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The Forum > Article Comments > Would a widespread right to carry arms make a community safer? > Comments

Would a widespread right to carry arms make a community safer? : Comments

By Everett Themer, published 12/3/2015

Advocates of Right to Carry laws tout study after study, all claiming to prove that enacting these laws has reduced and prevented crime across the country.

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Hi there IS MISE...

As always you argue a compelling case, and have so again on this occasion ?

I won't quote you, but the essence of what you say is perfectly true ? We all have the legal right to defend ourselves from a violent attack, that 'right' is enshrined in our common law ! But we must NOT possess or use 'ANYTHING' in which we may 'specifically' employ as a means of defending ourselves, from such attacks ?

An example, you could walk around all day with a house brick in your back pocket, and if attacked by a crook, and the coppers asked why you hit him with the brick, '...it was the only means I had in which to defend myself...' ? You'd be sweet with the coppers and the law. Conversely, if you'd said, '...I always carry a brick around in case I'm ever attacked...', well 'technically' you could be charged with possessing and using an offensive weapon ?

A most often cited quotation IS MISE '...the law is an ass...' ? Never a truer word spoken !

Even a diminutive female, if she is victim of a violent attack, and defends herself with a large hat pin, and she admits to police she carries the hat pin specifically for that purpose, self defence, technically she could be charged ? Though any copper's who were 'imbecilic enough' to mount such a prosecution.......well ?

Specific doubts or minor inconsistencies that may arise awkwardly, perpetrated by some of these overly pedantic Defence Counsels, and there's a real moral imperative existing in the matter, there's always the old standby legislation available to investigating police ?

The often used, and generally reliable, 'Tarpaulin Act, 1905', S.85a (covers everything), including any of these 'tricky' minor irregularities, that can and are generally accommodated quite well therein ? Even instances of some minor injudiciousness, that may've been exercised by said, diminutive female(s) ?
Posted by o sung wu, Sunday, 15 March 2015 2:34:09 PM
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G'day there ONTHEBEACH...

As always, spot on ! Brilliant and very insightful of the Australian style of Jurisprudence ! The crook get's ALL the breaks, and bugger the victims.
Posted by o sung wu, Sunday, 15 March 2015 2:44:46 PM
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I remember back in the late '70's K Mart sold guns, I used to carry mine over my shoulder on a motorbike, no worries. Now I would probably be labeled a terrorist for doing the same. Place doesn't seem "more safe" now.

People, mostly city folk seem afraid of firearms and seem to think we'll all devolve into raving nuts if we have them (I am currently licensed but don't own a firearm)

I supported the gun buy back but can see in retrospect it was nothing more than political frippery, using fear to curry votes and didn't address underlying issues of little support for mental health initiatives and I regret my support in hindsight and have apologised to many shooters many time for my political naivety.

I have never felt unsafe in my life and I lived in Cambodia for a year. I think feeling safe is relative, particularly in the western world. Far far far more chance of death by car than anything else and people are blasie about driving every day. They sit in their cars and worry about other people with guns, sugar, salt, watching TV (I see it's as bad for your health as smoking) etc.

With regards a response to the first post, firearms are like free speech and both should be protected. Americas prison population increase for example is directly proportional to the cut backs in funding to mental health

Why are you all so afraid ? WHy do you need to abdicate your bullying to others ie the Police ?

The only thing I "worry" about is stupidity and that seems more and more ubiquitous.
Posted by Valley Guy, Sunday, 15 March 2015 5:35:33 PM
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Yuyutsu,
Nobody is compelled to own a gun anywhere in the U.S and the more guns in a community doesn't make it more or less safe, it's wholly a matter of racial differences. Washington DC has strict gun laws and in recent times recorded some of the highest gun crimes rates in the U.S because of it's high Black population.
All the facts and all the statistics support the racial explanation of the U.S.A homicide rate, it's not a socio economic, constitutional or cultural problem, the problem is that guns are available to people who taken as a group are markedly less intelligent than the average and more aggressive by nature.
The crime rates in majority White areas of the U.S are the same as any other comparable community in Europe or Australia, it's just a fact of life, the "Anti Racist" activists who promote alternative explanations have no credibility, they are liars leading dreamers.
"Hands Up! Don't Shoot!" was based on lies, none of the credible witnesses, the forensic evidence or the three independant post mortems performed on Mike Brown supported the "Anti Racist" point of view but they totally confirmed officer Darren Wilson's version of events.
Racial profiling is a valid tool in crime fighting in the U.S, since Blacks also make up the vast majority of homicide victims in "troubled" communities this "Racism" serves the interests of decent black people most of all.
Posted by Jay Of Melbourne, Sunday, 15 March 2015 5:50:57 PM
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Hi there VALLEY GUY...

An interesting comment, thank you for that. Indeed K Mart sold F/A's usually the more budget models, in keeping with their consumer strategy I guess ? Nevertheless, the individual who attended to you at the K Mart counter, could be as young as 17 or 18 years, with absolutely no product knowledge of the F/A's whatsoever ? A colleague was conducting enquiries at one store apropos a F/A sale, the young sales person, needed to get a manager in order to assist the copper ? Apparently this youngster didn't know the actual difference between a Shotgun and a Rifle ? They sold the Boito brand, both in a repeater .22 Rifle, and a single barrel 12g Shotgun ?

The point being, there were no sieges, stand off's, or terrorists incidents - other than silly Wally MELLISH (small time crook) and his even more vacuous girlfriend, in a shack type arrangement 'farm house', the other side of Liverpool somewhere ? Even our august Police Commissioner, Norman T. W. ALLAN was in attendance, and gave-in to one of Wally's ludicrous demands; for another damn gun ? Which made the NSW Police, a laughing stock all around the world !

I was fairly new to the Police Force then, and believe me when I say, I seriously questioned my decision to join-up and make the Police a career ? Having observed our fearless leader in a moment of arrant psychosis, give this 'fruitcake' this unremarkable crook, Wally MELLISH another bloody gun !

That delightful little comedy, occurred in the 70's ! I've often reflected upon those times, was it some sort of omen or vocational prophesy for me ? Moreover, as a potentially keen aspirant, who's seeking a career in Australia's oldest and biggest force, the NSW Police ?

Now having retired, with over 32 years in the job, I've yet to arrive anywhere near a meaningful answer ? Other than having the unique privilege and opportunity of working with some of the shrewdest, bravest, and most percipient men and women, on the face of this planet !
Posted by o sung wu, Sunday, 15 March 2015 8:18:55 PM
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o sung wu,

Your mention of Wally Mellish and his girlfriend and "The Siege of Glenfield" brings back memories.

There was even a song about it, I can only remember one verse at the moment.

Norman gave Wally a rifle,
An Armalite I hear,
The only thing Wally couldn't get
Was fresh supplies of beer.

Chorus:
He was there man,
an' he did do wrong!

The chorus refers to 'Norman the Foreman'.

Interestingly the day after (note: not straight after but the day after) two detectives from Ballistics (who shall remain nameless as they were good blokes doing what they were told) took some reporters still at the scene and gave them a demonstration of how the rifle had been tampered with and would only fire one shot and then jam.
The explanation was that one (1) pin in the rifle had been replaced with a piece of match stick, and this caused the rifle to jam.
A detective took out a pin, replaced it with a match stick, inserted a magazine, fired one shot and the rifle jammed.

The press were convinced (ha!)

[continues]
Posted by Is Mise, Sunday, 15 March 2015 9:33:17 PM
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