duncan61 wrote:On the fishing side of the party we have the best managed fishery here in the west.Crays within snorkel distance of the beach in the metro area and good fishing beach and boat.I will maintain my stance that semi autos are not essential to hunting and these bolt locking repeaters have got around the rules regarding semi autos in hunting calibres like 308 and bigger.In the wrong hands it is not in the interest of public safety.I was a bren gunner in the Army and no civilian needs that amount of firepower.Semi auto shotguns are something that should be allowed for hunting purposes but not centrefire rifles
Duncan you are entitled to your opinion, and I respect your right to have one, however I have to say I disagree on the semi autos are not essential comment, need or essential should not be a factor in the debate, this is what the authorities and the many who would try to restrict us, try to use as a relevant argument, which it is not.
Statistics clearly show that once a person has been issued with a shooters license, due to the fact that they have been checked and deemed fit and proper, that it matters not what type firearm, how many, or what the appearance of the firearms are, these same statistics show that licensed shooters are not a credible threat.
Look at it this way, if I have a bolt action rifle, then I go out and buy a semi auto, the only thing that changes, is the type of inanimate object I happen to possess, my attitude towards, and likelihood of, committing a crime has not changed, I am still the same person, the old chestnut that we may snap doesn't was either, as shown by statistics.
And for the record, I have fired a bren as well, on the army range at Singleton during the 70's, cadets, I learnt to strip and reassemble one as well.
