I have strong views on this topic. I could go on for ages, but I'll try to keep it simple.
I personally think that private ownership of firearms should remain legal. I am also strongly against hunting.
I shoot. I also hope to obtain a gun license in the near future. I shoot at a rifle range, shooting paper targets while being watched by a range official. This doesn't hurt anyone and is completely safe, so why should I not be able to eventually own a firearm?
It is already hard enough to get a license. A full day of safety training plus limitless paperwork to fill out. Then there is the waiting. It would take me almost a year to buy a rifle. And junior licenses should also be allowed. There are restrictions and rules to keep children safe.
The only problem I see is hunting. This is where the ownership of firearms becomes unsafe. Out of a controlled environment, there are many risks for hunters and those in the area. It is also obviously incredibly cruel to the hunted.
I say make hunting illegal and leave private ownership of firearms to those who are passionate abut shooting, not killing innocent animals.
I have strong views on this topic. I could go on for ages, but I'll try to keep it simple.
I personally think that private ownership of firearms should remain legal. I am also strongly against hunting.
I shoot. I also hope to obtain a gun license in the near future. I shoot at a rifle range, shooting paper targets while being watched by a range official. This doesn't hurt anyone and is completely safe, so why should I not be able to eventually own a firearm?
It is already hard enough to get a license. A full day of safety training plus limitless paperwork to fill out. Then there is the waiting. It would take me almost a year to buy a rifle. And junior licenses should also be allowed. There are restrictions and rules to keep children safe.
The only problem I see is hunting. This is where the ownership of firearms becomes unsafe. Out of a controlled environment, there are many risks for hunters and those in the area. It is also obviously incredibly cruel to the hunted.
I say make hunting illegal and leave private ownership of firearms to those who are passionate abut shooting, not killing innocent animals.
I think I agree with this. I really, really don't like guns but I love archery. It's sort of hypocritical to be against one for recreational purposes but not the other. I still think guns are more dangerous. And yes, obviously against hunting.
A woman called Sarah has a daughter called Sienna. Sienna has two friends Kristy and Deana. Kristy's parents own a handgun and Deana has a pool in her backyard. Sarah only lets Sienna play at Deana's but not at Kristy's because Kristy's parents have a gun and she deems it not safe. Tell me if you think this is a logical thing for Sarah to do? Would you feel the same way?
The answer is that Sarah is wrong in thinking that her daughter is more safe at her friends house with the pool over the friends house with the gun. More children die from pool accidents every year then gun accidents.
I just wanted to point out that some things may seem logical at first thought but are actually not at all. People tend to have a gun fear and that overrules their logical self.
Hmm I see what you're trying to but hypothetical scenarios like that lack details, like, does the neighbor have a fence around their pool and what's their personality like, are they responsible people, etc with influences people's decision making, rational or not.
More a case of probabilities than straight out logic, but yes, people do overlook everyday items that could prove a threat, which in no way diminishes the threat of a gun.
One thing im worried about, is if Australia get's a gun culture. We kinda have a bashing and a bit of a glassing fight culture, but thank god not a gun culture.
In countires like America the gun culture is just too big.... people have guns because they believe they need guns as everyone else has guns.
I personally believe we should not allow guns! Only for coppers! But when i think about, they should be legal but heavily controlled - only for liberal rights sake really.
They are heavily controlled, more so in Vic then anywhere else.
I know it's a hypothetical but I thought it a good way to discuss instead of hard facts.
I just don't think that Australia ever has to worry about becoming like America. The percentage of adults in Australia that own and use guns is 5.2%. That is around 750,000 people over the entire country of 21 million. 40% of Americans have guns and without the strict laws that we have.
In 2001 128, 544 deaths were recorded in Australia 61% were accidents (drowning, transport etc) 4.2% were guns.
Between 1991 and 2001 just over 5000 people were killed by guns 82% of those were suicide or accident not because someone wanted to kill someone else. That leaves 12% that was violence against others and this was during the height of the gang wars in Melbourne and Sydney.
Thanks for those stats, Steph. What prompted most of the discussion on this thread was my question to Sebastien asking him to elaborate on his view that certain guns laws were too strict, unnecesary, didn't make sense, or all of the above. What we've been doing is challenging myths, misinformation, substantiated and unsubstantiated claims, from a variety of viewpoints, to clear up some of the fears, concerns, ignorance and misunderstandings we have regarding the laws and ownership of firearms.
I would point out that prevailing statistics on firearm fatalities rest on existing gun laws. While they may not entirely have a casual relationship, they certainly play a significant part. My issue, I guess, is to ascertain the possible consequences that can come about from relaxing some of laws that Sebastien has issue with.
Comparisons between firearm fatalities and other means of death are all well and good in putting some perspective on the issue, but a common error made with these comparisons is not only their appropriateness and relevance but that it often results in -using an analogy here- one kid in trouble trying to deflect his/her transgression by pointing out someone else's misconduct.
A close friend has a gun license. He thinks that the laws although tough aren't too bad really. He doesn't get why people are so annoyed or irate about such things like having to lock your ammunition in a different place. He actually thinks it's a good thing. Sure it's a bit fiddly but if someone is going to try to steal his guns why not make it a bit harder for them by not having the ammo with it and also if a minor somehow gets into the gun safe at least there are no ammo in them.
Also someone raised as to why it takes 7 days. My friend believes that is just the processing time, just like if you bought something from Amazon.
I think tight laws contribute to keeping fatalities down.
