"The problem with weapons is that it is possible for the offender to use that weapon against the person who intended to use it for protection"

Why would the offender need to do that? Offenders plan their attack and the tools they require.

You can bet that offenders have already looked you and your assets over and it is only luck or more likely, that the offenders have found better options that has saved you.

The real problem is that laws prevent honest people from doing what they don't intend to do anyway. Laws don't affect offenders because it is part of the modus operandi of the offender to break laws. They are law breakers, right?

Possession of a 'weapon' (inverted commas because the police have considerable leeway in what they can charge you with) doesn't make the ordinary law-abiding citizen into a likely offender any more than possessing a pair of panty hose makes a woman into a potential burglar.

The police are there to enforce the law. That means giving tickets and arresting alleged wrongdoers. Police react to crimes that have already taken place. Hollywood has them doing much more. -Particularly arriving in the nick of time to save the stereotypical woman victim. Is that going to happen for you in real life?

I am not arguing the case for weapons. However I would very much like to see withdrawn the unfair reversed onus of proof that re-victimises victims who sought to defend themselves and their loved ones. NSW has already acted on that. What about the rest of Australia?

Just for starters I carry a walking stick and have studied Indian Stick Fighting techniques.

However I only carry the stick for health reasons, my back gives out at odd moments and I study Stick fighting as a sport.
see:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stick-fighting

To carry a walking stick for self defence, even against stray dogs, is a criminal offence.

I certainly think that firearms should be allowed for defence in the home and that trusted and trained individuals should be allowed to carry concealed pistols if they so desire.

We would not know who was carrying a gun when we are in public,
someone mentioned on another thread, that they wouldn't like to be sitting in a cafe where someone might be armed; they have no means of knowing that they are not next to an illegally armed person anywhere in public.
If there are illegal pistols then there are people carrying them.

Good for you Is Mise, but for me, my knee would make any attempt at self defence pretty useless. No for me the only defence must be with something I can use at a distance, & really, while sitting down.

As for this furphy of someone taking a gun off the owner, that could only happen to a squeamish type, who did not use the thing when they should. To quote a mates favourite saying, " "Keep calm, relax, focus on the problem & PULL THE BLOODY TRIGGER". This is the right advice for anyone threatened with a home invasion, probably the only threat most of us may experience. The first sound any invader should hear is the gun discharging.

In my area, where homes are well spread, & we would be lucky to have one cop car covering 5000 square kilometres at night, outside help is highly unlikely. You either give an invader no chance at all, or anything they want, & hope to survive.

Another bit of advice I've had, if you really want the cops, don't report you have an intruder, report you may have shot an intruder.

That will get response quick time won't it o sung wu? My friendly local Sargent reckoned it would. Probably a little trouble too, but some action tonight, rather than tomorrow, if that's what you need.

Where I live, in a country town, there is no resident policeman at the Police Station although there are police living in the town.

If someone rushes at night to the station for help there is a phone button by the front door and that puts one in contact with the Local Area Command who, if they think that it is warranted will call the nearest patrol car (which could be miles away) or will get a local Constable out of bed.
If one is ringing from home then the car or the constable will be summoned; if it's the constable then he/she must first go to the Police Station and get their pistol out of security before further responding to the call.

Bad luck if some home invader is breaking down the door.

The Americans must be living in diabolical fear when you have to carry a loaded gun in your handbag while in a supermarket.
When everybody is carrying a gun would not that equal out the advantage of having a gun.
Leave guns for wars they need the ammo.
Carrying a gun must mean you have intent on using it. That is probably why it is illegal.
I can't see it ever becomming a common comodity in AU, as yet we are not living in fear, so what would be the purpose.
American gun laws were put in place for cowboys, and still cater for them.
Self defence is the purpose, self defence of what, there are always a few rouge magpies at certain times of year, i suppose that could count.

"We may find in the long run that tinned food is a deadlier weapon than the machine-gun."
-George Orwell

Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTTC_fD598A