is Mise,
Don't ruin a serious discussion with splitting hairs. In some countries ex National service people actually have to keep a gun in their home. I believe Switzerland is one. You are arguing gun ownership whilst I am arguing mentality. Imagine if the Swiss had a mentality like Australians, the world would not know what time it is.

Not splitting hairs at all, cars and guns are not on the same scalp.

As far as mentality goes how does one judge who is mentally competent to own a gun or a tank of petrol?

"Not splitting hairs at all, cars and guns are not on the same scalp."

Yes you are right there Is Mise. Cars kill a damn site more people than guns, in every country that has cars

besides which they allow unfettered access to a fierce accelerant and component of a high explosive mixture.

Beats me how ordinary Australians can be trusted with the stuff especially with the free availability of electronic, mechanical and chemical igniters.

There is no curb on remote electronic controls either.

On OLO and elsewhere I suppose, people just see the headline and proffer their own uninformed, prejudiced view as 'argument'. Here is some of the article,

<Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said today the U.S. and the rest of the democratic world is at a security crossroads in the wake of last month's deadly al-Shabab attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya – and suggested an answer could be in arming civilians.

"Societies have to think about how they're going to approach the problem," Noble said. "One is to say we want an armed citizenry; you can see the reason for that. Another is to say the enclaves are so secure that in order to get into the soft target you're going to have to pass through extraordinary security."
...
"Ask yourself: If that was Denver, Col., if that was Texas, would those guys have been able to spend hours, days, shooting people randomly?" Noble said, referring to states with pro-gun traditions. "What I'm saying is it makes police around the world question their views on gun control. It makes citizens question their views on gun control. You have to ask yourself, 'Is an armed citizenry more necessary now than it was in the past with an evolving threat of terrorism?' This is something that has to be discussed."

"For me it's a profound question," he continued. "People are quick to say 'gun control, people shouldn't be armed,' etc., etc. I think they have to ask themselves: 'Where would you have wanted to be? In a city where there was gun control and no citizens armed if you're in a Westgate mall, or in a place like Denver or Texas?'">
[link given in the OP]

It really does come down to mentality. Who would I trust more in that shopping centre to protect me & others ? A sober & logical thinking civillian with a gun over a toeing the line irrational copper with a gun any day.
If we had more sense at our disposal in Authority then there wouldn't be a need to debate this because every adult in the shopping centre would have had national service & would therefore be a more responsible citizen & by being more enlightened through national service they would be responsible gun users in a situation like in that shopping centre. As I said, it's a matter of mentality.