NationStates Jolt Archive

Click the link, look at the picture, read the article. I can't beleive that this counts as a "massive weapons cache". Seems more like a massive toy cache to me.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/massive-weapons-cache-seized-in-raids/2005/09/30/1127804631963.html

Every knife on display looks like cheap showy junk made for display rather than actual use, and they consider slingshots and blowguns to be dangerous weapons? I guess I was armed and dangerous as a little kid.

I don't own more than a few knives, as I see them more as tools than weapons. I own a short sword. Don't have any blowguns or slingshots - they're useless as actual weapons.

I do own roughly 20 firearms, mostly rifles. Of these, three are .22 rifles, which I do not regard as serious weapons. The rest are centerfire rifles, mostly bolt action sniper rifles.

I do also have tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, stored in accordance with fire code, building code, and ATF regulations (less that 10,000 rounds per caliber).

So I have an amazing "arsenal" by comparison. Of course, I go through about 20,000 to 30,000 rounds per year in personal training, so I suppose I use it all up over time.

Click the link, look at the picture, read the article. I can't beleive that this counts as a "massive weapons cache". Seems more like a massive toy cache to me.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/massive-weapons-cache-seized-in-raids/2005/09/30/1127804631963.html

Every knife on display looks like cheap showy junk made for display rather than actual use, and they consider slingshots and blowguns to be dangerous weapons? I guess I was armed and dangerous as a little kid.

Yeah, it's a good thing I didn't spend my childhood years in Australia. They'd probably would have shot me for terrorist activities ;)

Yeah, it's not exactly the kind of stuff you'd try to lead a revolution with, that's for certain. Or even hold up a gas station with.

It looks like a boatload of cheap crap out of china. Stuff that would sell in shops near broadway in NYC.

I'm surprised they call it a "weapons cache"-I mean, the stuff IS illegal, but I expected to see automatic weapons, silencers, crates of ammo, etc...

not shitty cast knives and 80 some odd slingshots.

Yeah, it's not exactly the kind of stuff you'd try to lead a revolution with, that's for certain. Or even hold up a gas station with.

I tell you what, if someone shot me with a blowgun, and I found out about it, I would beat them senseless.

Click the link, look at the picture, read the article. I can't beleive that this counts as a "massive weapons cache". Seems more like a massive toy cache to me.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/massive-weapons-cache-seized-in-raids/2005/09/30/1127804631963.html

Every knife on display looks like cheap showy junk made for display rather than actual use, and they consider slingshots and blowguns to be dangerous weapons? I guess I was armed and dangerous as a little kid.
Sheesh! Those aren't "weapons!" Now THIS is a weapon:

http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/3237/hk41615dt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The HK416 Enhanced Carbine

I don't own more than a few knives, as I see them more as tools than weapons. I own a short sword. Don't have any blowguns or slingshots - they're useless as actual weapons.



Ever try a blowgun? They are fun. I still have a wrist rocket sling shot-its fun for knocking cans down from time to time. I'm pretty sure they are now banned in NY and NJ, so I may be violating my state laws.

I wonder when the authorities will just admit that they accidentally stumbled onto the prop storage space for Sydney Opera's new production of "West Side Story"?

By the way, all of these weapons were LEGAL under the so-called "assault weapons ban". And are legal in Canada. A friend from Canada has these:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mg34/ars.jpg

I wonder when the authorities will just admit that they accidentally stumbled onto the prop storage space for Sydney Opera's new production of "West Side Story"?


*L* Thats great! :D

Oh, I was worried they found me for a second there.

*jumps in T-55*

Vroom vroom! *begins making machinegun noises*

Sheesh! Those aren't "weapons!" Now THIS is a weapon:

http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/3237/hk41615dt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The HK416 Enhanced Carbine

Hahaha, "thats not a knife, this is a knife!"

Customs said its officers raided the premises in the past two days at Hurstville and Riverwood, seizing 449 knives and daggers, 267 replica firearms and 171 electric shock devices, including stun guns.

The cache also included 86 slingshots, 88 bags of slingshot ball-bearings, 75 sword sticks and 10 blowdarts.

"This is a massive amount of weaponry which no longer presents a threat to the Australian community," Customs NSW director David Collins said in a statement.

Let me just say this: :rolleyes:

Let me just say this: :rolleyes:

Wait'll they find your tomahawks and spears

We need an emoticon where one smiley licks the other with an impossibly huge tongue

Let me just say this: :rolleyes:

To be fair on the police here, they're running out of things to do. Illegal immigrants are to scared to come here lest they be thrown in prison, pretty much nobody has guns, and they're too worried to touch drug smugglers, because it only causes an embarrassment when corrupt cops get involved.

Hahaha, "thats not a knife, this is a knife!"
"Good boys. They're just a bit ________." [ fill in the blank ] :D

I do own roughly 20 firearms, mostly rifles. Of these, three are .22 rifles, which I do not regard as serious weapons. The rest are centerfire rifles, mostly bolt action sniper rifles.

I do also have tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, stored in accordance with fire code, building code, and ATF regulations (less that 10,000 rounds per caliber).


And yet, imagine how it would look if they ever decided to 'raid' your home..."MASSIVE WEAPONS CACHE FOUND...HIGH POWERED RIFLES AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION!!!!"

My dad jokes unjokingly that one day he'll be busted and be made to look like a terrorist...he has old defunct army surplus grenades and rockets (for show...they are actually empty) and we can just imagine how the media would spin THAT.

