Most objectors to the Firearm issue are the Politically Correct, Left Wing Bigots. They are made up of loose groups of Rabid Feminists, Vegies, Old Commos, Left Wing Groups, Antifa, Greenies, Anti-Vaxers, GLBT&A(Animals), or just about anyone who is against everything in Normal Society in General.

They should be ignored & treated with the distain they deserve.

1) Jayb,

I reckon you nailed it before with,

"While I haven't seen the Article in the Sun Herald I presume that it was about teaching kids to handle a firearm. I see a big difference between instructing kids in the proper use of firearms & "Arming Kids" which gives the false impression of allowing kids Carte Blanche. False News & scare mongering again by the PC & lefties."

2) o sung wu,

Again, I will not be responding to you in kind. I differ on the balance of probabilities. For instance, because at the time there was an absence of the usual statements, media follow-up, reports, on that 'threat'.

For many years the version of events has come from Howard and his very able Spinmeister, his political minder, political staff. That is despite some heavy political leading for some bureaucrat to obligingly genuflect with a 'I suppose...and possibly".

3) General comment
Along with many other public, I am not happy at all that Howard moved so urgently to block independent review of the Port Arthur tragedy. The offender was know to authorities prior. Also relevant among a number of other facts is that federally, both sides of politics escaped scrutiny for the selling off of the previous Commonwealth mental health and rehabilitation facilities, the loss of expertise and experience occasioned by that, and mental health sufferers and marginal IQ were forced back onto families who were ill-equipped and unable to handle them without the previous support. Ideology on both sides and to 'save' money to likely be wasted elsewhere.

Paul,

"A criminal was running your local 'Burgers, Banners and Bullets' franchise, I can hardly believe it! I am appalled Issy, simply appalled, nah! mortified with that revelation of your's. Such an admission is shocking in the extreme"

He wasn't a criminal until he was convicted and that was after he ceased to be Club Secretary.
His mistake was removing a ball (not a pistol ball!) with the owner's permission but without having the necessary qualifications.

Is Mise: His mistake was removing a ball (not a pistol ball!) with the owner's permission but without having the necessary qualifications.

Eh! Please explain? What did he do?

Dear o sung wu,

I'm afraid you might go blue in the face with some of the crew here but I wouldn't sweat it mate.

I was reading about a young recruit (JAFR?) who was given guard duty over the man. It makes for interesting reading. I thought this quote was pretty topical in that it gives a good example of intel that would not have been made publicly available but have been something that would likely have informed operational decisions;

“His severely burnt body was covered with the netted bandage commonly used for burn victims. Looking at Bryant lying in the bed, I wondered how I could protect him if anyone forced their way into the ward to harm him. We had received un-validated reports on people flying from the mainland to try and kill him. Suspects had allegedly made a reconnaissance of the area - two making application for security positions at the hospital.”
http://www.news.com.au/national/my-time-with-mass-killer-martin-bryant/news-story/fea218fda383b86c425562e84c7d9d5c

I was speaking to someone who had moved to Tassie a few years ago and they said the locals never refer to him by name. They just want him to fade away. What gets me are people who try and frame him as just a patsy for a coverup rather than the evil piece of detritus that he most certainly is. I get that people might be of the opinion that our gun laws are too strict. I don't but each to their own. However they need to make their case based on its merits, certainly not by drumming up whacko conspiracy theories which denigrate both the victims and the law enforcement officers who dealt with what he had done.

Steele,

I don't go in for conspiracy theories but when a gunman is said, by credible witnesses, to have been right handed and to have been observed firing a gun right handed and when the accused is left handed, then I wonder.

When the gunman is said by credible witnesses to have had a pockmarked face and the accused has a good, clear complexion, then I wonder.

When there is no Coroner's Inquest into the murder of 35 people I wonder and when the records are locked up from public scrutiny for 30 years my wonder increases.