Ronald Noble is well educated and has a wealth of relevant experience. You would think that he is someone worth listening to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Noble

Thanks is mise you and I are never going to agree on this issue.
I stick firmly with the view comparing our country to that mass murder event is stretching it.
Letting more guns on our streets silly and too with my firm view, few support you.
I have noticed the thread has developed a rather push bike like stager.
As efforts are made to justifie guns by reference to numbers killed?
And too in open site moving the debate , in fact some comments seem to have forgotten the subject.
Some blame our Cops? for what criminals actions nothing less.

Belly,

Can you give me any reference to any problems that were caused in Australian society pre the 1996 gun laws when licensed civilians were allowed to carry concealed loaded pistols any where that they went?

Has anyone noticed the increasing incidence of stabbing lately ? Should we ban knives because some morons use them to inflict injury on others ? What about the morons who dream up legislation for everything we do do ? Aren't they at fault for instilling such mentality ? Just look at the viloence that football has become, we're not far removed from the throw them to the Lions mentality are we yet it is sanctioned by millions every weekend. Mentality, mentality, mentality it's all about mentality. Give a logical person a weapon & you're safe, give a weapon to someone unstable such as footbrawl) fans & you're taking a chance.

Football violence
Multiculturalism, the 'diversity we have to have', untouchable, NOT PC to ever mention the imported ethnic differences and the violence associated with it.

Resolving disagreements with weapons
Multiculturalism, the 'diversity we have to have', untouchable, NOT PC to ever mention the imported ethnic differences and the violence associated with it.

Criminal Gangs
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/migrant-groups-going-gang-busters/story-e6frg6z6-1226017998892

http://tinyurl.com/lgmex5m

The federal government must finally listen to the electorate and be more selective in the overall number of migrants, where it draws migrants from, the number taken from particular areas and the number settled in particular areas of Australia, how Immigration checks them and the conditions for granting of citizenship.

While the fault does not lie entirely with imported violent people and traditions, the federal government should not be adding to the problem, or as police seem to be saying, multiplying it, and introducing new hatreds.

Here's the thoughts of a rather famous philosopher on having civilian arms, in this case, specifically pistols.

William Vallicella:
"Here is a stab at an argument for natural gun rights.

(1) Every human person possesses a right to life.
(2) If a human person has a right to life, then he has a right to defend his life against those who would seek to violate it.
(3) If a human person has a right to defend his life, then he has a right to an effective means of defending his life.
(4) A handgun is an effective means of defending one's life, and indeed, in some circumstances, the only effective means. Therefore,
(5) human persons have a right to possess handguns.

See: http://maverickphilosopher.typepad.com/maverick_philosopher/
and follow the links, particularly "Archives".