Let's make this clear as well.
Guns *are* allowed in Australia. I've only just started posting today, but I've been reading these forums for quite a while, and I actually get pretty disturbed sometimes about the misinformation about Australia that gets posted here at times.
Australia has not banned guns. Simple fact. This has not happened. I got a fair collection myself all held on civilian permits. (I've also got one that I have on a military permit). The reason most of my weapons are on civilian permits is because I think it's important that the laws that allow citizens to own firearms are used.
Yes, we have stricter gun laws than most of the US. Yes, we have registration. Yes, the laws go too far in my opinion.
But they haven't disarmed us. Unless you've got a criminal record, you'll have no real problem owning a gun in Australia.
Owning an assault rifle or a handgun is a little harder - but you can still do it.
I'm not saying our laws are good laws - because they're not. But they don't go anywhere near as far as some people try to suggest they do here at times.
Thanks for clarifying the situation.
(That's why I like FR, you get accurate information from the source!)
So, what's up w/ the pics we saw several years ago of steam rollers crushing mountains of confiscated rifles ?
& news reports of increased violent crimes post confiscation ?