Relaxed country

[otherwise]

I drove into Wollongong (country town by US standards) today and stopped next to a big white car at a red light. At first I noticed the Australian flag flying on the bonnet, then the uniformed driver. Had a glance into the back and realized it was out Prime Minister. The car behind had the security officer and behind them were about six cars full of reporters. She was in town doing some PR work. When she drove off I saw the number 1 plate. All very casual, I can't imagine that happening in many other countries, no outriders or cleared roads just poking along next to Otherwise, I must look harmless.

 

[Silli]

Interesting. And a good "reference" for Aus'

 

[DaveM]

Very cool Kevin and yes you would not find such a relaxed setting this side either, they tend to make a huge story out of it even if you know someone important

 

[otherwise]

We actually lost one Prime Minister (Harold Holt) on 17th Dec 1967. He disappeared while surfing alone on a remote beach and the body was never found. Some say LBJ arranged his death, others say it was the Chinese, the official version was just a big surf and the sharks got the body. All that I know is that I wasn't involved.

Holt and LBJ 1966

 

[DaveM]

 

[Ksquared]

I drove into Wollongong (country town by US standards) today and stopped next to a big white car at a red light. At first I noticed the Australian flag flying on the bonnet, then the uniformed driver. Had a glance into the back and realized it was out Prime Minister. The car behind had the security officer and behind them were about six cars full of reporters. She was in town doing some PR work. When she drove off I saw the number 1 plate. All very casual, I can't imagine that happening in many other countries, no outriders or cleared roads just poking along next to Otherwise, I must look harmless.

I wonder; do Australians have a constitutional (or other legal) right to own firearms? If they don't, I wonder if that would be a reason why the PM could/would be driven around in such a casual manner.

 

[otherwise]

I wonder; do Australians have a constitutional (or other legal) right to own firearms? If they don't, I wonder if that would be a reason why the PM could/would be driven around in such a casual manner.

In short no guns by law.
Naturally we have clubs for various kinds of weapons, but it's hard work to keep a permit and transporting them require locked cases. In remote areas it's easier for farmers and professional vermin shooters to carry guns. When I was a teenager I'd sling a rifle over my shoulder and get the bus out of town, knock over a few rabbits and get another bus home, normal stuff but try that today and see how far you'd get.

 

[DaveM]

Never thought about your gun laws until now. However now that you mention it I was watching a show on TV recruits about training your new cops. At the time it struck me as strange that when they came to the shooting range none of them had ever fired a gun before but now I know why.

 

[CarlS]

Kevin , that is cool. Wouldn't happen like that here.

 

[Dilligaf]

Gun laws have never stopped a criminal or assassin from getting a weapon.

I like the story, if that was the USA BO would have 16 cars and have spend $20,000 going to get an ice-cream.

 

[Rocky]

In short no guns by law.
Naturally we have clubs for various kinds of weapons, but it's hard work to keep a permit and transporting them require locked cases. In remote areas it's easier for farmers and professional vermin shooters to carry guns. When I was a teenager I'd sling a rifle over my shoulder and get the bus out of town, knock over a few rabbits and get another bus home, normal stuff but try that today and see how far you'd get.

It's much the same thing in Canada. You have to belong to a gun club to buy and own a handgun - but I guess they forgot to tell the criminals who are armed to the teeth.
It's all but impossible for a civilian to get a permit to carry a gun - except to and from the gun club by the shortest possible route.
And never say you want a gun for protection. That really drives the authorities crazy!
I too used to sling a .22 rifle over my shoulder and head off to the woods. When I was an Air Force cadet we used to transport our .22 target rifles on the bus too (in uniform) and no one batted an eye.
This used to be a very quiet city, but gun crime and violence is on the increase due to gangs and drugs - mostly among the criminals themselves. Homicide was rare years ago (maybe 2-3 a year), but we've had 12-13 murders already this year.

 

[CarlS]

A criminal by definition is a law breaker. They certainly are not going break other laws and religiously obey gun laws.

 

[otherwise]

A criminal by definition is a law breaker. They certainly are not going break other laws and religiously obey gun laws.

Almost every day we read about two feuding (Lebanese) families in Sydney who are trying to get rid of each other, they all carry and don't hesitate to use. Fortunately it's all in house and the public are reasonably safe.

 

[Ksquared]

A criminal by definition is a law breaker. They certainly are not going break other laws and religiously obey gun laws.

That's certainly true Carl, but where do you think it would be easier to steal a gun, in Australia, where the is very limited private ownership, or in the US, with some 240,000,000 handguns in private ownership.

The US is a "target rich" environment for gun theft and, therefore, for gun crime. I don't think that can be reasonably disputed.

 

[Dilligaf]

K2 , localities that respect the 2nd Amendment with the freedom to carry open and concealed have lower violent crime rates.
If a criminal wants a gun they will get one, it's that simple.
I think everyone who is ant-gun should be required to put a sign in their front yard that states they are unarmed.

 

[Ksquared]

Just to keep the record straight - I hope you're not assuming that I'm anti-gun. I'm just seeking explanations for what I see.

 

[bigmick]

Almost every day we read about two feuding (Lebanese) families in Sydney who are trying to get rid of each other, they all carry and don't hesitate to use. Fortunately it's all in house and the public are reasonably safe.

must be related to the ones who are going at it down here in Melbourne too...
I used to have a couple of guns when I was younger...but after some mass shootings like Martyn Bryant in Tasmania....our loving and caring federal govt decided to disarm all the law abiding citizens...

 

[otherwise]

must be related to the ones who are going at it down here in Melbourne too...
I used to have a couple of guns when I was younger...but after some mass shootings like Martyn Bryant in Tasmania....our loving and caring federal govt decided to disarm all the law abiding citizens...

Now that we know you are obeying the law our lovely PM will probably drop in on you for a free cup of tea next time she is driving by.

 

[CarlS]

That's certainly true Carl, but where do you think it would be easier to steal a gun, in Australia, where the is very limited private ownership, or in the US, with some 240,000,000 handguns in private ownership.

The US is a "target rich" environment for gun theft and, therefore, for gun crime. I don't think that can be reasonably disputed.

Yes it is relatively easy to steal a gun here; it is target rich. But the gangs and the serious criminals have fully automatic weapons. They are not stealing those from general populace. Our borders are porous; illegal guns, like drugs, flow freely.