Most attacks on anyone, young or old, can be avoided (are avoided) by being careful and acting sensibly. We don't need a bunch of armed geriatrics setting up to defend themselves against something that is very unlikely to happen.

Instead of fantasising about elderly Garry Coopers and 'High Noon', put your minds to finding out the percentage of our 25 million people, young and old, who have been subject to random, unprovoked attacks over the past year. Very low, I would guess.

Hasbeen,

Most people do live in a "closely settled suburb". If you like living in the bush, that's your choice; but I don't recall you talking about being attacked or threatened in you own home. And, the sort of riff raff we are talking about rarely leave cities.

And, it's a toss up between dogs and guns when it comes to bringing down the law on yourself. If a stranger enters your property on legitimate business, and your dog has a taste of him, you are liable. Warning of a dog on your property doesn't remove that liability. Even if a no good, scum of scum-of-the-earther can successfully sue you, if you hurt him by gun or dog.

I think we old folks need to act our age and stop fantasising. It's the boredom of living too long that does it.

As the sergeant of police at Howard was heard to advise some land holders, "if someone comes onto your property, don't what ever you do injure them. If you have to do something, shoot them between the eyes, then they & some smart lawyer can't concoct a story against you". At the time, some of us thought he was joking.

I have the advantage ttbn of living in a dead end narrow road, where most landholders are likely to have big dogs & guns. The road is easily blocked by even a small truck parked across it. The crims around here are too smart to put themselves at the tender mercy of annoyed locals, at least so far, 27 years. It is only the bikey down the road that had had visitors.

Yes most of us elderly Garry Coopers can still use our guns when needed. My last was 5 months ago when my new tree change neighbour had his little flock of alpacas & black faced sheep attacked by a pack of wild dogs, or more likely suburban dogs out on the rampage. Being a city boy he has no gun, & came asking if I did.

It only took 2 shots to put the rest to flight, but then I had to put down 2 sheep torn apart but still alive. We then had to bury 2 dogs & 2 sheep, before his wife saw what had happened to her pets.

Yes we need guns, & to know how to use them out here, & it sure doesn't hurt that the crims realise we probably have them.

ttbn,

The point is that no one in Australia is allowed to keep anything for the purpose of self-defence.

NOTHING.

Does that seem fair to you?

It certainly does not deter criminals.

G'day HASBEEN -

You're correct. There's no more significant deterrent than a noisy dog, barking away at intruders; especially those intent in engaging in House-Breaking in your absence. As a form of protection, for the aged & frail, a (noisy) dog does tend to dissuade a potential assailant from carrying out their assault.

Regrettable for a young 'connie' I had in my squad, I directed him, and his partner attended a possible 'bust,' after an 'electronic carer's alarm' functioned, and the 'monitors' decided to contact police. Upon arrival, they found this elderly lady sobbing uncontrollably, while she stroked and patted her deceased 'terrier pup.' The poor little blighter had been bludgeoned to death, by the assailaint, apparently because he wouldn't stop barking at him?

He took her purse, and had a look around the kitchen, wrecking the place in the process, without finding any further monies on the premises. He, unfortunately, made good his escape before police arrived, and his identity is hitherto, still unknown. And that wasn't because of any delay of police. The entire squad wanted this bloke, and had he been arrested, I believe it would've been hard to control the team after the cruelty to the little terrier dog, and the physical mistreatment of the elderly lady! I reckon that'd be over thirty years ago now when I was still in uniform?

Hi, there BELLY -

I've had to carry a revolver and then a pistol most of my working life. And you're right BELLY, as well as the comments of IS MISE. FYI, IS MISE is very experienced with handling all types of F/A's, far more so than me. One thing does emerge, the need to continue to practice and maintain their skills, with their weapons. Otherwise, accidents can and do happen, with tragic results. Which will quickly see you appearing in the Coroner's Court, and that's despite any extenuating circumstances, you might care to share with the Court?

I would respectfully suggest, there would be very few older people who have adequate skills to handle a F/A sufficiently enough, to defend themselves under all circumstance? Perhaps IS MISE would be an exception, and even myself, on a very very good Day? Men like HASBEEN, a bushie who resides in a rural environment, would as well I suspect? But most older people who've lived all their lives in suburban settings, probably not.