Backroom trading across issues is a betrayal of the democratic principle that elected senators should follow the policies on which they were elected. Great when these backrooms deals come unstuck.

The most effective way for the gun freaks to defeat Mr Howard's overwhelmingly popular legislation against their armaments is GRADUALISM. A chip out of it here, a chip out of it there until it's a dead letter. The Adler rapid mass killing weapon is a prime case - just two extra shots, what's the big deal?

The big deal is the gun freaks' end game - Australia to end up like America in which 30000 citizens shoot each other dead every year, in addition to those maimed by guns then bankrupted by a private hospital.