But hey, this is the land where natives are arrested for transporting rifles (http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/AOL/canada/national/2005/06/29/rifles050629.html) to their band for a hunting program for youth...under anti-terrorism laws.

Wait'll they find your tomahawks and spears

We need an emoticon where one smiley licks the other with an impossibly huge tongue
Well I have a cousin who joined the West-Coast Warriors (http://auto_sol.tao.ca/node/view/1475) and since all us Injuns are the same, no doubt I'm considered 'linked to terrorism' too. Cripes...they can label ANYONE terrorist these days.

Well I have a cousin who joined the West-Coast Warriors (http://auto_sol.tao.ca/node/view/1475) and since all us Injuns are the same, no doubt I'm considered 'linked to terrorism' too. Cripes...they can label ANYONE terrorist these days.

If the moccasin fits....


You're telling an Italian from a hard core Italian family from Brooklyn,NY. People have considered me to be a gangster from a gangster family since the day I was born.

Click the link, look at the picture, read the article. I can't beleive that this counts as a "massive weapons cache". Seems more like a massive toy cache to me.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/massive-weapons-cache-seized-in-raids/2005/09/30/1127804631963.html

Every knife on display looks like cheap showy junk made for display rather than actual use, and they consider slingshots and blowguns to be dangerous weapons? I guess I was armed and dangerous as a little kid.
The end result of blaming the Thing for the actions of madmen & criminals.

CanuckHeaven, Fass & FourX must be loving this :rolleyes:

The end result of blaming the Thing for the actions of madmen & criminals.

CanuckHeaven, Fass & FourX must be loving this :rolleyes:

Well, I know I certainly am.

I've never had a gun pulled on me. I've never seen someone with a gun in public. I don't know anyone who has been injured or killed by a gun. The only guns I have actually seen were at my Uncle's farmhouse - a single shotgun - and he had a couple of deactivated rifles.

I can sleep at night without having to keep a gun under my pillow. I can walk the streets in complete confidence. I can catch the train at night without having to worry about carrying one.

I'm quite happy, thanks. :)

Well I have a cousin who joined the West-Coast Warriors (http://auto_sol.tao.ca/node/view/1475) and since all us Injuns are the same, no doubt I'm considered 'linked to terrorism' too. Cripes...they can label ANYONE terrorist these days.
All 'Injuns" are like YOU??? OMG! Where do I join a tribe??? :D

Well, I know I certainly am.

I've never had a gun pulled on me. I've never seen someone with a gun in public. I don't know anyone who has been injured or killed by a gun. The only guns I have actually seen were at my Uncle's farmhouse - a single shotgun - and he had a couple of deactivated rifles.

I can sleep at night without having to keep a gun under my pillow. I can walk the streets in complete confidence. I can catch the train at night without having to worry about carrying one.

I'm quite happy, thanks. :)
But none of those things are even remotely "weapons". Hell, I would rather use one of my Henckle kitchen knives.

What sort of absurdisim gets replicas classified with "weapons" anyway... oh yeah, the one that says you can get arrested for carrying hairspray in your purse if you let slip that you intend to spray a rapist in the face with it. :rolleyes:

But none of those things are even remotely "weapons". Hell, I would rather use one of my Henckle kitchen knives.

What sort of absurdisim gets replicas classified with "weapons" anyway... oh yeah, the one that says you can get arrested for carrying hairspray in your purse if you let slip that you intend to spray a rapist in the face with it. :rolleyes:
Once I was arguing with a Bordentown, NJ cop about whether or not the buck knife in my pocket was a weapon. He showed me a paragraph in a book containing NJ's laws that basically could be interpreted as saying anything that a police officer thinks you may use to harm someone can get you charged with a weapons offense.

Another time I had a cop try to bring a concealed weapons charge against me for a knife with a blade that was only about one and a half inches long. The court downgraded the weapons charge to harrasment.

But none of those things are even remotely "weapons". Hell, I would rather use one of my Henckle kitchen knives.

What sort of absurdisim gets replicas classified with "weapons" anyway... oh yeah, the one that says you can get arrested for carrying hairspray in your purse if you let slip that you intend to spray a rapist in the face with it. :rolleyes:

Of course. But as I said before, there is nothing else left for them to do. We already have gun control, and it's working. So the cops in charge of gun control get bored and bust something like this, and the media as always sensationalises whatever it can to get a story. It's no big deal, really.

Of course. But as I said before, there is nothing else left for them to do. We already have gun control, and it's working. So the cops in charge of gun control get bored and bust something like this, and the media as always sensationalises whatever it can to get a story. It's no big deal, really.
If government absurdisim wasn't a big deal, no one here would be discussing our entry into Iraq. :rolleyes:

If government absurdisim wasn't a big deal, no one here would be discussing our entry into Iraq. :rolleyes:

Oh please. There's a huge difference.

A bunch of toys get confiscated;

compared to the US invasion of Iraq.

Any guesses over which i'm more likely to lose sleep over?

Oh please. There's a huge difference.

A bunch of toys get confiscated;And someone is likely to be imprisoned and fined a huge sum...

compared to the US invasion of Iraq.

Any guesses over which i'm more likely to lose sleep over?
I lose sleep over any government absurdity because as soon as you start giving it a pass, they will sneak up and do somthing absurd that directly impacts my life.

When a government is allowed the power to be absurd without recrimination, then the population is in real trouble.

