Gun Control Down Under (Australia)

The Right Scoop ^ | January 14th, 2013 | Jen Kuznicki

[Mozilla]

This video was sent to me by an Aussie friend, pleading with me to not allow ourselves to go the way of OZ. It has gotten so crazy there, that legislators are quibbling over the definition of a home invasion, so as not to admit that gun control has made Australians less safe.

Check out the video.

[Mozilla]

Very sad situation down in Australia as crime has skyrocketed since some gun bans. The bans are extreme enough that people have to turn them in the rifles or go to jail. Some people hide them, but have to unload the ammo and keep them locked away in safes. I don't think it is wise to move to Australia.

[KC_Lion]

You have more experience than me SkyDancer, what do you think of this?

[grobdriver]

I don't think it is wise to move to Australia.

Not likely - in addition to the danger from crime when you can't defend yourself, I'd probably kill myself driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

[JPG]

Australia also has more than its fair share of deadly critters that sting and bite.

[GOPJ]

Last week a Russian wrote some of the same kind of warning in Pravda... only worse. He spoke of the government shooting citizens after their guns were taken from them...

Our founding fathers knew scum would eventually rise to the top... and gave us a Constitution that would work to protect us IF we were willing to stand for our rights.

[ArrogantBustard]

Driving on the 'wrong' side of the road isn't as hard as some folks make it out to be ...

OTOH, the Australians have made for themselves a much bigger government than I would like to live with. Even as a visitor, I found it intrusive and offensive.

[TheRhinelander]

Australia HAS gone to hell. My brother in law was a Lt. Commander in the Australian Navy. After retiring he married my wife’s sister and moved to the U.S. for about 15-20 years. This past year he decided to partially retire and head back to Australia. Reason given was his kids there and the health care system.

Well he got there and a few things happened. He was shocked to find out that a six pack of beer costs $24 (U.S.). He was shocked to find out that because he had been out of the country and despite his veteran status he was at the VERY BOTTOM of the list for people to get jobs. That did it for him, he moved back to the U.S. this past November. He says he’ll work here and go back there during our winters only.

[AndyTheBear]

I have been lectured about how crazy we Americans are with our guns from a good mate of mine down under. I am interested in watching this vid..but need to get back from work first...

[Secret Agent Man]

the driving is easy to get used to. not having guns would be very difficult if not deadly.

[Mozilla]

Wow. That country is heading the wrong direction. We need to end Obama before the US heads down Australia’s path.

[drbuzzard]

I would be cautious quoting any stats from that video as it appears to be fairly old. The Aussie crime rates have been up and down since 1994 (ban year) so people can cherry pick for the results they want to claim.

[taxcontrol]

Heck, I almost died stepping off the curb - ‘cause I was looking the wrong way.

[adorno]

The Aussie crime rates have been up and down since 1994

IOW, they could be higher now, or lower.

Like the report in the video says, the government is having a hard time deciding on what constitutes a home invasion. Would you trust a government like that with the figures they may report? Wouldn't the government be capable of making the figures look better than they really are. We in the U.S. have to put up with reports that tell us about 7.8% unemployment, but, most economists and the informed know that the true figure is a lot higher. Why would someone trust figures from a government which needs to make things look better than they really are?

[melsec]

I would have to agree that since the 70’s Australian Government has gotten larger and more intrusive. I am hoping the next elected conservative government will focus on this.

I do not see this supposed dramatic increase in crime that others seem to talk about and I work in the area. What we do have are certain groups - namely bikies and some Asian or Muslim groups that seem to prey on each other - more power too them - they can kill each other off for all I care. We also have a large alcohol/drinking culture which causes violence, sadly this is increasing and is starting to remind me of England.

The Bikies do have guns and kill each other and rarely does this spill into the public arena.

Mel

[melsec]

$24 for a six pack - goodness gracious what was he drinking? Most cartons of 24 are $50-60 although you can pay as little as $35 for some on special. Yes if you wanted to buy some exotic or imported beer then you could pay that or more but why would you want to - we produce some great beer.

Mel

[drbuzzard]

True, it is probably valid to question the stats. But I have seen lefties posting information about AUS crime rates and claiming they are down now since the ban. Of course they did go up immediately after the ban, and it only took about 10+ years or so for any downward trend to start. That inclines be to believe the ban was irrelevant and that other factors have taken over.

[ArrogantBustard]

I am hoping the next elected conservative government will focus on this.

Good luck with that. I hope they succeed in reducing the size, scope, and general presence of government. The feeling of having 'big brother' constantly looking over my shoulder was the one down-side of my visit. That and the bloody 'roo that bounced off my car ... I'll take the 'roo over the government any day.

That said, I never felt unsafe. I was also never around 'bikies', Asians (if by that you mean Pakistani, etc), or mohammedans.

[KC_Lion]

Reason given was his kids there and the health care system.

That is the EXACT Reason why My Mother and Father came to this Country instead of Returning to their home countries.

My Mother is from the U.K. and she did NOT want to risk having kids in the Horrid British Health Care system.

[adorno]

it only took about 10+ years or so for any downward trend to start

However, how could anyone attribute the downward trend to a ban that occurred many years before? Could it be that, there are other factors at play, which might have caused the "downward trend"? Remember that, correlation is not causation. And ten years later? Chances are that, a few more years, it could be going up, and later it could be going down, which leads to the question: Was there really a trend when the figures aren't so reliable and they are getting influenced by other factors, with one of those factors being the messing around with the figures to make them look better than the actual.

[Fred Nerks]

http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/australia

In Australia, annual deaths resulting from firearms total

2010: 236
2009: 227
2008: 232
2007: 237
2006: 246
2005: 212
2004: 234
2003: 287
2002: 292
2001: 326
2000: 324
1999: 347
1998: 312
1997: 428
1996: 516
1995: 470
1994: 516
1993: 513
1992: 608
1991: 618
1990: 595
1989: 549
1988: 674
1987: 694
1986: 677
1985: 682
1984: 675
1983: 644
1982: 689
1981: 618
1980: 687
1979: 685

Considering that ‘gun deaths’ include accidents, suicides, homicides and deaths as a result of law enforcement officers carrying out their duties, I THINK YOU NEED TO RECONSIDER YOUR COMMENT.