Is Mise, "I'm 79 getting close to 80, could you give me a suggestion as to how I might successfully defend myself against an 18 year old, fellow male, who attacks me?"

First, don't live in Queensland or anywhere outside of NSW. It is only in NSW where the Shooters and Fishers Party (SFP) has managed to change the law to give back rights to victims of thugs who attack them.

Outside of NSW if you wake in the night to disturb a burglar who comes at you with a knife or steel wrecking bar and you injure him while defending yourself, you are certain to be arrested, finger printed, placed in a cell, interrogated for hours like a common criminal and charged. You will be required under a reversed standard of proof to defend your act of defending yourself and your loved ones. Your freedom, assets and job will be at stake. You will be required to prove that you were in fear of harm and your force was not a smidgen more than necessary to restrain the assailant.

In NSW you will still be thrown into the watch house, interrogated for hours and charged. You will still have to face public humiliation. You will still have to spend a fortune on legal representation. However, you will not face the reversed standard of proof. The onus will be on the prosecutor to prove you weren't in fear for example. You will have your normal rights back in that respect which is a big thing and should save you from being rail-roaded into gaol.

Australia, the land of Political Correctness where victims of crime are re-victimised by a foul reversed standard of proof that protects offenders. Not so in NSW though, thanks, S&FP.

Hi there IS MISE...

You ask, quite rightly I believe, what methods are available to you at aged nearly eighty years, to defend yourself from a violent attack ?

I Sir, have no real answer for you I'm afraid. If you choose to carry 'anything' that is designed to be used as a weapon, or with the intent to use it as a weapon...sadly it's against the law ! I've heard many women for example, openly state they carry a long hat pin, or a knitting needle, and would have no hesitation in using it should they be attacked ? Try explaining your actions to detectives after you've just defended yourself, and the attacker has suffered a serious injury... well look out ! Only the mercy of the Court prevails.

I believe there's another person on this Forum, who has been, or is a copper, if so I wish he or anyone else, would prove me wrong in law ?I'd be very glad to hear that I'm in error, and we citizens could now carry 'stuff' that may be utilised as a weapon, if we're ever attacked ?

Hi there FOXY...An interesting article by Dr Jennifer PILGRIM, in the Canberra Times; concerning the seriousness of binge drinking by our young people. Is drinking the only problem do we think ? Perhaps illicit drugs (ICE particularly) are another growing menace. As I mentioned in a previous thread, the growing need to generate a 'tough guy' image in order to intimidate and threaten by using ominous gestures, in order to standover friends and associates - AND yes, even some smaller, younger police do occasionally yield to this type of bullying behaviour ? Though in my personal experience it's rare that a young female constable will allow herself to be intimidated, believe it or not, though she may well be frightened !

This is a very big and complex question. And I have no real answers either. Perhaps we're shutting the gate well after the horse has bolted ? I don't know ? Thank you FOXY.

Good evening to you SUSEONLINE...

I've just re-read some of your threads and I believe you're correct on many fronts with your arguments.

Permitting easier access to F/A's purely for self protection, is a very dangerous pursuit. Police have to undergo many hours of training with their official F/A particularly with 'shoot don't shoot judgement scenarios. Even then, many coppers end up being castigated by the Coroner, for a poor judgement shooting.

Only my own opinion you understand SUSE ? But I think carrying a gun for protection is a very dangerous game, it creates all sorts of false illusions and security, even 'dutch courage' purely because you're carrying a loaded gun. I've heard those who know say, it makes a small man very much bigger, when he's got a loaded gun in his possession ? Another thing, you cannot un-shoot someone once that 9mm steps out of that muzzle.

There's no doubt at all, there is a place for F/A's but not issued to every citizen who wants one, purely for their own protection. Are there any other viable (protective), non-lethal options available to the average citizen ?

There's the usual array of Propriety Chemical incapacitants like, OC spray, CN, CS, even DM, for extreme cases. None of these are legal in any Australian State I believe. The good old 'stun gun', the 'Tazer', even the 'shok baton' to mention just a few...all of which are deemed non-lethal. But regrettably, none of these options are available to anyone in this country. Thus all are considered to be totally illegal either, to possess, to carry, or to use. Other then those authorised in Law Enforcement.

The only real and lawful option available to any of us, is to call Triple 000 and hope the coppers arrive in a timely fashion.

Is Mise, I understand how frightening it is for the elderly in our community, but I have patched up far more older citizens after falls or accidents in their own homes, than I ever have after they were victims of violence.

Young thugs would more likely use your gun against you, because your responses are much slower now.

Can I respectfully suggest you make yourself as safe in your own home as possible, and only go out with other people with you.

O Sung Wu, thank you.
You are always a voice of reason :)

I must admit, I have often wanted to be able to carry some sort of pepper spray, but the cops say it is often used by attackers against the owner of the spray.

The police know what they are talking about, because they see and deal with violence all the time.
If they say we should not carry guns or other weapons, then I think I will listen to them rather than 'armchair would-be vigilantes'.

Fooled again Suse. If you believe the cops telling you that we are safer unarmed, you are a little naive. In my district there are likely to be 2 cops on duty at night, to cover 2500 square kilometers. Anyone who expects help from the cops as the speeding add says, "is a bloody idiot".

It is the same as believing that every K over is a killer. How senior cops can, with a straight face, say such things is amazing, as are their adds. Remember the one that said if you don't wear a seat belt your internal organs will damage themselves against your ribs in a crash. I have yet to see a seat belt that keeps your organs off your ribs, but many actually believe the garbage.

Come on o sung wu, give us the real reason the cops want us disarmed, if they do. Is it cops scared of an armed populous, or is it politicians who fear their "subjects" if armed, & use the authority of the cops to try to prevent such an eventuality?

I keep a strung bow available. These are still legal, probably as most could not hit the barn wall, [from the inside] with one. I would rather be in one piece to fight in court if necessary, rather than a battered pulp in a hospital bed.

I have just received my weapons licence renewal application, so had better make sure my steel box is locked as required, incase I get inspected. The last time there was about a ton of bagged fertiliser in front of the cabinet, & the cop didn't feel like climbing over it.

Hasbeen, I hope you will check if someone on your property IS there to cause you damage before you shoot them down with an arrow?

If you shot them for no good reason other than a decent dose of paranoia, how do you think you would fair in the court system?

Aren't we discussing how to deal with the 'King-Hit' guys on the street in this thread?
I'm not sure if you wandering around town with a loaded bow would go down too well with the law, but I may be wrong...