Of course. But as I said before, there is nothing else left for them to do. We already have gun control, and it's working. So the cops in charge of gun control get bored and bust something like this, and the media as always sensationalises whatever it can to get a story. It's no big deal, really.
So $275,000 in fines, ten years of your life, and a criminal record (well, I suppose that Australia uses criminal records, I don't know) for owning toys is no big deal? So ever so much money to catch people who are carrying (essentially) souveniers is "no big deal"? Were the Russian gulags "no big deal"? (No, I'm not saying that the gulags were the same, but both are people being abused by the government for doing nothing)
You must also be in favor of U.S. prisons such as Guatanamo, after all, what is a few people being deprived over their rights if a few paranoid individuals who live in constant fear of their next door neighbors potential air rifles can rest a little easier?
I mean, that whole "freedom" thing was so last century and seriously overrated anyway, so violating is just par for the course in any civilized country.

And someone is likely to be imprisoned and fined a huge sum...

Meh.


I lose sleep over any government absurdity because as soon as you start giving it a pass, they will sneak up and do somthing absurd that directly impacts my life.

When a government is allowed the power to be absurd without recrimination, then the population is in real trouble.

All i'm saying is that there are far bigger issues going on right now - all sorts of reforms the government is trying to push through, and attempting to destroy our student unions. This is quite frankly not at all important in the scheme of things.

Electric shock devices? So tasers and stunners are part of an arsenal?

Makes no damn sense. A Taser, you shoot once and then have to take a bit to replace the sprung probes and the gas cartridge; a stunner, you have to actually hit someone with. A stick is a more serious weapon than a stunner.

As for guns, I guess it depends where you go. In some places, you walk down the street and there are guards (whether national, local or privately maintained) with submachine guns. It's a little depressing.

Interestingly enough: I heard recently that there was a move to ban hollow- and frangible-point ammunition from private use. The police, around here, have 10mm hollow- or frangible-point rounds loaded in their sidearms. What's going on here?

And why would you try to ban a form of ammunition that's probably a damn sight safer for self-defence inside the home than ball ammunition?

Oh please. There's a huge difference.

A bunch of toys get confiscated;

compared to the US invasion of Iraq.

Any guesses over which i'm more likely to lose sleep over?
You forgot Poland! :eek:

So $275,000 in fines, ten years of your life, and a criminal record (well, I suppose that Australia uses criminal records, I don't know) for owning toys is no big deal? So ever so much money to catch people who are carrying (essentially) souveniers is "no big deal"? Were the Russian gulags "no big deal"? (No, I'm not saying that the gulags were the same, but both are people being abused by the government for doing nothing)
You must also be in favor of U.S. prisons such as Guatanamo, after all, what is a few people being deprived over their rights if a few paranoid individuals who live in constant fear of their next door neighbors potential air rifles can rest a little easier?
I mean, that whole "freedom" thing was so last century and seriously overrated anyway, so violating is just par for the course in any civilized country.

Wow.

Congratulations, i've never seen someone simultaneously blow things out of your arsehole AND out of context AND proportion like you just did.

That's quite an achievement. Congratulations. :)

As I said; there are far bigger attacks on my freedom than this to worry about at the moment.

"267 replica firearms"

Working replicas? Or just coffee table displays?

Wow.
Thats what your mom said last night, how did you guess?
Congratulations, i've never seen someone simultaneously blow things out of your arsehole AND out of context AND proportion like you just did.
I was just agreeing with you. I mean, gays and slingshot owners all eat from the same trough in the end, and the sooner we swat 'em down the better. It isn't so bad, and I felt alot safer with sodomy outlawed because that reduced my fears of gay rape by, like, 10,579,005%. Sure some people who weren't hurting anyone went to jail, but you just know that gay rapists were being held in check by them.
As I said; there are far bigger attacks on my freedom than this to worry about at the moment.
Once again, I agree. I mean, it is just like gay marriage. I've got more pressing concerns right now, and so homos can just wait until I, and every other heterosexual, are living in a magical wonderland of butterflies and rainbows.

Why are there torches there?or are they replica lightsabers(soooo dangerous[/SARC])

Why are there torches there?or are they replica lightsabers(soooo dangerous[/SARC])
They were afraid that someone might shine the light in someone else's eyes for an extended period of time.
Or maybe they could hit someone with them and give them a boo-boo.
Of course, a kid could have gotten ahold of the light and waved it in the air making "whoosh" noises, or (worse yet) shined it below their face to make themselves look scary! Then someone might have gotten scared and wet themselves while standing near some exposed wires and become electrocuted.
Don't laugh, I bet its happened at least once!
Remember, flashlights, like the interweb, are serious business.

Why are there torches there?or are they replica lightsabers(soooo dangerous[/SARC])
I believe those are the viscious electric stunners they mentioned. :rolleyes:

*** Newsflash ***

Podiatrists in Australia are thanking the gods for their good fortune! There has been a massive upsurge in firearms related foot injuries - invariably caused by the improper handling of antique replica pistols.
---
Hint: This kind of weapon has no "safe" switch. You must leave one of the chambers empty...

"267 replica firearms"

Working replicas? Or just coffee table displays?
Well, since it appears that most of that stuff came from a Chinese sweatshop, they are probably the cheap pot-metal display pieces you can buy along with your cheap sword at any Chopstick & Martial Arts Supply Store in Chinatown...

Thats what your mom said last night, how did you guess?

Totally unneccesary and uncalled for.

