Private ownership of firearms

Well I admit that Howard did have to make some reforms, I don't want us to be like America. I wouldn't leave my house with out a gun over their. Anyway.

For those who don't know in 1996, John Howard implemented reform to the firearms act, which needed to happen, but he went to far. He banned all semi auto rifle to the majority of Australians, he banned pump action shotguns (that one I've never worked out) He also put handguns out of reach of most Australians.Ridicules  waiting periods, which I do not see the point in. I.E. After I buy a rifle I have to wait 7 days to pick it up. Having to store ammunition  in a separate safe to the rifle you own

That the bad in my opinion.

The good: Mandatory licensing, not being eligible to obtain a rifle if you have had a mental issue, restraining order etc in the past 5 years. safe storage laws, having to have a safe. Stuff like that.

That's the main stuff, there are other details, but just to many for me to write about

Oh! I watched "The Howard Years" a few weeks back and it jogged my memory of the Port Arthur massacre, which I believe instigated these reforms (btw that doc was unsurprisingly tilted in Howard's favour).

Yeah...remind me why we should have shotguns and semi-automatics? I've played Halo, Doom, Castle Wolfenstein, Medal of Honour and Counterstrike, and as far as I can tell, shotguns cause messy amounts of damage

Keeping the ammo separate from the rifle I can /kinda/ understand, especially with kids about.

Given that we're a nation of drinkers and that around half (47%) of all homicides in Australia between 2000 and 2006 were alcohol related (Dearden & Payne 2009), it's probably a good thing to keep guns a little difficult to access.  

Aye, Mandatory licensing is good. But what's with the wait times? What's the purpose? Is that the time for them to make background checks? (I'm assuming they do, right?)

Background checks are done before you get the licence, I've never understood the waiting period nor have I had it explained to me.

You are joking about the Call of Duty, video game, right? By the way, all the guns in games like that are fully autos, semi autos are different things. Have a look on youtube of people firing both and you will see the difference

Guns already have to be kept in safes, why do you have to keep the ammo in another separate safe, I don't get it.

Id say it is near impossible to ban hunting, because it would be hard to regulate, but it would be great.
Private ownership of rifles/handguns for target shooting is completely fine in my opinion, as long as they are put in the hands of sensible people without the intention to cause harm to anything living. And are used at appropriate target facilities.

Hmm maybe I'll have to ask around about the waiting period.

Nah I said Medal of Honor, but I guess they're all the same

Yeah look I'm saying that I can understand why'd they separate ammo from guns, not that it's right. I guess they're attempting to accommodate for people who aren't exactly sensible and responsible, and trying to make it more difficult for someone who reacts in the heat the moment to grab their gun and use it threateningly. It's really a question of how far do you go? Two keys for the ammo safe that have to be turned simultaneously?

Have you been? I've never once felt unsafe, I'm against violence and wouldn't even have it in me to physically defend myself. My husband is a process server (giving people papers to say they're being sued) and about 50% of the people he delivers to are complete white-trash and legally allowed to shoot him on sight... Know how many times he's been shot at? None. Ever.
I'm planning to move there and raise children without any safety fears at all.
You have to have a license to carry a concealed weapon, most people (in Wyoming anyway) are really good about it.

The waiting period could be something like "I'm really effing angry at my neighbour for cutting down my gardenias, I could totally go out and buy a gun right now and eliminate his map" But after 7 days, "Nah, she'll be right."

I know all the CCW permits, I've never been to the US but the stats are enough to frighten me, to many murders.

Yeah, I don't think you can really make judgments about a country without having experienced it first hand. I can't imagine the bizarre assumptions other countries make about us, doesn't mean they're true.

Well I would have to wait a month to get my gun licence in the first place....