Posted on 01/18/2013 6:46:02 AM PST by darrellmaurina
SYDNEY, Australia -- It is for Americans and their elected representatives to determine the right response to President Obama’s proposals on gun control. I wouldn’t presume to lecture Americans on the subject. I can, however, describe what I, as prime minister of Australia, did to curb gun violence following a horrific massacre 17 years ago in the hope that it will contribute constructively to the debate in the United States.
I was elected prime minister in early 1996, leading a center-right coalition. Virtually every nonurban electoral district in the country — where gun ownership was higher than elsewhere — sent a member of my coalition to Parliament.
Six weeks later, on April 28, 1996, Martin Bryant, a psychologically disturbed man, used a semiautomatic Armalite rifle and a semiautomatic SKS assault weapon to kill 35 people in a murderous rampage in Port Arthur, Tasmania.
After this wanton slaughter, I knew that I had to use the authority of my office to curb the possession and use of the type of weapons that killed 35 innocent people. I also knew it wouldn’t be easy.
Our challenges were different from America’s. Australia is an even more intensely urban society, with close to 60 percent of our people living in large cities. Our gun lobby isn’t as powerful or well-financed as the National Rifle Association in the United States. Australia, correctly in my view, does not have a Bill of Rights, so our legislatures have more say than America’s over many issues of individual rights, and our courts have less control. Also, we have no constitutional right to bear arms. (After all, the British granted us nationhood peacefully; the United States had to fight for it.)
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Remember when all the PhonyCons were cheering Howard because he did not wimp out on going after Iraq?
Looks like he was a Gun Control Nazi after all
I’m always reading stories from England about someone going to prison for defending themselves, even in their own home. Wasn’t some rancher here in U.S. sued for defending his property aginst illegal aliens?
Remember when all the PhonyCons were cheering Howard because he did not wimp out on going after Iraq?
Looks like he was a Gun Control Nazi after all
I used to think Howard was one of the good guys, but his statement there says volumes. I'll bet America's mullatto-in-chief was green with envy when heard those words.
This is the US. Many, many gun owners here are serious about not giving up our guns without a fight. So keep your opinions to yourself...mate.
“Australia, correctly in my view, does not have a Bill of Rights,”
All politicians are totalitarians at heart.
“I believe there is a great distinction between people seeking refuge from oppression and fighting for their freedom as our ancestors did and people being relocated from their country of origin to another place...........if that makes any sense.”
Ever hear of “transportation”? It was practiced by English judges and sent many a convict to the “new world” to live in the colonies.
I’m really tired of hearing the British pansy Varney challenge pro-gun people on gun laws. “Why not do background checks?”, he asks.
For some reason, they seem to get wimpy gun rights folks on the show who dance around the question. I want to scream at Varney, “Because they don’t do a bit of good! Gun laws do nothing to stop criminals, they just hassle law-abiding citizens and give the government more power.” Why is this so hard to get?
We have something called the United States Constitution here and the Bill of Rights. We don't have a warden to watch our nation. We have elected representatives who swear an oath to uphold the Constitution which is The Law of The Land here. If those elected individuals don't uphold the law they become lawbreakers. It seems with your attitude that you are running your island like a large prison barracks. Can we send a few lawbreakers your way if need be?
***Six weeks later, on April 28, 1996, Martin Bryant, a psychologically disturbed man...***
So he took them from those who were NOT psychologically disturbed...
But then, I believe they were registered so he knew who had them.
***I was elected prime minister in early 1996, leading a center-right coalition. ***
Too bad he was not around in 1942 when the Japs were planning to invade. The danger was so great the Aussies developed a machine gun from their bolt action Enfield to use if an invasion came.
I don’t think the fear of home owned guns would have been a problem then.
Another schmuck! The Aussie crime rate went ape.
“After this wanton slaughter, I knew that I had to use the authority of my office to curb the possession and use of the type of weapons that killed 35 innocent people.”
Well, you see Mr. Prime Minister, that’s the difference between the U.S. and Australia. Nobody in the United States government has that authority of office.
I have a friend who moved back to Australia—where she was born.
She is living out and away from the cities & she is terrified of all the tgroublemakers who roam in the countryside. The only protection she has are her dogs—since she cannot have a gun to protect herself.
> Also, we have no constitutional right to bear arms ...
The government does not grant the right. The constitution guarantees that they can’t take the right away.
Your government took your rights away, thus, you do not live in a free society, you live in a totalitarian society with limited revokable privileges.
Sounds like they are similar to the Travelers in Britain.
Travelers in Ireland as well.
Correct spelling is Travellers.
In Australia you have to register your dogs if they are a certain breed and have to post signs on your property. They have “Dangerous Dogs” signs all over.
We have all the fascists and marxists of the globe egging on our elitists to join them in oppression. First the Chi-coms and now the Aussies.
Americans are really a frustrating people for them to overcome for their vision of a standardized, police state globalism.
Sick freaks.
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