I was just agreeing with you. I mean, gays and slingshot owners all eat from the same trough in the end, and the sooner we swat 'em down the better. It isn't so bad, and I felt alot safer with sodomy outlawed because that reduced my fears of gay rape by, like, 10,579,005%. Sure some people who weren't hurting anyone went to jail, but you just know that gay rapists were being held in check by them.

Once again, I agree. I mean, it is just like gay marriage. I've got more pressing concerns right now, and so homos can just wait until I, and every other heterosexual, are living in a magical wonderland of butterflies and rainbows.

Huh? What? When did I say anything against gay people?

I maintain that there are far greater issues to deal with than a bunch of toys being confiscated. Attacks on trade and student unions, attacks on workers rights, anti-"terror" laws, the conservative party gaining complete control over the senate, the near complete collapse of any meaningful political opposition, moves to restrict and outlaw abortion, moves to import the world's nuclear waste over here, mandatory and indefinite incarceration of illegal immigrants...among other things...

But all I should be worrying about is a bunch of toys being confiscated. Right.

Of course. But as I said before, there is nothing else left for them to do. We already have gun control, and it's working. So the cops in charge of gun control get bored and bust something like this, and the media as always sensationalises whatever it can to get a story. It's no big deal, really.

Gun control is working? That's the first I'd heard about it! As far as I knew, gun control was ensuring that those with enough moral fibre to obey the anti-gun legislation were unarmed and ripe for the picking by criminals with no such predilections against breaking gun laws. (I mean, they're criminals kinda by definition, aren't they?)

Cheers!
:gundge: (hehehe)

Gun control is working? That's the first I'd heard about it! As far as I knew, gun control was ensuring that those with enough moral fibre to obey the anti-gun legislation were unarmed and ripe for the picking by criminals with no such predilections against breaking gun laws. (I mean, they're criminals kinda by definition, aren't they?)

Cheers!
:gundge: (hehehe)

As I said, I have never seen a gun in public. I can walk the streets with complete confidence. It is working.

Yet another example of what happens when there is no common sense.

Some collector with horrible taste accumulates a bunch of cheapo knives and gadgets and he's labeled a threat to the civilized world.

Well, since it appears that most of that stuff came from a Chinese sweatshop, they are probably the cheap pot-metal display pieces you can buy along with your cheap sword at any Chopstick & Martial Arts Supply Store in Chinatown...
Possibly. If so then this, most of all, has earned the story writer a good thumping. Replicas? You mean displays items? Or toys?

I'd like to see this clarified. You are; however, very likely correct.

As I said, I have never seen a gun in public. I can walk the streets with complete confidence. It is working.

That's nice, you have found a place to live that apparently suits you.

Many people don't find themselves in that situation, and not everyone can (or wishes to) move to your location. Nor can they wave a magic wand and change the violent society in which they live, or make coyotes, bear, and feral dogs disappear. Your enjoyment of your location is nice, but changes not our circumstances.

Many of us in the US wish to protect ourselves from violent people or wild animals; we enjoy hunting, shooting, and collecting firearms, and we have the right to gun ownership. We legal gun owners commit no violent crimes with our guns. The thought that those who would disarm us might also restrict the ownership of cheap knives, replicas, or electronic self-defense gadgets is appaling.

I am inclined too agree it is not what i expected,buuutttt if you were stabbed with one of those knifes you would not say they were worthless pieces of sh*t. Contrary too popular belief some types of slingshots are high powered and designed too cause pain. I still have the mark where one hit me from over 20 metres awy. I am not a saddo who cannot have a bit of fun I have lots of knifes, but crossbows and stuff will hurt is used stupidely.

That's nice, you have found a place to live that apparently suits you.

Many people don't find themselves in that situation, and not everyone can (or wishes to) move to your location. Nor can they wave a magic wand and change the violent society in which they live, or make coyotes bear, and feral dogs disappear. Your enjoyment of your location is nice, but changes not our circumstances.

Many of us in the US wish to protect ourselves from violent people or wild animals; we enjoy hunting, shooting, and collecting firearms, and we have the right to gun ownership. We legal gun owners commit no violent crimes with our guns. The thought that those who would disarm us might also restrict the ownership of cheap knives, replicas, or electronic self-defense gadgets is appaling.

Which is all very well and good for you. I don't care. If you're happy, fine.

Over here however, the overwhelming majority support gun control. It is one of the few instances where I find myself agreeing with the will of the voting population.

(For the record, it is possible to own guns for hunting under strict licence conditions, and we do have recreational shooting clubs.)

EDIT- And hey, what does this have to do with the US and your circumstances, anyway? This thread is about Australia. :p

If the moccasin fits....


You're telling an Italian from a hard core Italian family from Brooklyn,NY. People have considered me to be a gangster from a gangster family since the day I was born.Yeah but in your case, I'm sure they're right :D

By the way guns are used for protection but any person can say that and then shoot an innocent person. A mental patient is legally allowed too own 5 guns in the US or sumin like that. Guns should be used by the army and not by wacko americans who protest they are just protecting themselves. The amount of chavs in the UK who carry guns is mad. How can you feel safe when people in your country are legally alowed too carry magnums and rifles.

