[Deleted for abuse].

And I don't even own a gun!
But I do know how to use one!

Ah Belly, you are keen to attach me to a particular union, but I am none the wiser as to which one it is supposed to be.

Do tell me, and I will confirm or deny.

Don't be to sure about Abbott and Howard... those right wing crazies owe Howard for keeping them in the trough for so long, and since Bennelong and the cricket world have no room at the inn for him, there is but one more place left, the GGship.

In the days Howard and Abbott look back to with relish, he would have gone to the Cinque Ports, of course, and a stay at The John Howard in London when he was propping there at our expense, on his way to the House of Lords, not to be confused with Abbott's version, the House of Lourdes.

So, do lay your cards on the table Belly, and let me advise you of the truth of the matter.

With the greatest respect Cornflower, I doubt many people would call Bob Katter eccentric.
Paranoid, aggressive, old-fashioned, redneck, and gun-mad, yes....but eccentric he is not.

CJ Morgan <" Australian researchers have found there has been an almost 80 per cent drop in firearm suicides since former prime minister John Howard's gun buyback was introduced in 1997."

CJ you took the words right out of my mouth. I haven't seen any figures on suicide by hanging having increased since the gun-buyback Cornflower?

Will we need to worry that Bob Katter will ask for unlimited gun licences be handed out to any boy who wants to continue playing cowboys and Indians into adulthood?

I remain worried about this loose cannon having any say in our parliament.

suzeonline, "I haven't seen any figures on suicide by hanging having increased since the gun-buyback Cornflower?"

Maybe you didn't look either. Here, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics:

"ABS 3309.0.55.001
1993 TO 2003
SUICIDES: RECENT TRENDS,
AUSTRALIA

In 2003 the most common method of suicide was hanging, which was used in almost half (45%) of all suicide deaths. The next most used methods were poisoning by 'other' (including motor vehicle exhaust) (19%), Other (15%), poisoning by drugs (13%), and methods using firearms (9%). This distribution was consistent with that of the previous few years. However, over the decade strong trends were apparent such as the increase in the use of hanging, and a decrease in methods using firearms."

If you look at the ABS publication "Suicides: Recent Trends" for 1993-2003, you can see that the suicide rate varies between 11.1 and 14.7 per hundred thousand. In 1993, there was 1.5 hanging suicides for each firearm suicide.

In 2008, ABS "Causes of Death", the suicide rate was 10.2 per hundred thousand. There were 7 hanging suicides for each firearm suicide.
Hangings increased from 595 in 1993 to 1151 in 2008, while firearm suicide decreased from 435 in 1993 to 170 in 2008.

Despite the passage of years and the desperation of some to find some vestige of positives, no-one, absolutely no-one has been able to demonstrate any positive outcomes whatsoever from Howard's hugely expensive, self-serving publicity stunt of the guns buy-back and redundant gun laws.

It is disgraceful that the media has sensationalised a report by two economists with so many very obvious weaknesses in methodology and evidence.

Again, it is most regrettable that credit has not been given to the obvious success of the national mental health initiatives in assisting men in particular to seek help, particularly for depression. If that is accepted and all of the evidence points in that direction, there should be an increased budget for mental health. We can always hope that evidence and reason wins out, even if such boring (sic) news doesn't sell newspapers.

Cornflower:"means of suicide. Say rope or car 'accident' "

I do tend to agree with this, especially the car "accident". There are many single vehicles fatalities in which the single occupant was drunk or stoned, with no seatbelt on and has driven straight into a tree or roadside structure.

These are rarely investigated as suicides and nor are those in which an oncoming vehicle is the target.

On the other hand, such an action requires planning and some focussed attention to carry through, while grabbing the gun in the cupboard takes very little.

Whatever I thought of Howard (not much) and the implications for indidvidual freedom represented by the gun buyback (freedom, what freedom) I don't think it's reasonable to argue against the proposition that it has reduced the frequency of suicide among young rural men especially. If one is determined, there are any number of ways to kill yourself, but really depressed people are less likely to be determined or organised enough for long enough to carry through complex plans.