My point Viv. If guns were kept of the streets then if you have a beef with someone you front up and maybe duke it out. I know even here people do have illegal and legal firearms but it is not the norm.

You cannot shoot anyone if you do not have a gun. That is Australia's policy and it takes away a great deal of fear. The reason people like Scott feels they have to have weapons to be safe.

Our shootings are generally drug related. If you lot have to have guns for protection I really do feel sorry for you. Everybody I know do not own gun in the house and best of all we do not need one. My brother in law does have several which has to be locked up and inspected regularly. He is a sport shooter on ranges and has to prove his ability to strict guidelines. It is a very expensive business and ammunition is regulated. There will always be criminals but as home owners do not have guns generally they do not come in shooting or use a weapon as a show. Money and goods can be replaced. In fact I have some old electrical goods I would help them carry out

Our inalienably right is to live in peace, we do not need an amendment to protect ourselves, it is not needed.
We do not have that fear in our background. We have home invasions occasionally, guess what, if a home owner kills an intruder he is charged and could be jailed for years.

We have 1000's of emigrants a year coming here for one main reason. To live in peace without fear or prejudice. We ask them to leave any conflict behind them and enjoy life.

I hope that Australia keeps its mateship spirit and new comers accept that roll. Over 95% of gun crimes committed is not by the true dinki di Aussie. You should come over and meet some and experience a fearless society

All, I am saying is that guns are not the problem... It is those who choose to use them in a manner that is not right...

Saying that you should not have them because you are more apt to use them is a little right...

But, I have a gun to protect myself and my wife. I could care less if they wanted to steal... But if they tried to break down my door to get into where I was sleeping or tried to hurt us, you better bet they would have lead placed neatly between their eyes, and would be down for the count...

I do not carry my gun with me when I go to the movies or to the store... It is for HOME protection only. It also gives me a sense of security by allowing me to know, that if something were to happen, I would have bullets and a gun to defend myself and my home.

Now see, there's a contradiction with what you're saying here... True that if you don't have a gun you can't shoot someone, BUT it does not take away fear, BECAUSE as you say your shootings are generally drug related. SO you essentially prove the point, that just because a community/county/state/country/planet BANS firearms does not mean none will exist. Those who are criminally minded, will not care that they did not turn their firearms over, AND in fact it will make their life easier because they will know that (more than likely) the house they are breaking into is not protected by a gun.

Several years ago there was a part of Atlanta that was predominately retirees (and fairly well off), that was being robbed at a very high rate. The community passed a bill that REQUIRED that all residents of that community would have a gun (of a certain size or larger) in their house AND be trained on the proper usage of said weapon at the range. Within a few short months, news had gotten out and the rate of crime DROPPED by a very significant amount. In other words, the criminals realized that it was too risky breaking into a house that they KNEW would have a gun on hand and knowledge of how to use it.

You said it perfectly Phil. Criminals will always be criminals. If they want a gun, they will get one. They do not care if guns are illegal. Making them illegal only harms law abiding citizens.

http://www.wildmans-shop.com/flags_files/image025.jpg

I love that flag.

No! Drug lords here kill themselves, good on em. The bikies war on each other. And if the last 60 years testifies the general public lives in peace. You would have to experience it. I cannot ever imagine a time when I had to think I needed that sought of protection.

We definatly live in totally different parts of the world and I guess that is the difference in our cultures. We rely and trust our laws to protect us. We do live in a society where ownership of a weapon is not necessary for peace of mind.

I guess If I lived in your neck of the woods I would would probably have an assault rifle, a RPG definatly a Beretta (If good enough for JB), Kevlar jacket, Night goggles and maybe some claymores ready at the front and back door. I would then feel safe there too.

We actually have a political group the Gun Lobby that is their argument Phil never got support. I can only say one thing this is Australia not the USA we do not view our neighbors as potential threats. Although some always seem to turn up for a chat when I am about to sup some of my single malt. Maybe I do need a gun. I capitulate.

I do not know if you think we have a shoot out every day or what. lol But that is not the situation. We are not saying the streets are so bad, that if you walk outside you have to be a Commando to survive... We are saying that we have guns and other weapons to help protect our homes and families from outside forces that wish to do us harm...

We do not just take our guns around and wave them at each other and say, yeah mine is bigger keep walking. We do not hold them in our hands as we help the little old ladies across the street... We have them as protection in case something happens as to where we need them.

I have never had to fire my gun at someone or something before. I have never had the need. I have used it for target practice.

Also, when you carry a gun on your person in the US. You have to have a permit to carry that gun and to get a permit you have to go to a class where they teach you how to use it and what the responsibility of having it is...

Plus, in most states you have to be 21 to even own a handgun and it also has to be registered with your county (If required).

Unbelievable. What outside forces are you afraid of that will do you harm, is the threat that bad. You are making me nervous now I may even close the front door tonight. Actually I shall, the mosquitoes are bad at this time of year. Anyway I have my trusty ray gun. Did I say ray I meant spray.

I think I will leave the USA off my travel plans. New Zealand has a simular culture to ours and a beautiful place to visit. They will not even let nuclear powered ships into port. At least we let the US Navy warships visit albeit with their safeties on.

I had a pop gun as a kid they can be dangerous put a fellows eye out. You guessed it now banned.

Actually Eric you said you had some archery equipment and were considering a spear. look into making an Aboriginal Woomera for it. I have seen one bring down a boar with a spear and woomera.

Here is a simple one get a shoe lace knot on end place it through the knock of the arrow holding the lace taunt at the tip throw it from above your shoulder let go pointing at your target and take the lace downward to get the power into the throw.

Make sure there is no one near when you first try it is lethal over 100 meters. Who needs a gun. A crossbow bolt can be fired with a catapult if you were wondering as can be a ladies knitting needle, no noise no smoke and just as lethal. Well officer he tripped as he came through the window and fell on my knitting.
Me no I am a peaceful guy. I can take criticism he says as he tamps the soil down on the last person who did.

I think you pretty much said it Prism. It's a matter of culture. I don't specifically have my gun for self defense. I'm a hunter and enjoy the numerous hunting opportunities available to me here in Michigan. I also enjoy target shooting with my boys. As a cultural influence I think it's easy to justify that guns are not needed when you legally can't have them and it's just as easy to say one needs them when you can legally have them. With all the freedoms we have in the US come more laws and regulations then any other country regulating those freedoms. If a criminal is set to do harm to a person they will do it with what ever means. We have a few shootings here in Kalamazoo but most are drug related. Criminals killing criminals. We have had a few innocent bystanders get killed or injured and then you hear people for a few weeks talk about banning guns. I wonder why people want to ban guns when we continue to let people drive cars and kill people every day. If we had stopped driving when the first person had been killed in a automobile accident I would personally have a few more friends still around.

I don't live in fear of anything (especially others that LEGALLY own weapons). But I am cautious about those who own them illegally. I WON'T DEPEND on our system of local law enforcement officers (and not putting them all down) as I've lived in more than one area where they were, shall we say "less than helpful and not so responsive"... In fact, most recently, a bank nearby was being robbed. Manager of the bank hit the alarm as the hold up started. LOCAL PD took over 2 hours to respond!!! It's not like they had to travel from the state capital. Never found out the reason for the delay, but to me, if they have that kind of response time to a bank what will their response time be IF it's my house being robbed? No thanks, if I'm home while it happens, I'll take care of it myself

And then there's my hunting... I don't hunt because I want trophey's on the wall. I hunt to supplement my families diet throughout the year. We love the taste of wild game and make good use of it. Even if I could buy deer meat in the grocery store, I would hunt. Talk about your "healthy" free range meat.