<o sung wu says there are too many who could not control having a gun>

He couldn't be referring to the respectable citizens with licences. They don't commit gun crimes. That is so obvious as to require no further proof.

It follows that he must be referring to people who couldn't pass the hurdles to be awarded a licence. However those people can get whatever weapons they want anyhow, including firearms, and their preferred 'gangsta' ones at that.

If there were similar licensing hurdles and penalties for drivers licences there would be far less crime. Because cars provide the anonymity and mobility needed by criminals. The car is far more important and essential than a gun. Not an attractive proposition for many here though. But why not? Sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander.

o sung wu I have seen on some of these cops shows, the fear, & danger to cop & offender in the US, when a cop apprehends a stolen car, or a suspected drug dealers car, with gun drawn.

This is of course, when they have reason to expect the apprehended will be a criminal of some sort. It is not the case with a normal traffic stop.

Surely with the growth of ethnic criminal gangs, & the tendency for them to be armed, the problem is not much less here today.

Of course, with such low police numbers, there is much less apprehension of criminals on the street by our cops, & probably in all areas. It is much more likely that most of our cops will be doing nothing more dangerous than manning a radar gun, collecting government revenue.

I know that in some areas of the UK the public has taken to taking potshots at speed cameras, but I have not heard, at least not yet, of motorists in Oz taking potshots at cops with radar guns, much as it might be deserved in some cases.

We have a spot locally, where reasonably steep hills on either side of a narrow valley descend to a short flat causeway over a creek. As most cars accelerate even on the overrun down these hills, it is a favorite spot for a radar trap.

Of course it traps those busy thinking of more important things than a K or 2 over the limit. If they ever took to stopping these drivers, rather than photographing them, I would expect some injured cops to result, such is peoples annoyance with this type of trap.

I called the Civil Libertarian outfit a few years ago & that moron O'Gorman answered the phone. I asked what option I would have with regard to juvenile breaking in & entering if I caught one of them. O'Gorman said "We're batting for the other team" & hung up.
Now, wouldn't it be nice if O'Gorman were to be done over & make him defend his assaillant.

Hi (again) HASBEEN...

And to conclude my answer to your multipronged question...

I reckon there are two specific issues that you can bet your bottom dollar on, with our governments;

(1) There is no government of any particular colour will ever legislate to return the Death Penalty, despite rising homicide figures across the board; and,

(2) Neither will any government introduce legislation to relax the existing gun laws in Australia. Furthermore, it's far more plausible that if anything, the existing gun laws will more than likely be strengthened, given the pervasiveness of ethnic shootings in and around the suburbs of south western Sydney.

Hi there ONTHEBEACH...

What you say is perfectly true, there are many decent F/A licence holders who actively pursue some form of sporting shooting. Most are licenced to use long arms (rifles and/or shotguns). There are far fewer people who pursue pistol shooting. And you're correct, both classes are 'put through the hoops'. The latter, far more so.

There are very few people who are licenced to carry a concealed weapon for self protection, and generally it is confined to their vocational needs only. Including, Prison Officers, Cash in Transit guards, private security guards as an example. The above category of licence holders are permitted to carry a weapon only; to and from duty, whilst on duty and to and from mandated target practice.

There are even fewer private citizens who are licenced to carry, purely for their own personal protection, very few indeed. Any other person who carries a concealed weapon, other than those specified above, is unlicensed. Regrettable, these are the facts.

o sung wu,

Thanks you for your comments too.

You are probably aware I am only concerned about all States and territories following NSW's lead and removing the foul reversed standard of proof.

Regarding king hits, while I agree with rethctub that youth should avoid risk areas and risk times, I also believe that neutering the police forces to make 'police services' and other political correctness have resulted in the ferals taking advantage to wreak mayhem.

Crims and gangs know they are on to and they are making hay while the sun shines. They need to be brought back to Earth with a jolt.

As well, fewer police revenue raising on roads and set them against the crims as before.

Thanks for the thread.

Hi there INDIVIDUAL...

My friend, I'm no 'do-gooder' ! Far from it. All I've done is broadly explained the law as it exists today, essentially in NSW.

For me or any copper, to see the results of an elderly person, a women a child, in fact anyone for that matter, receive a beating from some filthy maggot...well, take it from me, we get real dark. As I've said often, 'we all bleed when we're cut'.

You see my friend, when we grab some low-life who's just handed-out a savage flogging to some helpless victim, we as police MUST exercise a great deal of (personal) self control. While we have them seated in the interview room, arrogantly smirking at us, knowing if we lay a hand on them, well these days you'll do your job ? If they cop boob, then the word might leak out, or something, I've forgotten now.......?

Anyway, we'll leave it at that, shall we ? Many thanks for your contribution INDIVIDUAL, it's much appreciated.