Howard's gun laws missed the target, being aimed as they were at the respectable members of the community without criminal background who are prepared to obtain a licence. Crime by such people is rare. Likewise the use of firearms stolen from licensed owners to commit crime is rare. I don't think there is any record in the last year's stats of a handgun stolen from a private licensed individual being used to commit a crime. I exclude theft from police and security companies.

Gun 'control' is poorly targeted anyhow because the goal should be to reduce violence whatever its nature and cause. The fact is that an offender is going to commit that crime and passing more laws to duplicate already existing laws is nothing but making a show for politicians and bureaucrats who are reluctant to grasp the nettle on the causes of violence - much of which is related to the millions made from drugs, especially drugs involving organised crime.

Nonetheless the community gets scared because any incident almost anywhere in the world that could involve a firearm is sensationalised by the media who want to sell papers or get an audience. Crime involving firearms is miniscule in Australia. It always has been and was dropping and continued to drop in the same fashion before and after Howard's bureaucratic morass of paperwork that passes for gun laws. Similarly 4x4 vehicles attract sensationalised headlines. Who hasn't heard of the accident reported involving a 'four wheel drive' and a cyclist? It turned out that the cyclist wasn't watching where he was going and ran into a stationary softroader. Again, an accident involving a caravan is likely to be reported as though the van was at fault. It is negative stereotyping.

What really annoys police and licensed private owners alike is that Howard's changes managed to sool police onto licensed law-abiding owners who became listed on police computers as 'persons of interest' and subject to random inspections in their home. The nett effect is police in weapons branches polish chairs trying to manage the white elephant gun registry that has never solved a crime nor will ever do so - because it only lists firearms registered by the law abiding licensed owners and not those held by criminals. Not so strangely criminals do not apply for licenses and they do not register their guns and they certainly do not give firearms away in an amnesty. That is why other countries have closed gun registries.

What Cruising granny intimated is right, police say that violent crime is almost invariably "filth on filth" if all can pardon the expression, or the usual problem households of ferals. But even so the incidence of crime involving guns in Australia is tiny and always was.

I don't believe it is easy to get a black market gun. But it is an easy way to feel a hand on your shoulder and spend some time in the pokey. As for the criminal element, they import theirs and will always be able to do that.


Just think though, if all of the citizens who buy recreational drugs -and many if not the majority are middle class professionals and other well paid workers- stopped buying drugs the bottom would fall out of the market overnight and crims would head off elsewhere to ply their 'trade'. Problem solved.

-- Edited by johnq on Sunday 26th of February 2012 11:15:49 PM

-- Edited by johnq on Sunday 26th of February 2012 11:18:14 PM

That's terrible, but it looks personal to me. It also could reflect the quality of the residents in the park.
Most of these things are not random. Often related to money, drugs or interloping on another man's territory. (read "woman")

A few months ago we did have a very drunk bloke mooching around the roadhouse next door, threatening bodily harm to anyone who got in his way. The police chopper hovered for hours while they tried to keep him under control on the ground. Scary stuff.
The innocent people not the least bit involved in the drama are the ones most affected.
Keep you head down Milo. I don't think they're after you unless you have been involved in the issues above.

You can always keep in mind an over 55's village when the time comes Milo.

We don't have to put up with any of that sort of rubbish and can go away and not have to worry.

I know you have quite a few years before you reach that age but it's never too soon to do some homework on the subject.

Yes Clare it is good to be able to go away and not have the stress and worry about if you house is safe and your gardens being looked after and your mail collected.

Wouldn't be anywhere else.  Was the best move I have made.

who knows but if they want it they'll get it...

You are right John Q. Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
Adelaide has been the subject of a bikie war. Someone kills or wounds the son of a bikie. The bikie retaliates. The bikie is shot and wounded and lives to carry on the feud.
It is all about drugs and other illegal activies behind the shop front of a tatoo parlour or night club.
It never ends. It's all about power surges and control.
Meanwhile the innocent bystanders and neighbours are subjected to the sights and sounds of all this violence.
It really gets vicious, and very little is done about it. Or they get a short jail sentence and live to carry on another day, or the leader's deputies carry on. It's very organised.

Antique Pete wrote:

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We used to have a R.B.T set up at the top of our road at 10am a couple of times a week I asked a police friend why such a silly  time

He said we are less likely to catch anyone one at that time so we can do more tests without the time wasting of processing a drunk

 

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That is a little over the top I think....Police LIKE to catch drunk drivers !!!