Hey! Paul,

How're you goin' on the permanent amnesty question?

A simple 'Yes' or 'No' will suffice.

Issy, I gave you an answer about that re; "reasonable time". If a gunnie has pangs of guilt after the amnesty period, and voluntarily wants to hand his firearms in, no problem. Providing he has not engaged in serious criminal activity etc, a degree of leniency should be shown by the courts towards that poor unfortunate, possibly a non custodial sentence may be warranted.

Paul,

That is not an answer, that is evading the question.

Are you in favour of a permanent amnesty?

Why won't you answer?

You are either in favour or you are not.

Julian,

I asked you also, why no answer?

No I am not in favour of a permanent amnesty. I am in favour of making possession of a gun without a licence (maximum one gun per approved applicant with stringent conditions for approval) a criminal offence attracting a mandatory prison sentence. Maybe a two week amnesty every 10 years. At least 20 years imprisonment without parole for stashing multiple illicit guns.

Julian,

".... (maximum one gun per approved applicant with stringent conditions for approval)....Maybe a two week amnesty every 10 years. At least 20 years imprisonment without parole for stashing multiple illicit guns.

What's the objection to a permanent amnesty?
What about people who need more than one gun?

I'd go along with the 20 years, but no parole? that's worse than for murder.

Nobody NEEDS more than one gun. Very few need only one gun. Want doesn't equal need.

On the Yank NRA's comment on penalties for murder (not comparable with illicit gun possession) 20 years without parole is not an adequate penalty. Only life imprisonment. As for parole for murderers, rapists or GBH offenders, parole would be acceptable only if members of parole boards were held jointly and severally liable for crippling damages if an offender they have sooled on to the public reoffends. Ever. If that applied the dear old Parole Board ducks would have thought long and hard before sentencing Jill Meagher to rape and death.

And armed insurrection against the government merits the death penalty, as should have been imposed on the Confederates in the USA -- a gun-armed regular militia as provided for in the Slavers' and Injun-hunters' Second Amendment.

In the final analysis, we as a community can expect freedom from gun anarchy only if we have the wit to enforce it at the ballot box. Same goes for the Americans.