Is Mise,

You said "NOTE!!] However, Det Supt Plotecki said the increase in licences had not come with a corresponding increase in firearm crime.

"If you are a legitimate gun licence holder you are probably doing everything right," he said."

Exactly, I'll agree with that, can you produce anything to say an increase in gun licences has not resulted in an increase in accidental shootings? I would be please if it had not.

I would put this down to the fact we have tough gun laws. The other issue of criminals obtaining and using guns is a separate matter, and needs to be dealt with separately. There is a worry if a gun culture is developing among some younger people in society and as o sung wu said "Simply put, more guns on the street, whether licenced or not, means (regrettably) more problems for the coppers." We don't want this either.

p/s No offence taken, mate. I like out discussions on this subject, always lively.

Hi (again) IS MISE...

I'd have to defer to what Supt PLOTECKI'S has said. He'd be far more in touch with the accurate crime figures than I am, for sure. I can only speak from the knowledge of my time in the job, not now ? I suspect my own beliefs are essentially out of date ? However, I'm sure you'd recognise that my fears may well be justified, even though Supt PLOTECKI has offered a contrary, more knowledgeable view.

Actually, I've not fired a shot for over five years now, and likely never to fire a gun in the future. One must recognise one's limitations, and to capitulate (reluctantly) to one's advancing age ? Still, to send a few .357's mags. down a 3" barrel, of one of your magnificent 'security six's' would be nice ! Stay well ol' mate !

Paul1405, "There is a worry if a gun culture is developing among some younger people in society"

"Gun culture" is absolute bollocks, a meme invented by a politically savvy politician who knew how to divide and conquer. Next the Greens will be hero-worshiping Liberal ex-PM John Howard as they did Mal Fraser. Never mind the facts, leftists are all about keeping up the narrative, right or wrong but usually the latter.

Lets talk about importing cultures of violence and gang membership though, because those do exist. Commissioners of Police have drawn attention to certain migrant groups who have imported their tradition of resolving minor disagreements with violence occasioning injury and death.

It is reality. For example, the Italian Mafia was imported with poorly screened large influxes of migrants post-WW2. Reportedly the father of multiculturalism, Labor's flamboyant Immigration Minister Al Grassby knew a lot about that,

http://www.crikey.com.au/2005/05/09/al-grassbys-double-dirty-life/

It is simply amazing how in just a couple of generations Australia has moved from trusting and welcoming secondary school Cadets with their Lee Enfields on public transport to what political correctness has produced today, leftist hysteria on the ABC's Q&A at the very mention of a plastic water pistol.

If the leftists' hysteria and wringing of hands is warranted, there must be urgent study of those changes in population demographics that are the likely cause. Obviously there are some unforeseen serious negative consequences flowing from the 'diversity-Australia-has-to-have'.

Of course it could also be that back then Howard was playing politics to win elections and now, the leftist 'Progressives' aka International Socialists, have seized upon gun bans as a way of disarming Australia.

Paul,

You can take consolation that there has been no increase in accidents with guns despite their ever growing use by the law abiding.

The proof is that there has been no screaming from the rooftops about an increase, if there had been an increase I'm sure David Shoebridge et al would be letting us know.

The incidence of firearm crime and violence in Australia has been historically low. That could change, but how?

The risk is that migrants could import and establish toxic political systems, values and traditions, as happened in Rotherham and other centres in the UK and for such dreadful consequences,

"One former police officer said: 'They were running scared of the race issue… there is no doubt that in Rotherham, this has been a problem with Pakistani men [the PC term is 'Asian'] for years and years. People were scared of being called racist.'" [DailyMail,Australia,Apr5th2015]

It does not take many poorly selected migrants to bring lasting change. Such is the extreme political correctness that is now systemic in Australia (UK too, refer to the child sex cover-ups) Police Commissioners have usually waited to retirement to comment on the traditions of violence and crimes that are being imported with certain migrant groups.

Weak, populist politicians genuflecting to noisy activists and ethnic lobbyists (why is the taxpayer forking out dollars for them?) are the problem, flexing and breaking the controls in place to deny unsuitable persons entry and citizenship.

G'day ONTHEBEACH...

It's the 'quality' of migrants that we allow into this country is our Achilles heel in my opinion. There are some Southern European Nationalities who possess firearms as part of their culture. I'm not inferring anything derogative about that, other than they tend to harbour a belief it's their 'right' to possess a F/A, despite whatever the laws are in Oz ?

Two nationalities particularly are heavily involved in the drug trade, and with it as a sideline, the illegal importation of F/A's. Then of course we're confronted with this Islamic radicalization issue, and who knows what illegal weapons they have at their disposal. And the Bikies, who have a flourishing business with importation of F/S's, drugs and who knows what ?

I reckon you and IS MISE are both correct, our biggest concern is not with licit F/A ownership and the user, rather the underground movement of weapons and munitions through our vast network of seaports, and to some extent, regional airports ? Very little contraband gets through our main International Airports fortunately, other than unlawful entries, using fake documentation ?

ONTHEBEACH - There are three (3) things that need to change in this country of ours, in order to curb all this illicit F/A activity;

(i) Allow police to do their job, WITHOUT political meddling and intrusion;

(ii) Insure the Judiciary, upon conviction, dispense mandatory sentences for ANY crime involving the use of a firearm. As an example...let's say, 6 years for a burglary, PLUS an (obligatory) additional 5 years penal servitude on top, because a F/A was employed, during the commission of that burglary; In other words, whenever a crime is committed, AND a F/A is used in that crime, then an obligatory 5 years is added on top of ALL sentences !

(iii) Restore ALL our gaols, back into bona fide gaols ! Where the prison officers actually preside over the control of the gaol, NOT the inmates, with their various cliques and gangs.

Effectuate these three essential refinements, and stand back and watch the difference ?