I don't know what happened in LV, nor the precise type of F/A's deployed in order to achieve such utter carnage. What I do know, it MUST stop! Can't the Republicans see what's happening under their existing political policy together with their alignment with the NRA. In fact they must urgently examine their entire policy on the question of possession and use of F/A's altogether. To do otherwise, could well result in another LV; a Sandy Hook; or Port Arthur.

As far as Australia is concerned, and as a former Licensing Police Officer, there are many hole's yet to be plugged in our own Legislation, but thankfully we're miles ahead of our American cousins on the question of 'F/A limitation'. But as far as those suffering from mental health problems, who apply for, or who currently hold a licence, much greater scrutiny must be ensured, to reduce, as far as possible, any chance that this type of senseless carnage is not repeated here.

I include myself in that last sentence. I've been a DVA recipient of 100% War Pension, due to my own Military Service, and as such, had to declare it on my F/A's application. I suffer from a mental illness, PTSD. Therefore the licencing police required me to submit myself to a Psychiatric Examination, before accepting my application. Many, many people fail to disclose the fact they have a mental illness, irrespective of how benign it might seem, and that's a real worry for licensing police in Australia. It's a potential danger, if an individual is mentally unstable and is allowed access to a gun, particularly on Domestic Violence jobs, if attending police have no knowledge of mental instability, yet they're made aware, he has a F/A licensed to him! A potential hazard for sure!

Oh, okay. Thanks for that, Cossomby. I never realised that even semi-automatics could present such a danger, with a bit of tinkering.

Of course the grubs would be active and would be trying their best to make secondary gain out of this and wouldn't be waiting for the completion of police investigations and coroners' reports.

It is truly disgusting that the Greens and PM Turnbull are indulging in shabby ambulance-chasing to make political points out of a horrendous crime.

There is the unseemly rush to oversimplify and frame the dreadful murders as 'gun control', not even effective regulation, to suit their own cynical political needs. No mention of the explosives, commercial and products.

Yet offenders choose random slaughter of vulnerable innocents, exactly for that publicity. It is a common theme of such dreadful crimes. The politicians, commentariat and tabloids already know that, but their cynicism and self-interest rule. They know they are building the 'gold standard' of the horrific, attention-getting crime for the potential offenders who are watching, but who might very well not do it themselves if the cachet for everlasting notoriety is not in it.

Is Mise,

In deferring to your gunsmithing and armourer's expertise, as well as your other skills, I would nonetheless like to agree with your comment that it was unlikely to be fire from an automatic firearm. The rate of fire was too slow IMHO. I reckon the offender has deliberately bodgied up a semi-automatic.

Of course the 'meeja' don't care about facts or else they would be more circumspect and waiting for police reports. However, anything that can excite the dumbed-down hysterics is fodder for them, and can be worked over from all angles. Garbage in and garbage out for the idiots.

Just commenting on sounds of shot, that is most often than not very misleading, being affected by geographical features, particularly those big glass city canyons. Then the is the mixture of the double sound of each round (crack, boom) and the echoes.

Fortunately the skilled professionals who are already investigating know that and more. They will be doing their work in the background.

But now it is time for condolences and to support the loved ones.

There's a fair bit of info coming out now, some of which questions the official narrative.
Mike Rivero from 'What Really Happened' Radio show has done a decent job going through the logical questions.
http://youtu.be/sr9vbjwN-TA

- Not necessarily conspiratorial in nature, but just covering all the valid questions that should be asked.
This is why I'm disappointed in modern news.
The longer they take coming out with rock solid facts, the more disinformation becomes bandied around and before long it's all just mush and the average person doesn't really have a clue what happened.

O Sung Wu,
I've always wondered why there isn't some kind of 'voluntary storage' for owners of firearms if they are going through tough times in their life where they might think that the guns would be better out of their reach, if only temporarily.

It probably sounds a little silly, but if it stopped a tragedy that wouldn't be a bad thing.

A person might be fit to have a firearm in their possession at the time of licensing, but they may go through times where they are not fit (and know it) to have a gun around.

Relationship breakups, excessive drinking, unstable mental state etc.

Paul,

I will neither put up nor shot up. I like to be honest, and I see you as anti-American in principle.

My 'don't care' attitude is also honest. I do not care about this particular incident. People really do not have the capacity to 'feel' for people they do not know. The only time shock/horror can be genuine is when it is family or someone close. The current gushing by the me-too types and the media is cuttingly called 'conspicuous compassion'. "Look at me: am I not ever so nice and kindly".

I daresay I would feel regret if something happened to you - a person I 'know'; but I do prefer honesty and realism to bulldust I cannot possibly feel.

"Please, Is Mise, tell us what the difference is between an automatic weapon and the rapid-fire weapon which can be heard in the videos? Do automatics fire even FASTER than that?"

Some automatics fire so fast as to be almost uncontrollable, the famous 'Burp' gun got its name from the rapidity of a burst of fire; some others sound like a piece of canvas being ripped.

The guns used may have been illegally obtained automatics but they don't sound like autos to me, I may well be wrong; they are probably speeded up semi-automatic(s), however, the type of gun(s) used is irrelevant.

Foxy's post is relevant, very much so.