Hi Bill,

BG> Just because Tasmania happened to have say twice its annual
BG> average of gun deaths in just one day, IMO that's no excuse
BG> for the positively draconian knee-jerk reaction seen in
BG> Canberra.

Personally, I don't see why Tasmania should be referred to at all.
I would much prefer to see it done without any reference to Tasmania
as I don't feel that it is required.

BG> But I won't pursue the point, because I know you agree with them.

Although I might not necessarily agree with the reason.

BG> Pity that 3 or 4 million others don't though.

Bloody Hell. There can't be that many lunatics in Australia. Don't we
only have a population of about 18 Million ? If we've got 3-5M gun
owners, and 3-4M poofs, that's nearly half the population before you
start.

BG>BV> Personally, I'm surprised that the media haven't kicked up a
BG>BV> stink and tried to wind everyone up over it. It was probably some
BG>BV> bloody idiot in the media that proposed the buy-back scheme in the
BG>BV> first place. It's obvious that the country is being run by the media.
BG>And why not?  Rupert, Frank, and Conrad have been trying for ages now.
BG>BV> All you've got to do is not pay any attention to the media for a few
BG>BV> days or weeks. Ignore it. Then when you've totally lost track of
BG>BV> what is happening in the world, listen, read, and watch. You'll soon
BG>BV> see who is running the country and it's not the government.
BG> Pardon my ignorance, but I thought that under a democracy, the people
BG> ran the country, with their elected members representing their wishes
BG> in Canberra.

Sure Bill, and the media is just an echo of our own thoughts and feelings.

BV> It is unquestionable that the majority of people in Australia would be
BV> very happ to see a total ban on *all* firearms and I think that John
BV> is right with what he is doing.
BG> Sure, majority rules and all that, but whether or not you personally
BG> dislike guns, just remember that once the law is passed, it will
BG> likely never be repealed, regardless of the govt in power, so when
BG> some armed crim breaks into your house, rapes your wife and murders
BG> your kids, you can spend the rest of your life considering how
BG> different things might have been if you'd kept a rifle in
BG> your wardrobe.  Paranoia?  Perhaps, but hundreds of Australians each
BG> year would disagree with you.

What ? Only hundreds ? A few lines ago it was 3-4 Million ???

Oh, come on Bill. Don't treat me like a moron. There are about 1,000
replies to the standard "rape and pillage" drivel above, but unlike
yourself, I won't treat you like an imbicile.

BV> I wouldn't even be surprised if he was hoping that they try to block
BV> it in the Senate. Could you imagine it if they did. He'd shut up both
BV> houses of parliament and would be voted back in with such a large
BV> majority in both houses that he could do anything. Including a GST.
BG> I agree that he'd likely be returned, but I'm not convinced that it
BG> would be with an even bigger majority.  3-4m honest gun-owners would
BG> see to that.

Whoops. We're back to the 3-4 Mil figure. They're fast breeders.

BV> What I *am* concerned about is the precedence that it now sets.
BG> Like the 3x3 petrol tax, you mean?  9 years and counting...
BV> No. More like, "Oh, no probs. We'll just raise the Medicare levy",
BV> whenever they need to slip in another tax that isn't a tax.
BG> Agreed, and I don't think it'll be the last time either.

Sadly, neither do I.

Regards, Brenton
@EOT:

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