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HOSTAGE DIED A HERO: Captive man was 'lunging for gun'
news.com.au ^ | 16th December 2014

Posted on 12/15/2014 3:05:39 PM PST by naturalman1975

THE manager of the Lindt cafe who was fatally shot in the Martin Place siege is being praised as a hero, responsible for allowing others trapped in the cafe to escape.

Tori Johnson, 34, was wrestling a gun from gunman Man Haron Monis when he was killed.

It is understood the cafe manager decided to take action when the hostage-taker begun to doze off after the siege had been ongoing for 17 hours.

He lunged at the gunman’s weapon, enabling others to flee.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: hero; letsroll; lindt
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To: naturalman1975

As in the UK and now Australia, right?


61 posted on 12/15/2014 4:46:58 PM PST by Kackikat
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To: Kackikat
Yes - and Canada and New Zealand as well (and about a dozen other smaller countries).

Some have put in place more restrictions than others, but what they have in common, is that the Common Law allows restrictions pretty readily. It doesn't require them - but it illustrates just how blessed the United States is, that somebody wrote the Second Amendment a little bit differently.

62 posted on 12/15/2014 4:54:16 PM PST by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: naturalman1975

So relax if you don’t know anything about it.

We are discussing a news story and speculating, and so far we have two dead and at least one wounded, it will take a heck of a lot of new information to turn this disaster into a success.


63 posted on 12/15/2014 4:56:54 PM PST by ansel12
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To: Iscool

Don’t criticize the Australian government — think of this event as a dry run for the terrorist action that we can expect to see happen in the US.

POTUS will wring his hands and will publicly ask how we can appease the culprits.

FRiends, stay away from large public Christmas events.


64 posted on 12/15/2014 4:57:32 PM PST by 353FMG
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To: ansel12
So relax if you don’t know anything about it.

I'm not saying I don't know anything about it. I'm pretty sure I know more about it than you do. I just don't have access to any 'special information' and as somebody asked me this morning if I did, I thought I'd make that clear.

I've been to the scene in the past - I'm not sure if I've been in that specific coffee shop, but I've certainly had coffee in that area.

I also know a fair bit about the police units and military units that would have been involved in this situation. I know a fair bit about the capabilities available to deal with events like this. These don't make mistakes very often. And I don't see any reason to assume they did.

These men put their lives on the line. Any one of them would willingly swap places with the two dead if that would bring them back.

If they made mistakes, that needs to be discovered. But you are not in a position to make that determination in any way, shape or form.

65 posted on 12/15/2014 5:02:26 PM PST by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: naturalman1975

Mistakes were obviously made, there is no question about that, we have dead hostages to bury.

The question is who made the mistake, who decided to let the killing start before they would take action to neutralize the man and save whatever was left of the hostages.


66 posted on 12/15/2014 5:16:49 PM PST by ansel12
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To: naturalman1975

Condolences to family and friends of Tori Johnson.

R.I.P., sir.

love


67 posted on 12/15/2014 5:31:46 PM PST by PGalt (thanks naturalman1975)
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To: naturalman1975
He may not have had the means, but he had the right.

How can you have the right if they refuse you access to the means???

68 posted on 12/15/2014 5:34:25 PM PST by Iscool (e)
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To: Iscool

You can defend yourself without a weapon. I’ve done it a few times.

A weapon makes it easier, and I think you should have one, but you can do it without one.


69 posted on 12/15/2014 5:35:54 PM PST by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: 353FMG
Don’t criticize the Australian government — think of this event as a dry run for the terrorist action that we can expect to see happen in the US.

Letting this guy on the street while being already involved as an accomplice to a murder was pure stupidity...I don't care what gov't it is...

The news said there was about 45 seconds of gunfire undoubtedly from all those cops who went in...Must have been 20-30 flash bangs went off at the same time...Can't help but wonder if any of the deaths or injuries were due to friendly fire...

I certainly don't suggest I could have done a better job but then I'm not trained and paid to either...

70 posted on 12/15/2014 5:56:23 PM PST by Iscool (e)
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To: naturalman1975
A weapon makes it easier, and I think you should have one, but you can do it without one.

Or end up dead trying, as is the case here...

