Posted on 10/29/2002 9:03:00 AM PST by chance33_98
Australia 'won't go down gun path' October 29, 2002
AUSTRALIA would not follow the lead of the United States where everyone had the right to own a gun, Prime Minister John Howard has said.
Most Australians hated guns, Mr Howard said.
He promised to do everything in his power to rid the nation of handguns, except for legitimate sporting shooters, security, the military and police.
Mr Howard was responding to a a Newspoll survey which found 83 per cent of people supported moves to invoke stricter laws controlling handguns.
Only 12 per cent of those surveyed were against tougher controls on handguns. Five per cent were uncommitted.
"I don't need a poll to tell me that Australians hate guns in the main," Mr Howard told reporters in Mexico City.
"We're prepared to have exceptions for legitimate sporting shooting pursuits, and the sporting shooters of Australia are generally very responsible people but, apart from that, people see no reason why the ordinary citizen should carry a gun and neither do I.
"I feel very strongly about this.
"And I've watched the way America has gone and we have an opportunity at least to try and not go down that path."
He said he would do everything he could to ensure Australia didn't follow the lead of the US.
"I mean I may fail but I make no apologies because I feel very strongly about it, and I think people all over the country do," Mr Howard said.
"You only have to look at the availability of guns in the US and it was never tackled years ago in that country, and now it's too late and there are consequences."
It is much better to follow the lead of Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, China, Pol Pot's Cambodia, North Korea, sad etc.
It is much better to follow the lead of Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, China, Pol Pot's Cambodia, North Korea, sad etc.
If everyone in the US has the right to own a gun, how come I can't get one unless I can convince my local police chief that I have a "compelling need" for one?
"Having disarmed its citizens of lawfully owned firearms, the government of Australia has now passed the Defense Legislation Amendment Bill 2000 (Aid to Civilian Authorities) which gives the Australian army the authority to use "reasonable and necessary force" to suppress civilian unrest. The definition of "reasonable and necessary force," it goes without saying, is left up to the government."
"The bill grants the army authority to enter buildings without a warrant, cordon off areas, erect barricades and stop vehicles to search them without a warrant. The bill specifically authorized the army to use lethal force against civilians when there are "reasonable ground," a condition that the government decides."
"It has now been three years since Australia outlawed semi auto shotguns and rifles, Since that time over 650,000 firearms banned by the government has been rounded up and destroyed. But is Australia any safer? Homicides have increase 3.2%, assaults have jumped 8.6%, and burglaries have skyrocketed to 44%."
Just sit still for a few years, you'll be in one.
Fine. Go down Sitting Duck path. Quack!
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