I think most Australian gun owners and most on this forum would agree with you about the Howard government. I could see taking this tone if you were arguing with an Aussie who was against ownership. I have been in such arguments. One, in particular, was really annoying because it wasn't enough that Australian gun laws are what they are, but she said that we should do the same in the USA. I took exception to that because it really is none of her business. Australians are free to comment on our gun laws, but her self righteous attitude was a lot to take. She didn't even do her homework and was very misinformed. Yours borders on that for Australians, and doesn't do much for Australian-American relations. Even though we aren't in government and just a few out of millions people shouldn't be causing friction. Especially just for a cheap thrill, which is really what you are doing here. I mean, c'mon. No constitution in Australia. They have a constitution.
I think it was a fundamental injustice what Howard did to all those law abiding gun owners in Australia. I think it is disturbing that I saw an interview with an Australian farmer who said he was angry about his guns being confiscated at first, but then he realized that it was for the good of society and Australia. This from a man who had never harmed anyone. Still, we've too many Americans (even gun owners) that are far too willing to think that gun controllers in the USA are well meaning but misguided.
We've our own problems in the USA. One is that we are now 17th on the economic freedom index (Heritage Foundation data) while Australia is 5th. This is a result of Bush and Obama. Even the UK ranks higher on this list at 12th. They've come a long way since the 1970s. So keep from throwing stones. Those in glass houses.
I think the right to keep and bear arms is an important right, but the key to all rights comes in property rights and economic freedom. Economic freedom is more important than every other right recognized in our Bill of Rights. Without economic freedom all the rest are merely symbolic.
LurchUSA wrote:Just watch this:
http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/shoottokill-police-get-new-powers-to-combat-cowardly-evil-acts/news-story/7b5c3a48c0705b4222e82a0072c068a6Remember little Johnny Coward's "gun buy-back" in 1996?
So now you have a largely dis-armed population, who are now being policed by law enforcement who just got new ‘shoot-to-kill’ powers against terrorists to combat ‘cowardly, evil acts’.
It's not hard to see these new powers being extended to pretty much any form of tyrannical control, by the government! Where by simple things like speaking out against politicians or protesting is conventionally classified as a "cowardly, evil act."
THIS is why we have the 2nd amendment in the USA!Australia has NO constitution, so you all are at the mercy of the future tyrants... er, I mean... government.