Totally unneccesary and uncalled for.
I know, but, then, I don't think that your response warranted solemn acceptance. If you are flippant on your side, I shall jolly well flip back, savy?
Huh? What? When did I say anything against gay people?
Well, what is the difference between sodomy laws/gay marriage and this mess? People's lives are ruined by the government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong, and all that you have to say is: "Its not the biggest problem facing me so I don't care. Anyway, I feel safer knowing that no one has an air rifle." Well I feel safer with gay people being bothered because there hvae been gay rapists.
I maintain that there are far greater issues to deal with than a bunch of toys being confiscated.
And you would be right if all that was going on was some confiscation. We are talking about potential $100,000s and several years in prison for people whose only crime (you admit) is owning toys.
Attacks on trade and student unions, attacks on workers rights, anti-"terror" laws,
Your quotes around terror suggest that you believe that those are simply a powergrab by manipulative officials that make no one safer and only create the illusion of saftey for the masses. The same could be said about anti-"gun" laws that target toys.
the conservative party gaining complete control over the senate, the near complete collapse of any meaningful political opposition,
A visionary for the future! Legal action levied against innocent citizens is nothing compared to my political party losing ground!
moves to restrict and outlaw abortion, moves to import the world's nuclear waste over here, mandatory and indefinite incarceration of illegal immigrants...among other things...
Doesn't affect me, why should I care? Not being a woman, paranoid about nuclear anything, or an illegal immigrant, I don't think I care. (By the by, and off-topic, what would you have done with illegal aliens if you can't just arrest them).
But all I should be worrying about is a bunch of toys being confiscated. Right.
Once again, this is going past confiscation. There was a raid of several places and now many innocents are in danger of imprisonment and fines over toys. Notice the italics, they should help you see what is being complained about.

By the way guns are used for protection but any person can say that and then shoot an innocent person. A mental patient is legally allowed too own 5 guns in the US or sumin like that. Guns should be used by the army and not by wacko americans who protest they are just protecting themselves. The amount of chavs in the UK who carry guns is mad. How can you feel safe when people in your country are legally alowed too carry magnums and rifles.
No, you're wrong. Mental patients in the USA aren't permitted to own five guns. They're required to own at least 7 and carry at least three at all times. One of the guns must be a rifle capable of shooting through body armor as well.

sorry I made afalse statement about mental defectives being allowed guns that is just what iI heard on the news one night. I probaly got the wrong ides.

damn that was what i heard i just looked it up on google and it said your not alowed them if you are a mental defective

No, you're wrong. Mental patients in the USA aren't permitted to own five guns. They're required to own at least 7 and carry at least three at all times. One of the guns must be a rifle capable of shooting through body armor as well.
Harumph! And here I thought that only applied to Anchora outpatients.

By the way guns are used for protection but any person can say that and then shoot an innocent person. A mental patient is legally allowed too own 5 guns in the US or sumin like that. Guns should be used by the army and not by wacko americans who protest they are just protecting themselves. The amount of chavs in the UK who carry guns is mad. How can you feel safe when people in your country are legally alowed too carry magnums and rifles.

One at a time . . .

By the way guns are used for protection but any person can say that and then shoot an innocent person.
True. Anyone can hit an innocent person with an "assault rock" too, and I can, without filling out any paperwork, legally purchase a kilogram of sodium cyanide or several grams of aflatoxin, both potent weapons in their own right. And with a little time and effort, anyone can manufacture ricin from Castor beans (which have been naturalized throughout the Southern California as erosion control plants by the environmentalists).

Danger should not equal illegality. Personally, I'd rather live in a country where my neighbors had more freedom to accumulate means to kill me, if it meant that the government had less ability to restrict legitimate exercise of freedom. An old colonial flag read, "Live Free of Die." My thoughts exactly.

A mental patient is legally allowed too own 5 guns in the US or sumin like that.
On a completely different note, then, what constitutes mental illness? You know, it's only fairly recently that homosexuality was taken off the list. Would you like anti-gay discrimination in firearms laws? Or what about depression? Should someone have their guns confiscated just because their grandpa died? (And yes, I have known people, including a friend of mine, to be diagnose -- become "mental patients" under the law -- for less depression than that.) Most mental patients are not "crazies", and in fact, most mental patients wouldn't even think there was anything wrong with them if there wasn't a psychology/pharmaceutical-industry backing to the diagnosis of some of these so-called disorders. Court-ordered mental-illness confinement patients (the "real" mental patients) are not permitted to own guns. I'm not aware of any restriction (5 or otherwise) on other, non-confined mental patients.

Guns should be used by the army and not by wacko americans who protest they are just protecting themselves.
And why is Switzerland never going to be attacked? Because every able-bodied man serves two (I think) years in the military, and then is given his fully-automatic rifle and sidearm. The country itself is armed, not simply a piddly little branch of the government. A militia, being necessary for freedom, was thought by the founders of America to protect from threats of domestic as well as foreign nature. Domestic threats are things like Janet Reno's SWAT teams. The army won't help you there.

How can you feel safe when people in your country are legally alowed too carry magnums and rifles.
How can you feel safe when people in your country can't legally carry firearms? I just moved from California (one of the most gun-regulated, and hence, most crime-ravaged states) to Georgia (and the Southern US is known to be much friendlier to defensive and sporting arms). I can tell you I feel much safer knowing that a large percentage (I'll guess at a statistic: somewhere around 25%) of the adult populace is armed. It means that if I get mugged, and there are at least four people within shouting distance, I'm pretty well-off, since oner of them can shoot the mugger.

As a final remark, allow me to refer you to the facts, rather than to my own philosophy (since the facts are how I arrived at this philosophy from a rather vague "Guns are bad" position which I held before): The Kleck and Gertz Studies on Defensive Gun Use (http://www.gunsandcrime.org/dgufreq.html).