71 posted on 12/15/2014 5:59:03 PM PST by Iscool (e)
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To: Iscool

“.Must have been 20-30 flash bangs went off at the same time...Can’t help but wonder if any of the deaths or injuries were due to friendly fire...”


The war on terror is a war.

Sadly,civilians are always killed in wars.

.


72 posted on 12/15/2014 5:59:45 PM PST by Mears
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To: SpaceBar

That is vivid, and I agree.


73 posted on 12/15/2014 6:04:52 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: 353FMG
FRiends, stay away from large public Christmas events.

I find myself being much more aware of the people around me when I am out in public.

74 posted on 12/15/2014 6:24:54 PM PST by muggs (Hope and Change = Hoax and Chains)
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To: Sarah Barracuda

And ABC’s Good Morning America’s hero is a gay basketball player, robin sez he is courages, an inspiration and a hero to us all. Here is the difference between us and them. They need to track down his family and associates no matter how small round them up and dump them back in the desert where they belong


75 posted on 12/15/2014 6:32:29 PM PST by ronnie raygun (Empty head empty suit = arrogant little bastard)
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To: naturalman1975

I agree, I think this bloke definitely deserves the highest award. As an example, a policeman who was caught up in the Iranian Embassy seige in the UK wrestled a gun off a terrorist and was awarded the George Cross. Pretty much the same thing. Not sure what the Australian equivalent is, but the GC ranks equivalent to the VC, except it awarded for acts not in the face of the enemy.


76 posted on 12/15/2014 6:38:25 PM PST by zelouf
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To: naturalman1975

Actually, I think it should come from the American people, a private institution. Look how long it took our government to consider giving Purple Hearts to Hassan’s victims in Ft Hood. Work-related violence?


77 posted on 12/15/2014 6:54:47 PM PST by Salvavida (The restoration of the U.S.A. starts with filling the pews at every Bible-believing church.)
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To: zelouf
The Cross of Valour (CV) is the replacement for the George Cross since Australia moved to its own honours system away from Britain's.

The very special history of the Victoria Cross, means the Victoria Cross was retained as an identical medal with identical standards - technically it's now the Victoria Cross for Australia, but it is treated exactly the same including by the Queen and other Commonwealth governments (New Zealand also has an identical Victoria Cross for New Zealand, and Canada has an almost identical Victoria Cross for Canada - the only change they've made is the motto 'For Valour' is now 'Pro Valore' in Latin, because they felt that in a nation with two official languages, that was appropriate).

All other decorations were replaced with Australian equivalents (although Australians who previously earned a British Honour keep it, and the British government and the Queen can still bestow most British decorations on Australians). That's why the Cross of Valour (CV) ranks alongside the George Cross - because it is the replacement for the George Cross in all particulars, and the GC had that status.

There is some talk that our current government may seek the Queen's permission to create a 'George Cross for Australia' in a similar way to the VC. I'd support that, but I also think the CV is a suitable replacement if that isn't done.

78 posted on 12/15/2014 7:26:23 PM PST by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: naturalman1975

Well, recognizing that I have no standing to judge, I do have my opinions from watching the coverage. Last night I was already thinking, “What are they waiting for?” Here you have people scampering out of the place! The CNN desk was showing a spokeswoman saying that their hope was to end the thing with NO VIOLENCE. Well, how about a little violence? Like one bullet. That’s all that was needed. I guess they didn’t have that in their arsenal.

Just consider that this civilian hostage got tired of waiting before the police did. THEN they went in. This is in fact what they were waiting for ... mayhem.


79 posted on 12/15/2014 7:41:46 PM PST by dr_lew
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To: dr_lew
Well, how about a little violence? Like one bullet. That’s all that was needed. I guess they didn’t have that in their arsenal.

Even for a highly trained sniper shooting through heavy plate glass like a shop window is not a straightforward shot. When the person you are shooting at may have a bomb vest with a dead man switch trigger and is surrounded by a dozen innocent people, it's not something you do.

You were watching - did you notice the big shield the police were standing behind. That was because of the risk of explosives. It wasn't for show.

Two dead is bad. But it's a lot better than ten or more dead.

80 posted on 12/15/2014 8:18:27 PM PST by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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