Dear Is Mise;

You wrote;

“Wonder how he got it, after all the Howard instigated National Firearms Laws* were supposed to stop nutters and others from getting their hands on guns.”

No, the primary reason was to get automatic and some classes of semi-automatic weaponry out of the community so that when people go off the rails for whatever reason they are not able to inflict the kind of horrific death toll such as what occurred in Port Arthur. What might have been the result if this man had a legally purchased AK47 or an automatic shotgun? Perhaps then those deaths rightly would have been laid at the feet of people like you who wanted more lax laws.

However the fact that he was able to get his hands on a weapon is of concern an perhaps indicates our gun laws may well need tightening.

Bazz,

"Poirot, What is the connection you are trying to make or are you just
trying to insult us ?

I will have an attempt to understand you.
We have enough problems of our own here without bringing in all the
troubles of the Middle East, just so you can try and act high & mighty."

Get up off your knees and join the real world !"

Erm...that report wasn't from the Middle East - it was from Cairns - today.

My point being that everyone on threads like this are almost hysterical over their perceived "Muslim" threat - and appear to pay almost no heed to the fact that "dinky-di Aussies" seem to have no trouble at all day-in and day-out unloading the most heinous violence upon each other.

Nary a word mentioned around here.....unless a Muslim is involved.

SteeleRedux,

"No, the primary reason was to get automatic and some classes of semi-automatic weaponry out of the community so that when people go off the rails for whatever reason they are not able to inflict the kind of horrific death toll such as what occurred in Port Arthur. What might have been the result if this man had a legally purchased AK47 or an automatic shotgun?"

Suggest that you do a bit of research on the subject.
Automatic firearms have been banned in all States and Territories of Australia since the 1920s.
Some States required the licencing of all firearms from around 1946.
The Howard Knee-jerk reaction required the surrender of all SEMI-automatic rifles and shot guns with a few exceptions, mainly to try to save the National Party.
Pump-action shotguns were also banned but not pump-action rifles and there are many repeating firearms that have a higher rate of fire than some semi-automatics.

Just as a matter of interest, there are antique flintlock guns circa the time of the First Fleet that can fire ten shots fully automatic and at a faster rate than an AK47.

My own personal best with a SINGLE shot rifle is 15 shots (all hits) at 50 yards/metres in 60 seconds, and electrically timed.
Impact area on a torso sized cardboard target measuring 30 cm X 60 cm (vertical) was 20 cm X 25 cm,(vertical dispersion)

Poirot this time you are just spouting garbage. The reason no one is discussing the Cairns domestic violence tragedy today, on this thread is because its got nothing to do with the topic. The murders in Cairns were not the result of terrorism or Islamic extremism.

Its interesting to note you have been very silent about the siege and unless I missed it, you haven't denounced the perpetrator. Is it because you can't blame Tony Abbott?

Hasbeen,
You misunderstand me completely.
I'm not denying he was a terrorist acting on behalf of or relation to a terrorist organisation. I'm not saying we enable Sharia Law into our justice system.
I'm not saying we make concessions or give in to the demands of individuals who represent the views of extremist religious organisations.
Not in any way.

But here are the facts.
We can't give the victims of this massacre a new chance at life, not can we bring Man Monis back to life just so that we can punish or execute him again ourselves in a manner we see fit, that brings us peace and closure.

All we can do is look at the situation for what it is and develop some kind of a plan or make changes that ultimately lead to a reduction in the likeliness of this type of event occurring again.

What steps can we take that lays out a firm warning, but does not alienate Muslim people further individually or give them reason to want to commit more attacks against us?

where are our actions now going to take us into the future??

That's why this incident should serve as a FAIR WARNING to anyone that would engage in this type of behavior, whilst also attempting to unite the community rather than further divide it.

As for the next person that chooses to do something like this, we come down on them and everyone they associate with like a ton of bricks, and imprison the whole lot of them. If a person is found to be guilty of planning or inciting attacks like this I would not oppose the death penalty.

What are you suggesting, that we abuse and spit on every Muslim person we come across, telling them they neither belong nor or are welcome here, to a point where they are so alienated they choose to leave? - And HOPE that they don't begin to resent us more?

It will come back to bite us.

Armchair Critic,

"What are you suggesting, that we abuse and spit on every Muslim person we come across, telling them they neither belong nor or are welcome here, to a point where they are so alienated they choose to leave? - And HOPE that they don't begin to resent us more?"

Splendid idea, without the abuse and spiting.
Tell them to give up the notions of Muhammad and the Koran or leave.
There is no room in modern Australia for such an extremist political movement.
Either they want to take over Australia (and the rest of the world) or they don't and if they don't then they are denying one of the main tenets of Islam.