Rod, at 20:26 on May 28 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

BL> I am sorry you feel so insecure.

BG> So would you, if your neighbour had been murdered by someone
BG> who's still at large, and if you had complete fuckwits driving
BG> around firing high-powered rifles half the night.

RS> That sort of thing has been going on for a long time.

BG> Sure, but 11 years ago, not around here.  Things have changed since then.

RS> I find that hard to believe, particularly with murder.

I meant the "dry-run" drive-bys, actually.  That happens almost
every night now, but there have been very few actual murders in the area. 
A hell of a lot of GBH-type assaults and robberies by juveniles and
teenagers though.

RS> Austs murder rate has been static for 50 years now.

I thought so too, but Bob's Yearbook figures show an increasing per capita
murder rate after all.  Something like >100% in just 30-odd years.

RS> And you said to Bob, 'so would you' when he was at one time living in 
RS> another area notorious for that sort of stuff. Long ago.

And I also pointed out that the difference is the lack of selectivity being
shown by today's thugs.  They don't care if they attack old ladies etc.

BG> Logan is the juvenile crime capital of Australia.

RS> Depends on what you call crime tho. Its not true of say murder.

Never said, nor even suggested that it was.  It's ALL crime by juveniles,
whether against property or persons.

BG> Criminal offences perpetrated by juveniles.  It's well documented.

RS> Which is mostly relatively trivial stuff. Not murder, that
RS> we happened to actually be discussing you need a gun for etc.

No, the discussion had moved to needing a gun to protect against ANY
intruder, regardless of his or her intentions.  If they hadn't planned on
killing you, that's their problem.  If they're in MY house, I'm not about
to ask first.

RS> Thats not true actually, the murder rate has been STATIC for
RS> well over fifty years, in fact if anything its dropped a little.

That's not what Bob's figures suggest at all.

BG> I know that,

(Well, I thought that was true)  :)

RS> So your going on about guns and murder close to you has a problem.

Not at all.  They are ALL examples of the need to FEEL safe, and if it
takes a dusty old gun in the wardrobe to accomplish that peace of mind, so
be it.

BG> and I'm not actually talking about murder at all (the fellow who
BG> killed his entire family just up the road, that was a one-off).

RS> Fraid you were Bill, we were discussing those who felt the
RS> need to have a gun in their house for that sort of thing.

Nope, you're attempting to put words into my mouth.  I've already publicly
stated that I would resist any attempt at physical violence upon any member
of my family with deadly force, and worry about the consequences later.

BG> Within the last 6 months at our small local shopping centre,
BG> Lyn has been physically attacked by a couple of coons (armed
BG> with fucking broomsticks of all things) and has also returned
BG> to her car to find somebody attempting to break into it.

RS> Sure, but we were discussing guns in homes.

And I was giving yet another example of what it's like around here.

RS> Presumably she doesnt actually take the gun to work etc.

No, although since all her car's wheel trims have been stolen twice now, I
have actually suggested it once or twice.  :)

BG> And the local NAB has been robbed (armed, of course) twice this year,

RS> Armed robbery isnt something particularly new either.

Sure, but it's still pretty nasty when it happens in front of you.

BG> whilst the local servo owner has been held up and
BG> robbed SIX fucking times in the last 12 months.
BG> Always juveniles too. Fucking little scumbags.  :(

RS> Sure, but thats nothing new either.

That's still no excuse to put up with it.

BG> Just saw a news report about some local coppers
BG> having their back window shot out while patrolling
BG> around here yesterday (broad daylight too).

RS> Good trick, bet that livened their day up just a tad |-)

They sure looked pretty pissed-off about it on the Channel 7 news too.  :)

BG> How about swapping houses for 12 months,
BG> then we'll see what you have to say.  :)

RS> We were discussing having a gun in the house tho, that
RS> list of yours wouldnt matter a damn if you did or not.

Do I need your permission before I digress now?

BG> Next time you're up this way, visit the Waterford Hotel, where two
BG> people have been beaten to death during pub brawls in the last 6 months.

RS> The rate used to be a lot higher than that.

YOUR rate perhaps.  Not ours though.  Frankly, I don't really give a toss
what you lot do to each other 1000km away, but I DO worry about my own
suburb.

BG> As with the murdered woman 2 doors down the
BG> road, one of the perps is also still at large.

RS> And not getting caught isnt anything new either.

No, but it's uncommon.  Murder has one of the highest clear-up rates of all
crimes, well over 95% from memory (and yes, we both know why that is).

RS> The absolute vast bulk of murders are still and always have been,
RS> the corpse knowing the perp well, often family or close to that.

True.

RS> You are are more risk of Lyn shooting you than one of the hoons.

Nope, absolutely not (although with some marriages, you're right).

BG> As far as I'm concerned, it is my basic human right
BG> to be able to protect myself and my family from
BG> predators, and if I need a gun for that, so be it.

RS> Yeah, I think we should have the system seen in some US states where
RS> no burglar has any rights at all inside your house, whether thats
RS> breaking a leg tripping over something or ending up with bullet holes.

BG> Couldn't agree more.  If theyre uninvited, they should have
BG> NO rights. And that includes fucking Mormons and JWs too, IMO.

RS> And pollys, and the council and the dog inspectors too |-)

Yeah, good point.  And fucking meter readers too, now that you mention it.

BG> BTW, I saw a copper actually booking a couple
BG> of Mormons for not wearing helmets whilst riding
BG> their bikes a few months ago.  Made my day, it did.  :)

RS> Oh charming, you'll burn |-)

Quite likely, but it will be in MY hell, not theirs.  :)

RS> If the burglars dont like the risk, they are welcome to not burgle.

BG> Precisely.  As several of my copper mates have already said,
BG> shoot first, then put a kitchen knife in their hand before
BG> calling for help. They also suggested that it would help to
BG> make sure that he was dead first. Charming.  :)

RS> He obviously came from the Victoria Police |-)

Post-Fitzgerald Qld Police, actually.  Are you surprised?  :)

RS> the last election, but you would think that UberLeutnant Cooper might
RS> have had more balls. Specially with Liz Cunningham having the balls.

BG> Herrs Cooper and Borbidge have their own little problems
BG> right now (CJC, the Police Union, etc., as I'm sure you heard).

RS> Yeah, rather amusing watching Rob dump on Russ |-)

It's certainly been an education.  Presumably you realise that parliament
is being televised live this year, for the first time?  Sure beats Donohue.
 :)

RS> That might not actually have been a triffic idea wot wiv the gun law stuff.

BG> Might even end up with another trip to the polls over this,

RS> I doubt it.

Wishful thinking on my part.  One can but hope...

RS> Borbidge clearly is just a total fuckwit, no policy, dog shit between the 
RS> ears.

BG> You may well laugh, Rod.  You don't have to put up with the fuckwit. :(

RS> More fun to watch that young Wayne tho.

True, but it's all the collateral damage that I'm worried about.

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- MsgedSQ/2 3.30