Cheers!

Well, what is the difference between sodomy laws/gay marriage and this mess? People's lives are ruined by the government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong, and all that you have to say is: "Its not the biggest problem facing me so I don't care. Anyway, I feel safer knowing that no one has an air rifle." Well I feel safer with gay people being bothered because there hvae been gay rapists.

But it's not a problem facing anyone, really. I don't see how not having a slingshot is going to destroy somebody's life. It pains me to say it, but the people involved should have checked import restrictions.

And you would be right if all that was going on was some confiscation. We are talking about potential $100,000s and several years in prison for people whose only crime (you admit) is owning toys.

See end.

Your quotes around terror suggest that you believe that those are simply a powergrab by manipulative officials that make no one safer and only create the illusion of saftey for the masses. The same could be said about anti-"gun" laws that target toys.

You are correct, but it's all part of the bigger picture. I hardly see this as consequential enough to warrant its own category.

A visionary for the future! Legal action levied against innocent citizens is nothing compared to my political party losing ground!

Ugh. I don't have a political party. I am concerned about a party being able to pass whatever legislation it likes completely unopposed for three years. I think that's perfectly justified.

Doesn't affect me, why should I care? Not being a woman, paranoid about nuclear anything, or an illegal immigrant, I don't think I care. (By the by, and off-topic, what would you have done with illegal aliens if you can't just arrest them).

Yes, OK, whatever. How's this: I don't care that you don't care.

(And we don't just arrest them. We hold them, including children, in prison indefinitely - and when that isn't possible, we deport them to prison on Nauru.)

Once again, this is going past confiscation. There was a raid of several places and now many innocents are in danger of imprisonment and fines over toys. Notice the italics, they should help you see what is being complained about.

I understand what you are complaining about, i'm just frankly more concerned about other things. I don't deny that this is silly. I do however think that uproar over it is pointless at the moment when there are massive issues to be dealt with. It's one issue that is merely a symptom of a bigger problem, and we don't have a hope of fixing anything for three years. The best anyone that disagrees with the current government can do over here at the moment is stand their ground and hope for the best.

Are all those weapons dangerous? It doesn't look like a 'massive' deal to me! It looks like a few on the picture, i can't see them all they could be lying! Well, Hey What are we going to do about it, huh?

Thats what your mom said last night, how did you guess?

I was just agreeing with you. I mean, gays and slingshot owners all eat from the same trough in the end, and the sooner we swat 'em down the better. It isn't so bad, and I felt alot safer with sodomy outlawed because that reduced my fears of gay rape by, like, 10,579,005%. Sure some people who weren't hurting anyone went to jail, but you just know that gay rapists were being held in check by them.

Once again, I agree. I mean, it is just like gay marriage. I've got more pressing concerns right now, and so homos can just wait until I, and every other heterosexual, are living in a magical wonderland of butterflies and rainbows.

You may just be attempting to be sarcastic, and give people a good laugh, but you're going too far with this post. Either you tone it down, or you may get in trouble for trolling. There's a difference between being funny and getting people to laugh and offending someone because of your jokes. Make sure this difference is never crossed again.

I'm guessing Australia doesn't have a Paintball League like the US & Canada have then? :confused:

But it's not a problem facing anyone, really. I don't see how not having a slingshot is going to destroy somebody's life. It pains me to say it, but the people involved should have checked import restrictions.
How specific is the statute? I doubt that a slingshot ban was ever passed legitimately, so it probably makes some general catch all about "posing signifigant danger." Thus, judgement call. A sane person would recognize these as non-dangerous, a dangerous maniac who needs to be incarcerated would support arresting people over them.
You are correct, but it's all part of the bigger picture. I hardly see this as consequential enough to warrant its own category.
Except both are power grabs playing upon public paranoia, so you can't argue against one without arguing against the other.
Yes, OK, whatever. How's this: I don't care that you don't care.
And I don't care that you don't care that I don't care times 1,000! :p
My point is that you are casually dismissing a violation of someone's rights as "no big deal", so then why are your issues a "big deal." Rights are rights, whether women's or gun owners.
(And we don't just arrest them. We hold them, including children, in prison indefinitely - and when that isn't possible, we deport them to prison on Nauru.)
Ahem . . . Once a poster who thought that they were very wise said to me:
"It pains me to say it, but the people involved should have checked import restrictions."
I believe that about covers my response.
I understand what you are complaining about, i'm just frankly more concerned about other things. I don't deny that this is silly.
Fines, imprisonment, raids, confiscation are all just silly? At what point then does an issue become seriousness? Would some beatings bother you? What about some light torture to discover who this "China" is and why he is so bold as to stamp his Highly Deadly Slingshot with a label so boldly decrying his name.
I do however think that uproar over it is pointless at the moment when there are massive issues to be dealt with.
More massive then a fledgling police state? Yes, a silly, minor incidence, but it appears as if the entire government is behind this.
It's one issue that is merely a symptom of a bigger problem,
So? I'd say that is much more pressing than parties or the possibility of restriction on those all important abortions.
and we don't have a hope of fixing anything for three years. The best anyone that disagrees with the current government can do over here at the moment is stand their ground and hope for the best.
Thats right, never back down even when you're wrong!
Shouldn't the pregnant women whose abortions will be restricted have put more thought into sleeping around, or their prefered brand of condom? Shouldn't illegal aliens have considered that maye thy could file some paper work? Shouldn't voters have considered the balance of power before they voted?
So some woman out there in the world has less free time and money for awhile, guess she should have tried harder to avoid getting knocked up.

