Hi there IS MISE, PAUL1405 & STEELEREDUX...

Let's be clear about one small issue that seems to have gotten some legs. The day, the then PM John HOWARD addressed the public where he was seen to be wearing body armour - It was the AFP who 'insisted' he wear it (PM's Personal Close Protection Squad) and it was 'Morgan Magnum Ten' (a US brand), with slim kevlar inserts front and back, capable of stopping or slowing sufficiently, a 'normal' rifle cartridge (nothing 'hot' or 'wildcat') at about 100metres or so. It was a decision made with some considerable haste by the Feds, but that was the most appropriate available, from either the coppers or military at that point in time.

It was also considered at the same time, a military EOD vests could be used by the PM. However, after he (the PM) saw it, he declined with a firm NO! Wearing such a cumbersome arrangement, would have made the PM a laughing stock, and he was not in the mood to accommodate such theatre on the day!

We could debate the precise meaning of 'hot or wildcat', forever and a day, but I'm sure IS MISE understand's my meaning?

Dear Is Mise,

Are you really doing this?

You quote figures from a document to make your earlier point and then when other figures are quoted from the same document to make a counter point you then proceed to cast doubts on its veracity?

Lol!

It is called tying yourself in bloody knots.

Damn hilarious.

o sung wu,

No, it was NOT that simple. Frankly, people are sickened by the spin that was then and the lies and the re-writing of history since.

Here, some comments from closer to the time, but with some time to let passions cool from white hot to the everlasting red-hot where Howard the 'Lying Rodent' is concerned,

"A decade later, resentment remains among gun owners. There is anger that they had to forfeit guns that were, until then, legally held, and a feeling of hurt that all owners were demonised because of the actions of a lone killer.

There are still "plenty of people out there who carry a wound from it", says gun dealer Gary Howard, who is secretary of the Sale branch of the Field & Game Australia hunting association.

"The firearms of the type that Martin Bryant used, most firearm owners are quite happy to see removed. But when they took on standard, ordinary, .22 self-loading rifles and self-loading shotguns, that's what got people's back up," he says.

"It's changed the way I think about politics. I look at it more in-depth now, rather than blindly walking in and taking the conservative how-to-vote card."

and

"Gary Howard, who addressed the Sale rally on June 16, 1996, says the sight of John Howard wearing a protective vest infuriated many.

"There was disgust," he says. "This is just average Joe public (and) they were being treated as second class citizens, not to be trusted. You go to any political rally, there's always going to be some loudmouth or two there, but to think that there was going to be violence... "

tbc

continued,
and

St James farmer Jim Kelly maintains that a national ban was unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers' money.

Kelly, who represents the Victorian Farmers Federation on the consultative firearm committee that advises the State Government, says the ban caused anguish for many, including those who had to hand over firearms that were prized family heirlooms.

"They weren't a threat to anybody... not in the hands of any hunter or farmer," he says.

"They were such an efficient and cheapish firearm compared with a good-quality ‘under and over'. It was just a waste of your Medicare levy money."
[excerpts for The Age]

There have been many OLO threads with hundreds of pages where the fraud of Soros' 'gun control' has been thoroughly detailed and its claims debunked.

What continues to anger and is being reflected in increased political representation,

http://www.shootersfishersandfarmers.org.au/

and political participation, swinging votes, is the continued demonising of the many thousands of respectable, responsible, law-abiding, crime-free citizens who do the right thing but are DELIBERATELY being conflated with the criminals, their illegal guns and their offences.

In your heart o sung wu, do you really believe that so many thousands of ordinary, trustworthy, level-headed Australians would be angry at and despise John Howard over something as simple and silly as being forced by the AFP to wear an obviously ill-fitting device? It was the choices he made as the ruthless, fabricating propagandist, the wedge-driving master political animal that earned him the title forever as the 'Lying Rodent'. He will take that to the grave and well deserved it was and remains so! He threw away a billion dollars plus of taxpayers money that could have gone to better things and more is being wasted every day and all a lasting monument too to his politics.

Hi LEOJ...

I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about? I was simply informing the readership of the true facts associated with HOWARD wearing Body Armour. Whether he's a liar or this or that I couldn't careless!

I no longer have an opinion about the damn gun laws, I've carried a handgun for thirty two years, probably thirty one and a half years too long. I've no idea why you've got yourself so steamed up about the thing, I really don't!

o sung wu,

Nothing was directed at you personally. It is a discussion site. Following comment can get a broader than one's own post, as in your case.

Howard and others set out to deliberate scapegoat ordinary, honest, trusting members of the public. It continues and is evident in other areas of life as well. For instance, edge politics directed against the elderly.

That concerns me. As does the appalling, interminable political correctness.

I am pleased you gave service, Few do.