New calls for tighter gun control follow spate of shootings--In AUSTRALIA!

[TPaine7]

Call for gun control after shootings

A SPATE of shootings over the past 24 hours in New South Wales has lead to calls for both federal leaders to back national uniform gun laws.

NSW Greens’ MP, Lee Rhiannon, says it is time for tighter gun control laws, with a ban on semi-automatic pistols, following four separate shooting incidents.

“The events underline the need for law reform in this area,” she says in a statement.

...

About 6:25pm yesterday (Monday), a 27-year-old man was shot several times at Lakemba, in Sydney’s southwest.

Earlier in the day, at least two shots were fired at a home and vehicle in Cessnock in the Hunter Valley.

Three people in the house – two adults and a teenager – were unhurt.

About four hours later, a woman and her four young children escaped injury when shots were fired at their home in inner-city Sydney.

A robber was then shot and killed and an innocent bystander wounded during an attempt to steal cash from an armoured security van outside an RSL club on Sydney’s northern beaches.

...

“The work started 14 years ago by Mr Howard now needs to be completed.”

Source: http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=5379&id=48

One feature of hysterical gun control is that it works as a ratchet. There will always be a need for reform, for stronger laws, for more "sensible" restrictions. As long as anyone, anywhere (not in government employ, in most versions) misuses a gun, restrictions must be tightened. This means that the "work started 14 years ago by Mr Howard" cannot possibly be completed. Ever.

Even if we made thinking about guns a capitol offense, it would still be possible to illicitly make and use guns. And as soon as someone did that, it would prove the need for stronger, more "sensible" laws.

It's hard to believe that this is not a deliberate strategy:

1) Make new laws to eliminate gun crime
2) Evaluate success
3) Blame weakness of existing laws for failure
4) Repeat ad infinitum

By the time intelligent folks realize the futility, the less mentally endowed will see guns as demonic talismans. It's brilliant! And it might be working in Australia.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pavulon]

3. Knife nuts or just dees nuts

all irrelevant to the human factor.

[Pavulon]

2. To bad they did not build their internet block / snoopwall

my stock in a certain technology company may suffer a loss of earnings..

[rrneck]

4. Trouble in paradise. nt

[Katya Mullethov]

5. That strategy sounds familiar

Where have I seen that before ........hmmm..

[Euromutt]

6. Interesting omission concerning the "innocent bystander wounded"

What the cited piece curiously omits to mention is that the innocent bystander's gunshot wound was inflicted by one of the security guards; see http://www.news.com.au/national/second-gunman-ruled-out-in-bungled-raid-on-armoured-van/story-e6frfkvr-1225897782816

And, of course, another unanswered question is how many of the weapons used in these incidents were legally owned to begin with. I suspect Ms Rhiannon doesn't care.

[spin]

7. Drive by shootings is often an indication of gangs fighting over turf.

Australia’s most dangerous bikie gangs

Recent Australian Crime intelligence reckon 3500 fully patched members represent more than 35 clubs. A source claims there are nearly 20,000 associates and nominees.

The most dangerous gangs include The Rebels with 2000 members. There are also the Gypsy Jokers, Coffin Cheaters, Bandidos, The Black Uhlans and the Finks described as the most disorganised but most violent, according to Professor Arthur Veno, author of The Brotherhoods.

Though disputed by most bikie clubs, the National Crime Authority has reported that the main source of income for bikie gangs is the importation of firearms , dealing amphetamines and pot, counterfeiting, tax evasion, extortion, money laundering and trafficking in stolen goods. And former Bandidos insider and police informant Steve Utah, now in hiding, says he was even involved in wildlife smuggling.emphasis added

Bikie gangs consequently fight for control to conduct business in their territory and violence even extends to women, historic gang differences, inner-club politics and personal feuds.
http://ralph.ninemsn.com.au/stuff/specialfeatures/805651/australias-most-dangerous-bikie-gangs

Banning semi-auto pistols will do little or nothing to reduce gang related crime. Revolvers can be misused to murder just as efficiently as high capacity pistols. They are also as concealable.

Once again, it comes down to the fact that politicians who search for cheap solutions love passing "feel good" laws. Most are probably aware that the new laws will do nothing to reduce the crime problem, but passing such laws will impress voters who will vote to return them to office.

It often seems to me that many of those who oppose firearm ownership by honest citizens (especially the poorer lower classes) hope that firearm crime and even mass shootings will continue. Power and wealth corrupts those who have it, as we often witness in our own country. Throughout history, the ruling class has always feared armed slaves, serfs and peons. If those in power can disarm the citizenry, they can oppress more freely without as much fear. The powerful can live privileged lives and guarantee the same for their children and grand children.

[TPaine7]

8. No comment from our resident champion of Australian gun control?

After almost a full day?

Color me shocked.

[Glassunion]

9. I just went through my entire fucking box of crayons and..

I can't find "Shocked"...



Closest I have is "Electric Lime"

[PavePusher]

10. Key-board clean-up in the Pave office....

:spray: :rofl: :rofl: :applause: :toast:

Well played, sir.

[Glassunion]

11. It was not beer was it? Tell me you didn't waste beer.

I'm only saying because I felt a disturbance in the force. Maybe it was nothing.
:toast:

[PavePusher]

12. Just water....

this time...

[Glassunion]

13. Is that a threat?

No one. I mean NO ONE comes into this town and threatens me with spilled beer!

[PavePusher]

14. I've been observed to lick up a beer spill from a known-clean table top or two... n/t

[Glassunion]

17. Amateur...

I've been known to wring out a bar towel into a shot glass, top it off with Sambuca, flame it up, put it out and then drink it. We call it the Jersey Turnpike around here.

When I tended bar a while back, the local Fire Department would come in and celebrate after a fire. If there was a new guy, they would the senior FF, would wring his sweaty socks into a shotglass and top it off with Sambuca, set it ablaze (cause it is much better served warm) and shoot it down.

[TPaine7]

15. That's the little, 96 color box.

Shocked isn't even in the big, 120 color box. It's in the rare, discontinued 360 color box.

Only the kids whose parents hoarded crayons can use "shocked", "amused", "tickled", and "that was a clever comeback" in their art.

[Glassunion]

16. You know... I live less than an hour from the Crayola factory.

I broke in last night. I still, could not find shocked. I'll check eBay.

I did find some new colors. Can't wait to add these to my collection.