Punters in England are beginning to realize their mistake:

Since the Government's "total ban" five years ago, there are more and more guns being used by more and more criminals in more and more crimes. Now, in the wake of Birmingham's New Year bloodbath, there are calls for the total ban to be made even more total: if the gangs refuse to obey the existing laws, we'll just pass more laws for them not to obey.

According to a UN survey from last month, England and Wales now have the highest crime rate of the world's 20 leading nations.

At least Op-Editors at the Telegraph realize the futility of a gun ban. Passing more laws will do little or nothing to reduce England's skyrocketing violent crime rate. I hate to delve into misleading statistics, so I'll just let the British do it for me:

Meanwhile, America's traditionally high and England and Wales's traditionally low murder rates are remorselessly converging. In 1981, the US rate was nine times higher than the English. By 1995, it was six times. Last year, it was down to 3.5. Given that US statistics, unlike the British ones, include manslaughter and other lesser charges, the real rate is much closer. New York has just recorded the lowest murder rate since the 19th century. I'll bet that in the next two years London's murder rate overtakes it.

Since repealing the gun ban is never even considered by lawmakers, he's probably right.