SR,

People frequently carry firearms on public transport, there is no law against it.

Hi there STEELEREDUX...

Remind me never to get within 100 metres of you. However it's not the gun that cause's the problem, it's the human who's in charge of that gun, that's the real worry?

You're right, 'the gun' has passed from being a legitimate recreational aide for sportsmen. Gun's are for vengeance, retribution, and intimidation; with the exception of military & law enforcement. Enabling the weak to become strong, and the strong to become stronger. And so the coward may conceal himself, behind that gun.

Divest a human of his gun, he'll revert back to his previous facade. A gun is probably the only aide that can utterly alter the disposition and temperament of some individuals. The gun has an almost hypnotic effect, especially upon women. I've witnessed some women when handed an unloaded pistol or revolver, to casually look straight down the barrel, as if they expect to see some great mystery disclosed?

Be in no doubt STEELEREDUX, guns can have an extraordinary effect on some people. As an example, I attended a mixed seminar, mainly of DPP legal people. It involved several sessions of 4x40 minutes each with a lady forensic Psychiatrist.

She spoke mainly on 'crimes against the person'. On the second or third session, she entered the lecture theatre, sat at her desk, and before she even exchanged pleasantries, she removed a large Revolver from her valet, and placed in on her desk. Without paying it any attention whatsoever?

Naturally there was an abundance of 'twitter' among her audiance. Nevertheless, at the conclusion of her session, she promptly picked it up and replaced it back into her valet, before biding us all a good-day?

What was the purpose of this 'theatre'? On her final session, she explained, in words to the effect;

'...Whenever humans are introduced to a mechanism dedicated to lethality, so precise, so absolute. We experience this 'tunnel vision', until we can deduce the true recipient or focus of that lethality...'?

A great illustration coming from a very smart lady, who was so right, when it comes to the presence of a gun.

Dear o sung wu,

Probably a fair assessment my learned friend, I can be a bit of a hex. My old man thought he was pretty safe behind me. Having been a naval officer and a clearance diver he was fairly used to things that might go bang. Somehow being engrossed in the shot and adjusting by stepping back a foot ended up with me falling straight on to my back and hitting damn hard.

Afterward he didn't say a thing, just took my rifle and we walked in silence back to the car. Nothing much was said either on the drive back home where he dropped me off and headed to the pub for something to settle his nerves.

We know highly trained officers can fall victim to accidents;

Who can forget this DEA officer shooting himself in front of a class full of students.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7ufT_6Kgy0

But many are real tragedies.

“The video shows Punta Gorda Police Officer Lee Coel playing the suspect when he fires his gun at Knowlton, before she drops to the ground. After the shooting, it takes a moment for anyone to realize that Knowlton has been shot with real bullets. ”
http://nbc4i.com/2017/04/20/florida-police-release-video-of-officer-shooting-killing-woman-during-civilian-training/

When they returned to the training area, Officer De Kraai asked the other officer to shoot him with a Simunition round so he could experience how it felt. Forgetting that he had transitioned back to his service weapon, the other officer fired a single live round, fatally striking Officer De Kraai in the back.
http://www.odmp.org/officer/20530-officer-dan-d-de-kraai

And it happens here too.

“In 1992 Constable Hernandez was a member of the State Protection Group and a qualified firearms instructor. He was accidentally shot in the chest while testing police in their annual firearms proficiency tests at the Redfern Police Complex. Following emergency surgery Constable Hernandez died at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst the same day as the accident. “

No doubt you are aware of others and I would wager our rate of colleague on colleague fatalities would outstrip those of the UK. These are people whose training far exceeds that of the ordinary civilian.

SR,

"Through some pretty forward thinking gun laws we have managed to dramatically reduce the toll firearms were having on our society."

We have not, absolutely not; the rate of firearm crime/misuse etc was in steady decline before Howard's Laws and except for a sharp rise after the introduction of the laws (as a reduction has been claimed for the laws may an increase also be claimed?) has continued to follow the same downward spiral.
Howard's Laws made no appreciable difference.

"These are people whose training far exceeds that of the ordinary civilian"

But not that of all civilians, and on civilian ranges, no one is ever allowed to point a weapon at another person under any circumstances.

Issy, you claimed the Federal government's national gun amnesty would be ineffective, numbers speak for themselves, with more than 6400 firearms handed to police in NSW by gun crazies already, and growing daily.

Will you personally be conducting the 'Ozzie' training for kiddies at your Aussie franchise of 'Bullets and Burgers'? p/s Did you blokes pass the hat around for the family of that bloke in America who got his head blown off by the kid with the gun? It would be the least you could do.

Thanks Steely for the music vids of Glen Campbell, he was more than a country singer, a true legend of modern music, with many, many hit songs.