one has the temerity to suggest such a thing, then the goons come out of the woodwork talking about protecting their families from home invasions where everyone will be raped and murdered. In the aftermath of the recent gun violence these idiots contend that if the movie goers in Aurora for example had been packing then they could have stopped the insane rampage. No amount of facts will convince these folks that proliferation of guns proliferates violence.

Catherine Maxwell

Such a shame that the gun lobby is so strong here in the US because the fact of the matter is that private citizens simply don't need to own them.

What a drab country this would be if people were restricted to owning only those things they need. No more sports cars. Microwave ovens .... gone. Goodbye DVD's.

No amount of facts will convince these folks that proliferation of guns proliferates violence.

If you had closed with something provable, say for instance "more guns means more gun violence," I might have agreed with you.

A better question is why would anybody want to own a lion.

Then guns would not come into the subject.

@Catherine Maxwell No amount of facts will convince these folks that proliferation of guns proliferates violence.

http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-londons-met-police-vs-new-yorks-nypd/7562

No worries! The British have shown themselves to be very adept at stabbing each other instead of shooting each other. That's why London had over twice as many violent crimes vs. New York last year.

Now, would you also like to explain why London has triple the rape rate? Does tea make 'em randier?

Guns lead to violence the same way forks lead to obesity.

Among ethnic groups that exist in both Great Britain and the U.S., the murder rates are comparable. There's less gun violence in Great Britain because the penalties for knife murder is so much lower. There's more murder over all in the U.S. because of a few hyper-violent ethnic groups in the U.S. that don't much exist in Great Britain.

But despite the presence of these hyper-violent ethnic groups in the U.S., our robbery rate is much lower thanks to American's right to protect themselves.

hahaahaahaha! the british have no guns ,but now the tyrant gov't runs amock with the highest taxes and fees as with congestion pricing,as their gov't just walks all over them ,they got no privacy either with all the cameras and also got one of the highest crime rates in the western world they got no guns and the gov't knows it and just do what they want ,look what they did to the olympics ,they screwed the shop owners royaly,blocked public access from viewing point that were public &private AND ARRESTED PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST COMMUTING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER even if just passing thru

You know why this story made the news in the US?! To get you gun happy people all stirred up. Congrats you fell right into it! BTW a quick Google search does NOT make you an expert on UK laws or about British Citizens.

Also since this cat has not attacked anyone there is NO reason to kill him. Not everyone wants to kill animals for the sport of it like you whacked out people. Tranquilize and relocate!

BG-1026147

BTW a quick Google search does NOT make you an expert on UK laws or about British Citizens.

That is correct. All it does is make you the possessor of the facts, assuming the source is reliable.

Not everyone wants to kill animals for the sport of it like you whacked out people.

Hmmmm .... was it Americans who invented the safari? Nope. What's your second guess? (Hint: does the name William Cornwallis Harris mean anything to you?)

As usual, the Left distorts the TRUTH. Here's a few facts about Life in the UK since the 1997 handgun ban:

They thought it was a lion but it was just a pussy...

@Brenda-251440

Since they don't have to worry about being shot, their criminals very rarely carry guns, too. Everyone is safer. The problem with guns is that cowards can use them.

Everyone is safer? And you base that on what exactly? Because the actual facts don't support your claim-

"Official crime figures show the UK also has a worse rate for all types of violence than the U.S. and even South Africa - widely considered one of the world's most dangerous countries."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196941/The-violent-country-Europe-Britain-worse-South-Africa-U-S.html

Why would the British replace a gun policy that is demonstrably successful with one like ours? Its good looks? To safeguard their households from an occasional stray lion, (if true, likely a pet that got to large for the kitchen)? Because fair is fair? If Obama is going to emulate European social programs, Europe should emulate US gun policy? The rational used by gun nuts to justify their unnatural love affair never ceases to amaze me.

BG-1026147

Tranquilize and relocate!

LOL! Where exactly are you going to "relocate" an animal that doesn't belong anywhere in the country.

Every time I leave the Red Lion pub, after three days of drinking, I see lions...and tigers and bears.

fsilber

Among ethnic groups that exist in both Great Britain and the U.S., the murder rates are comparable. There's less gun violence in Great Britain because the penalties for knife murder is so much lower. There's more murder over all in the U.S. because of a few hyper-violent ethnic groups in the U.S. that don't much exist in Great Britain.

But despite the presence of these hyper-violent ethnic groups in the U.S., our robbery rate is much lower thanks to American's right to protect themselves.

U are so full it. hyper violent ethnic grps???? WTF is that suppose to mean ? These grps are predispose to such violence simply for being in that grp??? Is that your rationale?? Get rid of the grps and viola u have gotten rid of most of the crime??? Your brain is about as small and narrow as your thinking.

In the US the murder rate is 5.22 per 100,000 in United Kingdom the rate is 1.57 per 100,000. ( see ) You gun nuts need to learn about google. And how many were killed in Chicago over the weekend? 37?

@whiskerme

The US is 5 times the size of the UK, see? How many in Chicago over the weekend do you think were CCW holders and obtained the weapons they used legally?