By the way, all of these weapons were LEGAL under the so-called "assault weapons ban". And are legal in Canada. A friend from Canada has these:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mg34/ars.jpg

*Pops a boner*

;)

You notice it said "replica firearms." That is, firearms that do not fire. Information from the Canada Firearms Centre (yes, I realize that it's a different country, but I think this particular standard is universal) describes a replica as this:
"Looks exactly (or almost exactly) like a firearm, but is not a firearm; and,
Cannot discharge projectiles at all, or discharge only harmless projectiles.

"Devices that discharge projectiles that can cause serious bodily injury, such as the penetration of an eye, are not replicas."

I don't know what Australia's policy is on knives or blowguns (tubes), but I don't think replica guns should be included in this "massive weapons cache." As for the argument that police officers might think they're real guns, I've heard of them shooting little kids for pointing candy bars and such at them.

EDIT: link to Canada Firearms Centre site: http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/info_for-renseignement/factsheets/archive/replicas_e.asp

By the way guns are used for protection but any person can say that and then shoot an innocent person. A mental patient is legally allowed too own 5 guns in the US or sumin like that. Guns should be used by the army and not by wacko americans who protest they are just protecting themselves. The amount of chavs in the UK who carry guns is mad. How can you feel safe when people in your country are legally alowed too carry magnums and rifles.

ummm,
in the u.s.
1.anyone ever..ever hospitalized for ANY mental problem for any time period(depression,suicidal,anything)or anyone deemed mentally unbalanced by the court(not even sent to a hospital but just outpatiant treatment..ie..anger management)cannot purchase or possess any firearm ever.the state police have a sbi file on all cases of being hospitalized for any mental problem,and this is linked directly to the background check.
before they had the system up,you could lie on the application and get your gun,but in a week the staties would be breaking down your door and now you have a guncharge and a felony charge for lying on a law enforcement form.
you would go to jail for quite some time(i think it is 10 years)which is why so few people did lie.

that said,i like the instant check better,they can now refuse the sale and local pd is called so you better run out of the store,because you still fill out the form prior to the check,so now you are in deep trouble for a felony and you dont have the gun..it's a good system.

and as far as getting a carry permit(at least in pa.)
you have to go to the local pd station,get printed,fill out a bunch of forms..then they do a very extensive background check on everything.
again,dont lie or it is a felony and they will find out..and off to jail you go.
for example,you are rejected if you have more then 3 or more dui's in a ten year period,they reject you on the spot for that,or if you answer that you were ever in a institution.

legal gun ownership is not the problem in the u.s.
never has been...

illegal gun owners..ie..crimminals is and always has been...but yea they obey the law anyway..lol

the new system will go along way towards addressing that,and i for 1 always supported the new system.

it is not gun control as far as it doesnt deny firearms to people that are legal and not crimminals,just keeps them from people who previously lied and couldnt legally own a gun anyway.

as far as knives and replica thing goes...it is probably just the local da and cops acting like they are doing something..anything to preserve their jobs and we all the media loves this stuff to hype.

This is when you know you've got a problem with weapons.

http://img283.imageshack.us/my.php?image=caliber13rr.jpg

"Originally Posted by Sierra BTHP
By the way, all of these weapons were LEGAL under the so-called "assault weapons ban". And are legal in Canada. A friend from Canada has these:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/mg34/ars.jpg"


What I find interesting about the assault weapons ban was that it banned the Manufacture not the sale of such weapons. I whole heartedly support the right to bear arms, It's a little of the redneck that comes out from time to time combined with the fact that I carry a gun on a daily basis. As a matter of fact it is a Beretta M9 92FS. Thats my Work gun and my play gun is a Sig Sauer P220 .45(I love this thing)

Another thing about the assault weapons ban is that it banned flashed suppressors, Bayonet lugs(neither of which makes sense), Collapsible/Folding stocks(actually does make some sense) and left any weapon that was semiauto but not "Military Looking" legal. Like a Ruger M-14, essentially an M-14 that fires a .223 Remington at a semi-automatic rate, but since that it does not have a pistol grip, collapsible stock, bayonet lug or flash suppressor it was completely legal even though in performance its is essentially the same as a civilian AR-15.

So i'm glad that dumbass document expired and besides Fully automatic weapons have been banned since 1934. Heh back before that you could do down to sears and buy a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun or Browning Automatic Rifle OFF THE SHELF as long as you had the cash they sold it to you.

[QUOTE=Bertram Stantrous]I don't know what Australia's policy is on knives[QUOTE]

um i think you can buy knives if your 16 or over. i don't think we have a paintball league.

*Pops a boner*

;)

Don't let Fass see that.

Okay, update according to a small article in the Herald Sun, my local newspaper (same ownership as the Sydney Morning Herald in the original post), those guns were working replicas.

EDIT- The website is www.heraldsun.com.au but I can't seem to find it online.


How specific is the statute? I doubt that a slingshot ban was ever passed legitimately, so it probably makes some general catch all about "posing signifigant danger." Thus, judgement call. A sane person would recognize these as non-dangerous, a dangerous maniac who needs to be incarcerated would support arresting people over them.

I've known they've been illegal for years. I recall an incident from way back when I was in primary school.

