Geoff of Perth. An interesting viewpoint worthy of much more attention.

What's the general stance on nail guns guys?

Chainsaws?

Archery?

The Swiss all have guns and don't shoot people so much.

Other countries have alcohol and they don't have the problems we seem to have with that!

It's something about being a yank, and I don't think it will change.

Posted by Hunter, Tuesday, 18 December 2012 10:09:11 AM

Guy has a point about the stereotyping. Guilty.

I also think the author has a point. Given the prevailing society, and the horse that has bolted, perhaps it IS unsafe to have a gun free area. In that society.

This issue's a tough one. In my opinion, both camps mount sound arguements apropos guns.

As a retired detective I've personally been involved in many serious matters associated with illegal use of F/A's.

John Howard tried to take a pragmatic approach by significantly strengthening existing laws, by both licensing and availabiliy of certain categories of weapons. And has it worked - officially yes. In reality, no. Initially, it made it much harder for a law-abiding citizen to obtain a licence, and to purchase and use a F/A lawfully.

However, that's just an additional obligation or burden that's been applied to law-abiding persons who wish to pursue their chosen sport of shooting.

On the other hand, tougher F/A laws tend to create a much greater and more lucrative 'Black Market', peddling illicit weapons to the underworld. Criminals, who wish to commit a crime, using a F/A, they'll obtain whatever they want, with or without any legitimate access thereto.

And the arguement, if there were NO F/A's in the community at all, there'd be less crime involving F/A's ? That's not correct from my own policing experience, unfortunately. I wish it was.

And do I possess any 'secret remedy' to these horrific gun crimes ? Sadly no I don't, I wish I did. Any copper who claims to have an answer, well...?

My own PERSONAL views on curbing serious crimes occasioning violence, are three fold...

(i) Allow police to use ALL their existing powers, without A N Y political or administrative interference;

(ii) Ensure the Judiciary (the Courts) hand down meaningful custodial sentences, in all crime concerning violence (particularly occasioned against, the young, the elderly, women, the infirm, law enforcement, and any other (similar) demographic);

and;

(iii) Turn gaol, back into real gaol where the screws run the place, both proactivly and remedially. Rather than the criminal and ethnic gangs, the heavies, and others.

And STOP this continual political interference and intrusion, in Law Enforcement per se ! Politicians are NOT Policemen or Prison Officers. Their role should be only to oversight and audit the administration of both Departments !

Houellebecq: "The Swiss all have guns and don't shoot people so much."

You mean 'other people'. They seem to like shooting themselves though.
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/specials/switzerland_for_the_record/european_records/Switzerland_s_troubling_record_of_suicide.html?cid=8301804

Its no surprise to see that the simplistic are so eager to pick up on one aspect of a comment and run with it, accusing and ridiculing as Gary said earlier. I did not say that arming teachers was the solution, as the party concerned well knows. What I suggested was that it may be necessary to take action other than simply ranting about world peace and the threat posed to that philosophy by guns, in the mean time, while people are waiting for the gun problem (perceived or not) to be cleared up. What would you all suggest, politely asking the homicidal maniacs to abide by a massacre amnesty until his guns are discovered by police and confiscated? Do you think they’ll all cut their guns up the moment a strong ant-gun policy is introduced, and put off the massacre they have planned for nest Friday? Do you have cause to know that no more massacres are in the pileline until after you’ve achieved your objectives? All the people here who claim to be so concerned about children and violence have an obligation to thank strategically, for the safety and welfare of others, and not simply indulge their personal desires to grandstand their righteous indignation. So there’s the challenge, if disarming the populous is the answer, and if arming responsible adult protectors in schools is not, how will you assure the safety of all those tots in the US when you’re President?

About 15 or so years ago I was offered an old FAL assault rifle and a.32 pistol by a druggie acquaintance, he showed me the pistol so I've no reason to assume he was lying about the AR, I said no of course. This guy was selling them because he needed money for drugs and I'd bet he'd burgled them, but if some petty street person can get his hands on weapons like that and sell them on then a person with his wits about him is going to be able to get whatever he wants regardless of the laws or the penalties.