With apologies to Ronaldus Magnus: Well, the trouble with our Australian friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.
We're happy as well, if you guys have this attitude towards guns and the willingness to use them then you are best left to your own devices. Your country is so far down the road of living in fear that you have to become bellicose to justify your ignorance about gun ownership. Living with a gun is living with fear, fear that something may happen to me so I need to arm myself to my teeth. We don't live in fear here, so no need for guns apart from the military, police , rural farmers and some gun clubs .... and the odd criminal element who mostly shoot their own kind. I feel sorry for that portion of America that abhor guns and the culture it breeds. Here is the reason this thread was started : Image Unavailable, Please Login
Someone mentioned Norway, yes, a screwed up lunatic went and shot a bunch of kids with an automatic rifle, and albeit they were members of a political group (nobody likes politicians), but now everybody wants gun control!. Not more than 9 years ago another lunatic steals a car and ploughs into a bus stop killing 4 people, should we ban cars then? Im a hunter and yes, Im touchy about the subject of gun control.
...and you haven't gone over 200,hmmm. Is that your car in your avatar,you know,the one with all the sponsor stickers?
BLOODY HELL! I've just skipped through this thread and am sad to say that I'm not surprised by the irrational and frenzied defence from the pro gunnners, and the irrational and personal attacks from the anti-gunners. The fact it that most homicides (in Australia, but would apply to the US too, perhaps) are from husbands killing wives and wives killing husbands. So making that easier (like having a handgun in the house) is a bad idea - removing guns from the home wouldn't eliminate this, but would lessen it - it's more effort to kill someone with a pointed stick than by moving your finger on a trigger 2mm. Road rage is an increasing problem everywhere - I had a serious incident myself a few years ago where the other driver ran me off the road and got out of his car - he was built like a tow truck and could have killed me if I got out - perhaps if I had a hand gun I would have been bold enough to confront him, and let me tell you, I was VERY upset (because I was in the right, of course) and may have had a brain explosion and shot him (and now be in jail). Guns make stupid irrational decisions permanent. I'm only talking about law abiding citizens here, not criminals. Criminals can always get guns, but if there are less of them around, it's that little bit harder. And before you pigeon hole me here, let me say that I was 7 years in the military, a marksman, a small arms coach, and on the shooting team. I had a nice collection of military firearms, and was a member of 2 rifle clubs and a pistol club as a civilian. My collection was lost in the 1996 gun buy back scheme, and I was not happy, but guess what? My life hasn't changed.
I think you made some very good points Patrick. I think we all get angry at times and I'm sure with a gun close by you might use it for a permanent result as you say. I have been shot before and trust me it's not fun at all!!!!
A 15 year old male youth,un-named, and 17 youth,named,shot and killed a 13 month old sleeping baby(in it's pram) while it's mother was walking in Brunswick,Georgia. The mother was being yelled at to give the youth's her money,she kept saying'there is no money',they then threatened to shoot the baby,the mother still screamed 'I have no money" The youth's then shot at her 4 times,hitting her twice and then turned the gun on the baby,one shot was all it took. Welcome to the land of the free(gun owner),home of the REALYL,REALLY brave.
I see there is a knife killing and several folk injured,I presume by knife,in Melbourne,yet the police were able to 'get their man' by using a non-lethal,beanbag shot. Another stroke of good luck or perhaps an excellent marksman,either way,the authorities actually have someone,alive, to account for this terrible incident.Rather than a family who doesn't know what went wrong.
I see you are on the Coast as well AND have exactly the same Ferrari history as me, are you a slow driver as well ? Totally agree with most of what you've said, if guns were part of our culture like it is in the US then I would be sending this post from Long Bay doing a very long stretch for doing something stupid in the heat of the moment
If you truly have an open mind, you might enjoy reading this article: FactCheck.org : Gun Rhetoric vs. Gun Facts
If you truly have an open mind you might enjoy this cinematic excerpt: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myhnAZFR1po]Dueling Banjos (HD) - YouTube[/ame]
That brings back memories of when I use to take my guitar to the F111 flightline in '81 and a mate had his banjo We'd play that all the time while we were waiting for the aircraft to come back from their sorties , the guys on the line missed the subtle nuances I'd slip in to aim the music at them