@whiskerme

In the US the murder rate is 5.22 per 100,000 in United Kingdom the rate is 1.57 per 100,000. ( see ) You gun nuts need to learn about google.

Murder rate, yes but violent crimes overall the UK beats the US by a WIDE margin.

And how many were killed in Chicago over the weekend? 37?

And how did some of the strictest gun laws in the nation prevent such crimes? That's right, they didn't.

The kind that was eaten by his lion.

That was quite humorous, but I wonder if you're right!! (But what neighbor wouldn't know there was a lion next door?)

I hope they take him to the savannahs of Africa and let him happily live where he should.

"But what neighbor wouldn't know there was a lion next door?"

The one that also got eaten by the lion. (Sorry, couldn't resist, I do of course hope that no one is/gets injured.:) I agree about capturing it and setting it free somewhere. Magnificent animals.

What neighbor wouldn't have reported it if s/he knew?

Annie-322924 & Nikolaus20

If that lion was first captured in the wild it might have a chance of surviving if it were freed back to the wild. If it was raised from a cub in the zoo or wherever - without having wilderness survival experience, the chances of it surviving in the wild would be about zero per cent! It would be more humane to place it in a zoo.

I don't agree with killing the animal, but if it kills a human the imprint of that kill on the lion would then make it a real danger to humans and would then have to be put down. Just being a realist here - I hope the lion is recaptured with ANY incidents and safely placed out of harms way.

The poor lion will probably end up being killed because some idiot thought it was a good pet. Even if it is captured, it is most likely destined for a zoo or refuge. Lions raised in captivity would have a hard time surviving in the 'wild'. On the positive side, even if (and here's hoping this doesn't happen) it harmed a person or domesticated pet, it would not need to be destroyed because it would wind up safely caged and not roaming loose where it might come across a home/farm and be tempted to hurt someone.

Maybe one of those African immigrants London's known for.

Aren't British lion owners subject to safe-storage laws?

"If that lion was first captured in the wild it might have a chance of surviving if it were freed back to the wild. If it was raised from a cub in the zoo or wherever - without having wilderness survival experience, the chances of it surviving in the wild would be about zero per cent! It would be more humane to place it in a zoo."

I suggest Googling "Christian the lion", or looking at a related You Tube video. Christian was bought as a cub from Harrod's in London in the 1960's by two men who raised it as a pet. Harrod's obtained the cub from a closed zoo, so it wasn't born in the wild. When fully grown, the lion became to hard to care for and was released in a lion compound at Kora National Reserve in Africa. Some time later, the two men went to find Christian, who had "gone wild" and started his own pride, with no problems, and the lion remembered them and jumped into their arms. The video is great.

@GoldfishTheDestroyer

Very nice. No zoos are missing lions, so this must be a lion owned by a private owner who didn't advise the public that one of their lions were loose.

Doubtful. In fact I'd be surprised if you were even allowed to own a lion in the UK.

Most likely it was a prank or case of mistaken identity. I know what you're thinking, how do you mistake anything for a lion but... In my state the GFP tracks mountain lion sightings and signs. Followup investigation shows that only about 20-30% are actual lion sightings or signs. People have mistaken raccoons for mountain lions and have even reported seeing mountain lion tracks and further investigation revealed they were actually made by a friggin squirrel. No joke.

Nice kitty! ROAR, BURP

People who have egos so large as to think they ought to own one to begin with. the be so cowardly as not to register the animal once they have it. In Oregon not too long ago everyone thought a cougar was stalking around in a neighborhood but it turned out to be a very large house cat.

If indeed it was a lion, capture and release might not be a viable solution. Though it is the one I would most prefer, if the lion was raised by humans since a cub it wouldn't have the knowledge and practice of hunting. Though these traits would obviously remain within the animal, without practice and training it would most likely not survive in its natural habitat. If this is the case I would presume it would be placed in a zoo rather then be "destroyed". They need to dig deeper and find out where it came from and punish those involved.

@Justopit

If indeed it was a lion, capture and release might not be a viable solution. Though it is the one I would most prefer, if the lion was raised by humans since a cub it wouldn't have the knowledge and practice of hunting

Why are people still talking about what to do with the "lion" AFTER the story has been updated to reveal there likely never was a lion?

...it wouldn't have the knowledge and practice of hunting. Though these traits would obviously remain within the animal, without practice and training it would most likely not survive in its natural habitat.

This belief has been disproven time and again. Few animals are unable to "return" to their wild environment, there are exceptions but by and large it isn't a problem

No, lions prefer "Christians, the other white meat".

They probably consider them a delicacy, as dark meat is readily available in their natural habitat.

Get that lion a pint of Guiness!!!

maybe it was just another drunkin brit who had one too many with a tale to tell

I did find it strange that in the article it states there was a photograph examined that seemed genuine yet they did not show it. Maybe you're right and it was a dog, perhaps a Chow Chow? (Spelling?)

i would rather be loading clips !then @!$%#ting bricks

That was pretty funny. Imagine what that would do to the plumbing system!?!?