This article is very interesting indeed.
Should I ask you to consider the ratio of pairs of shoes per person? Number of fishing rod/reels per person, maybe motorcars or motorcycles and bicycles. Has there been an increase in these in the last 20 years or so?
The increase of firearms and you may have seen the SMH article showing large increases in affluent areas seems to be of concern to you, yet perhaps there is a growing appreciation for fine pieces of art in terms of Shotguns for those who do clay target sports? The exchange rate has been favourable in recent years and these fine pieces of machinery and art have become far more affordable.
It might horrify you to know in my house alone we have had a 600% increase in registered firearms this year. And with my wife taking up clay target shooting this number is sure to grow by at least 3 or 4 more. Not to mention a pistol or two later this year.
So the question has to be asked, what on earth do two professionals, (engineers and in engineering for a leading global company and I own and run a successful engineering firm) would want with so many guns living in a major capital city? More the point does my escalation in firearm ownership have anything to do with crime?
Would it surprise you to know that I could have another 100,00 guns and the crime risk would rise dramatically from ZERO to exactly ZERO. Mind you if you were over for a BBQ and we were attacked by a gang of anti greens bikers we might have a chance of defending ourselves might we not? After we unlocked safes etc. I am sure you would talk them out of harming you before I could unlock them anyway.
So back to being serious for a minute, I and about 1 million others, and possibly several million more who are not firearm owners take offence that you can try to link good honest people with a fear of crime escalation just on the basis of the increase in known registered firearms to licensed owners. It really is offensive. If you made similar public statements of equally offensive natures about gay/lesbian people or those of dark skin, there would be hell to pay. I find this equally as offensive.
What you really need to focus on is CRIME and CRIMINALS, do not fear the law abiding firearm owners. They are no more threat to you and anyone else as my wife and I are. What you should be scared of is the fact that Customs can't seem to prevent criminals importing firearms that are not able to be readily purchased, you should be focussing on the drug dealers and users and the ICE epidemic. There is nothing scarier than an ICE addict going crazy with a kitchen knife or cricket bat, or a length of chain……..perhaps these need banning instead. Because they are far more readily available weapons for those criminal sorts to have on hand.
And just so you can have an insight into why you have more than one, it is like kitchen utensils, fishing gear, screwdrivers in your tool box……they all have a slightly different purpose and application. A .22LR rifle is for training and paper targets, a .223 is more suited to foxes/kangaroo/ feral dogs, .308 for pigs, larger sizes for buffalo or other large game/pests. Using a .22 on a feral pig just makes them mad, and they may well chase you down and kill you.
I strongly urge you to contact me, come and get some education, from someone who knows the facts, has the data and whats more can give you hands on experience so you will learn you have nothing to fear from the good guys.
By the way, while this is an American association, the NRA have a great set of video's, please take the time to watch, and you will get a better image of what gun owners are really like. Some great men, women, children…..family.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... SBMfe08u-KAll the best,
Regards
David Brown
Mr. Shoebridge should come to one of my Barbecues.
