(Australia) Let's disarm the Police as well......

America's 1st Freedom

[Betteboop]

It was my understanding, perhaps mistakenly so, that private gun ownership in Australia was banned. Please, enlighten me. BB

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Yo, Tin! Great to hear from you, champ! I'll certainly keep presenting the facts about the failure of 'gun control'- although, when confronted by someone who refuses to acknowledge the facts, I reserve the option to bare my buttocks in their general direction, a traditional South Pacific display of contempt. So look out, Sarah Brady! Cheers, By.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark!...

Thanks for the tip, amigo, but here in Australia firearms must be stowed with the ammo and bolt in a separate, locked form of storage. So, by the time you've got your piece ready to rock, your throat's already been cut*.

*Assuming, of course, that Aussies would place a stupid law, above their families' safety. :)

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..it was my understanding, perhaps mistakenly so, that private gun ownership in Australia was banned...

It's not banned, Bette. In my (heavily urbanized) state of New South Wales, with some four million residents, there are well over one million firearms registered. Heaven only knows how many unregistered ones there are out there.

[shaggy eel]

,,, gosh Byron, who will shoot the taipans off the airstrips when the flying doctor comes calling? [LOL!]

Take this crap with a grain of salt cobber. Yesterday we found 20% of NZ's military bend over the hoods of Holdens for it! I'll BUMP ya the thread.

[rintense]

bend over the hoods of Holdens for it!

I that Kiwi for butthole surfer?

[shaggy eel]

,,, thought you saw that thread - I'll BUMP it to you as well. I don't know what the Yanks will think of us!

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Hi,

Maybe you can help me cut through the disinformation about Australia's gun control. I have been under the impression that most guns are banned, the others tightly controlled and as a result violent crime has sky-rocketed. Can you help me by answering a few questions?

1. What types of handguns are legal to own? In general, which are illegal?

2. What types of rifles are legal to own? In general, which are illegal?

3. Can Austalians store their guns in their homes and if so, are safes required?

4. Are guns allowed to have removable magazines?

5. How man rounds are Australians allowed to store in their homes? 6. Where can Australian's go target shooting?

7. Is violent crime up in big cities or is that just a myth?

Thank you,

Jim

[BlackVeil]

To put some context into Sneakypete's remarks on the shooting at the road block, there have been quite a number of police shootings in Australia, where the subsequent evidence has proved to be ... highly unreliable. I have no comment on that particular case, but I do assure you that in some New South Wales cases, fatal shootings by policemen look like outright murder, and some fatal shootings OF policemen have proved to be setups by other police, who were corrupt and wanted someone put away. Sad, but true.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..I have been under the impression that most guns are banned, the others tightly controlled and as a result violent crime has sky-rocketed...

G'day Free, (PS love your screen name):

Most guns have not been banned. The bans were on mil-style semi-autos like M1s and mini-14s. Hunting style semi-autos and pump action shotguns are available under a special permit to ranchers. Everyone else is pretty much restricted to boltguns and pumps.

Yes, gun ownership is tightly controlled and the government makes it difficult and expensive paperwork-wise. Private sales cost $30, must be witnessed, and it takes about six weeks to process the paperwork.

Yes, violent crime has increased by at least 35%. My guess is that this figure (and most official Aussie crime figures) are way understated.

1. What types of handguns are legal to own? In general, which are illegal?

Semis and wheelguns are legal to own, however can only be used at a licensed pistol range (excepting the Northern Territory.)

2. What types of rifles are legal to own? In general, which are illegal?

See above. There was a buyback for semi-autos and pump shotguns, which were subsequently destroyed. Full price was paid. There was no commonsense used and no exceptions, so that for instance the cops went into Mick Smith's gun shop in Sydney, gave gim a receipt for all autos and took the lot to the crusher. This included guns such as brand new D(?) grade Browning auto shotguns with silver engraved inlays worth up to, say, $5000 Australian.

3. Can Austalians store their guns in their homes and if so, are safes required?

Yes, and yes.

4. Are guns allowed to have removable magazines?

Yes. From memory, ten shots is the maximum for centrefire.

5. How man rounds are Australians allowed to store in their homes?

Not sure. I think, 'an appropriate amount.' In the thousands?

