JimC wrote:Incorrect. Serious criminals, including bikie gangs can of course obtain guns, as they could anywhere on Earth. However, young punks with no money or connections to crime would have to work very hard to get one in Oz,Seth wrote:
Anybody who really wants a gun can get one in Oz, and you know it.
I doubt it.
No, that's not the way I like it, but it's an unfortunate but well understood and accepted artifact of the liberty of law abiding citizens to likewise obtain arms easily (and legally) for self-defense. Our view is that because gun control bans do not (and cannot) prevent criminals who want them from getting them, it's better that the particular risk of armed criminals is mitigated by allowing citizens to be armed than it is to disarm citizens using the laws that have zero effect on armed criminals. That's just common sense.whereas in the States it's as easy as falling off a log (which is the way you like it...)
I'm much happier and more secure because I can, and do carry a gun whenever it pleases me to do so than i would be being forcibly disarmed by the government and left helpless in the face of what just happened in Waco, or other similar criminal acts that take place during the 99.99% of the time that the police are not immediately present to save my ass.
I would note that many years ago, at the Texas Tower shooting, it was average Texans armed with their personal long-range arms (which the police did not have) who laid down suppressive fire on the shooter which saved lives and allowed police (and an armed civilian) to take out the shooter. Too bad there was only one such person in Port Arthur who, because of idiotic gun control laws requiring him to store his gun and ammunition separately, was unable to deploy his hunting rifle (evidently the ONLY firearm in the area other than the shooter's, including the police) in time to put a stop to the killing. But at least he tried. WTF would YOU do? Nothing, that's what. Or perhaps die pissing yourself praying that someone like me would show up to put a stop to the killing.