In a worrying ruling for the majority of the citizens of New York the conservative dominated US Supreme Court has overturned a law that required New Yorkers to show ‘proper cause’ to carry guns in public. This ruling has opened the door for almost all Americans to carry concealed and loaded handguns in public. This decision was cheered by the NRA as they, and some Republican politicians attempt to load up Americans with loaded guns, despite the mass carnage guns cause in that country.

How does that affect Australia, could we one day see Australians in Sydney and Melbourne carrying concealed loaded handguns into the local supermarket and picture theatre, could the day come when folks here are required to check in their pistol(s) before entering a saloon (pub or club), Dodge City style.

For most of us in Australians carrying a loaded concealed handgun sounds ridiculous, yet there are gun groups and aspiring politicians who support that kind of wacko behaviour. The Shooters Party and others have policy that lends itself to exactly that, I quote the NSW Shooters Party policy;

"Establish family and home protection as a genuine reason to own and use a firearm and continue to support measures increasing a person’s right to self-defence."

Coupled with attempts to white ant tough gun laws, given traction, this policy could see Australians carrying concealed handguns just as these people and others would have it.

Does anyone support the carrying of a loaded concealed handgun in public for so called self protection?

Hi Paul,

Being able to carry a loaded hand gun in public in
Australia would be a disaster. We already have
enough problems with being hit by other weapons -
we don't need to add to the mix with something
that has the potential of being fatal.

Who cares? New Yorkers, maybe. But a lot of them would already be 'carrying' to protect themselves from crazies.

None of our business.

For those simpletons obsessed with the goings on in foreign countries because they have run out of crap to rubbish their own country with, registered firearm ownership in Australia has returned almost to the level it was before the Port Arthur massacre.

And, don't take too much notice of the US Democrat-inspired media when it comes to guns. Despite the hoo ha about 'fully automatic militarily weapons', it is on public record that most firearms used in the American sport of shooting each other are not such weapons at all.

Some evidence please.

In Australia, you need to have a firearms license.
If you have a firearms license, and did things correctly to earn it, then you probably don't want to lose that privilege.

You're probably not going to missue a firearm, knowing you could be charged for wrongdoing and lose that privilege.

(Though your dysfunctional kid may not hold the same view if they're able to get a hold of it.)

On the other side, if you're a criminal and are carrying a firearm, then you're already breaking the law and probably don't really care.
They probably flash it around to other ratbag kids for clout, then likely end up doing something stupid with it.

On some level I'm glad Australia doesn't have so many guns anymore, especially falling into the hands of kids or criminals, the problem is the average person has no real way to defend themselves against a criminal with a gun.

They never talk about the cases where someone with a gun, was able to prevent a crime.

The changes in the US law as a result of this decision are minor. They apply to just 7 states out of the 50. These states say that you can carry a concealed gun only if you get a permit and that, in order to get the permit, you need to convince some official that you have a valid reason for wanting to carry a concealed weapon.

The last part of that is now outlawed. The states in question cannot require that you prove a reason to carry. They can still require a permit but can no longer unreasonably withhold a permit. That's it.

Hi Paul,

Thank You for raising this topic up for discussion.

Here's what people need to know about the Supreme Court
decision:

http://cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-gun-law-new-york-second-amendment/

Lets hope that this law does not come into our major cities.

Thanks for that link Foxy, my concern is always with Australia, and the flow on effect these foreign decisions can have on our gun laws. There are organised groups, vested interests, and fringe political parties which are influenced and controlled by the likes of the NRA and continually attempt to white ant Australian gun laws. Who can forget One Nations Steve Dickson's attempt to obtain finance from the American NRA, with a promise of undermining Australian gun laws. The Shooters Party policy is to arm up as many citizens from the youngest to the oldest with loaded guns, including concealed weapons in the name of so called "self defence". These political nut jobs also favour the arming of school children.

I'm surprised the forums leading Gunnie, Is Mise, has not been along to defend the Australian gun lobby, and Shooters Party policy.

Hi Paul,

I think we all should be concerned with the laws
being passed in the United States. I watched the
TV program last night - "Trump's American Carnage,"
on Chanel 31 (SBS) at 9.20pm. It was frightening
stuff. Scared the living daylights out of me.

Yet there's still talk that this person will be
running for president again in the next US election.

I certainly hope that the Republican Party will come
to its senses and not allow that to happen. If it
does - not only America but the entire world will
never recover.

The man belongs either in prison, or in a mental institution.

Is Mise has not responded because we have been over this many times and he has decided not to respond to known liars.

Hi Issy

You wont respond to fact, and choose to call it lies. When you can't defend the indefensible that's understandable. I assume you are referring to the Shooters, One Nation and gun groups in Australia, and possibly the US Supreme Court, the New York Governor and a bunch of other people as liars as well.

Fortunately your Shooters and Hooters Party, didn't you claim to be a founding member, with less than 0.1% of the national vote are unlikely to white ant the decent gun laws we have at the moment, but we must always be vigilant.

Foxy anyone who actually is silly enough to believe any of the propaganda pushed by the SBS, & it's greeny controllers deserves to be scared. Scared of their own gullibility.

"The man belongs either in prison, or in a mental institution."

Foxy, displaying all that tolerance she's so famous for.

Personally I don't think we need to worry too much about what happens abroad with respect to our existing F/A laws. As a former licensing police officer I think we've got it pretty right as it is. I believe those who wish to lawfully access a F/A should be empowered to do so. After all F/A have been a necessary part of our landscape since our discovery.

My only variation of the existing F/A laws is the issue of mental capacity. Perhaps all applicants should furnish a certificate, of (Psychiatric) fitness to possess, carry, and use a F/A. I realise many may perceive such an addendum as an encroachment of a persons privacy. But I hold a F/A licence myself, and I was required to furnish a letter from my treating, DVA psychiatrist, saying in his opinion I'm a (mentally) fit and proper person to possess a F/A. I've been treated for PTSD since my military involvement abroad.

I could be very wrong, but I don't think any reasonable person would object to their Doctor furnishing a letter of support of them being issued with a F/A licence? If I am wrong, and I was still working in Licensing, and that individual did object, I would have to ask why?

What concerns police most - Is not that a F/A applicant has had a minor conviction in their youth, or once done for DUI, it's the concealment of those offences, that worry police. What else is the applicant concealing and why?

Hasbeen,

The program came from the US.
It's part of the country's history and record.

mhaze,

What's your excuse?

Foxy it was so lefty spun that my TV was still spinning all night.