6. Where can Australian's go target shooting?

On private land with permission of the landholder, or at a target range. Sydney has several target ranges up to 800 metres long.

7. Is violent crime up in big cities or is that just a myth?

It is definitely up despite all the promises of the gun grabbers at the time these laws were introduced. Sydney is now a dangerous and violent city if you're not careful where you're going; along the lines of London. Home invasions have increased, robbery with a firearm is up nearly 40%. As I always say on talk radio, 'while the cops are running around checking the serial number on Farmer Brown's .22 some gang bangers in Punchbowl (Syd suburb) are kicking in a door with a Glock in their fist.' Australia's experience is all the proof needed that 'gun control' is a joke and a lie, and is only of benefit to criminals. As far as I'm concerned people like Sarah Brady, Rosie O'Donnel etc are enablers of crime and should be charged as accessories before the fact. I won't have a bar of this crap that gun grabbers are somehow 'well-meaning' or 'sincere.' They know that what they are doing kills people but are too addicted to the spotlight to acknowledge the truth. Cheers, By.

[Betteboop]

So, why has the violent crime rate increased if there is still private ownership of guns? BB

[sneakypete]

4. Are guns allowed to have removable magazines?

Yes. From memory, ten shots is the maximum for centrefire.

Byron,I think you need to check on this. Everything I remember hearing and reading about this is that not even pump shotguns are allowed if they are not permanently fixed to only hold one shell in the tube. In effect,they must be "two-shots". I've even read this applies to 22's, and bolt-actions with removeable magazines.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..so, why has the violent crime rate increased if there is still private ownership of guns?...

Several reasons. Firstly, there has been a decrease in gun ownership, due to the increased costs of licensing and constant negative connotations regarding gunowners in the media. Next, self-defence is not a valid reason for owning a firearm here, so you can't (for instance) carry a revolver while working in your (located in a high crime area) liquor store. Also, guns and ammo have to be stored separately, so using a firearm (if you're law-abiding) for home defence is not practicable.

All these factors have combined to embolden gun-toting criminals. They know that, since the gun laws came in, they are very unlikely to be confronted with a gun owning store or home owner. Although I might mention that, on the few occasions when that has happened there has been overwhelming community support for the person who kills a home invader or robber. Matter of fact in this state we have just introduced legislation to confirm a person's right to defend themselves with deadly force.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..Byron,I think you need to check on this...

G'day Pete. No, it's definitely correct. SMLE rifles are very popular here and they hold ten rounds of .303 in a detachable magazine, for instance. And lever action rimfires like Winchesters and Brownings holding 15 longs or 21 shorts are okay, too. Matter of fact these new gun laws have produced some very interesting firearms in our gun stores, as clever importers move to find rifles with plenty of firepower while still being legal. I'll see if I can rustle up a link or two. Regards, By.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

http://www.sportingguns.com.au/Rifles/SoShorty/MarksmanRifle.html

[Byron_the_Aussie]

In the late 1990's Australian Intemational Arms in association with engineers of Australian arms manufacturer ADI approached the problem of reproducing the 1887. Instead of attempting to redesign the 1887, AIA reverse engineered the 1901, which was already proofed for modem powders. The shotgun was then redesigned for 12 gauge. Now manufactured by ADI, the reproduced 1887's are extremely high quality reproductions.

[sneakypete]

G'day Pete. No, it's definitely correct.

Thanks,Byron. It seems that once again,"common knowledge" (and myself!)are wrong.

[sneakypete]

Hmm,that's interesting. These things were supposedly made right up to 1920,yet I've never seen one. The closest thing I have ever seen to one was a Colt revolving shotgun (like a revolver)in 12 gauge (blackpowder). I used to do repair work for a pawn shop out in Denver,and some yahoo brought this 90%+ original finish Colt revolving shotgun in and pawned it for $200. The pawn shop owner tried to buy it outright for much more than that,but the guy didn't want to sell. The same story with the 98%+ original "Red 9" Broomhandle Mauser with original shoulder stock/holster,leather,etc. The guy didn't come back to get either out of pawn,so the shop owner got them both for $400! He was a collector,so both went straight into the safe that held his personal collection.

[TEXASPROUD]

The idiot that decided this probably never walked a beat, road patrol, or tried to stop a bar fight. The insane are in charge of the nuthouse.