Except both are power grabs playing upon public paranoia, so you can't argue against one without arguing against the other.

If you say so.

And I don't care that you don't care that I don't care times 1,000! :p
My point is that you are casually dismissing a violation of someone's rights as "no big deal", so then why are your issues a "big deal." Rights are rights, whether women's or gun owners.

But see, women's rights aren't my issue either, i'm male.

I see the issues as an entirely different kettle of fish. Not being able to import slingshots and working weaponry? Won't hurt anyone.

Not being able to have an abortion? Will hurt people.

Ahem . . . Once a poster who thought that they were very wise said to me:
"It pains me to say it, but the people involved should have checked import restrictions."
I believe that about covers my response.

And that explains why almost nobody comes here anymore, eh?

Fines, imprisonment, raids, confiscation are all just silly? At what point then does an issue become seriousness? Would some beatings bother you? What about some light torture to discover who this "China" is and why he is so bold as to stamp his Highly Deadly Slingshot with a label so boldly decrying his name.

:rolleyes:

Yes, that would piss me off a lot more.

More massive then a fledgling police state? Yes, a silly, minor incidence, but it appears as if the entire government is behind this.

And protesting against this won't stop the fledgling police state. Your point?

So? I'd say that is much more pressing than parties or the possibility of restriction on those all important abortions.

That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. But i'd disagree.

Thats right, never back down even when you're wrong!
Shouldn't the pregnant women whose abortions will be restricted have put more thought into sleeping around, or their prefered brand of condom?

---

So some woman out there in the world has less free time and money for awhile, guess she should have tried harder to avoid getting knocked up.

Of course, it's always the womans fault, and it should be their problem only! I forgot that one. Evil sluts that they are.

Shouldn't illegal aliens have considered that maye thy could file some paper work?

I'm sure all of those Iraqi, Iranian and Afghani refugees and asylum seekers would have if they had the chance.

Shouldn't voters have considered the balance of power before they voted?

Yes, they should have.

Kanabia the good news is that we'll most probably get a change of gov. next election (like anyone will re-elect Costello :p ). With labour we'll get Kyoto ratified, get out of Iraq, hopefully keep around our IR and welfare system and finally start cutting links with the gun toting rednecks (no offence usa) across the atlantic.

Our current government may be a relitively successful one (as shown by their re-election), but it doesent represent the average Australian.

If you say so.
I do say so.
But see, women's rights aren't my issue either, i'm male.
Then why do you care? I mean, it doesn't directly bother you, so why bother? I'm sure that you have more pressing problems.
I see the issues as an entirely different kettle of fish. Not being able to import slingshots and working weaponry? Won't hurt anyone.

Not being able to have an abortion? Will hurt people.
Rape victims, yes, they're hurt. But what is the difference between sex for pleasure [if you have an abortion from voluntary sexual contact, then it is, by definition, sex for pleasure (here money/power is used as synonymous with pleasure)] and having sling shots?
Neither one is neccessary for me to stay breathing.
Both can be perverted to something that directly hurts people like assault (slingshot) or rape (sex).
Both are largely pursued as a way to goof off.
And that explains why almost nobody comes here anymore, eh?
This response makes no sense. Both cases illegal importation is happening. In both cases outrageous penalties are being levied.
So either say "meh" to illegals, or display a bit of concern for the poor bastards who may lose a decade of their life.
:rolleyes:

Yes, that would piss me off a lot more.
So then, where is the line? I mean, you have to cross it to know that it is there, so when did I go overboard?
Or maybe Australian prisons are just like an awesome summer camp and the buildings are made of chocolate so people actually like being shoved there for years at a time.
And protesting against this won't stop the fledgling police state. Your point?
:confused:
Eh? So there is nothing that we can do, and you just have to roll over and take it up the ass whenever a government official gets a bee in his bonnet? You complained about anti-terror laws, but now you're saying there is no point in complaining about abuses of government power, so which is it? Are you anti-anti-terror laws because you want to preserve the freedom from wrongful imprisonment, or are you just pro-terror?
Note, I'm not saying you are a terrorist, I really am confused here. You don't want abusive anti-terror powers, but you want (or don't mind) abusive anti-gun powers. This would imply that it isn't the abusive power part of anti-terrorism that you despise.
Of course, it's always the womans fault, and it should be their problem only! I forgot that one. Evil sluts that they are.
Actually, unless she was raped then, yes, it is her fault. If I choose to hop into bed with someone of my own free will (thats that thing that lets you do as you please when the government doesn't place its greasy little nose in your business), then it is my fault if I opted to skip birth control, or if the control failed, and conception comes about.
Now, as an Objectivist, I'd say that you can terminate the fetus within the first 6 or so months, and I have no problem.
However, as a government busybody afraid of air rifles and stun guns, I don't know if I can allow abortions to go through because someone might start getting scared.

Oh, and at last, I would like to say that I don't believe that all gays are rapists or all women are "sluts."
Believe it or not, most people who have consensual gay sex don't rape people, most Gun owners don't actually kill people, and most Popes are actually Catholic:eek:.
Shocking, I know, but that is just the way the world works.

Okay, update according to a small article in the Herald Sun, my local newspaper (same ownership as the Sydney Morning Herald in the original post), those guns were working replicas. {snip}
That's a problem.

They are far, far, far from being military assault rifles & such; but, that completely removes them from the realm of toys.

I'm going to do some research here & see if I can get a definate answer. "Replica" is just too vague a term. Means different things in different contexts & different parts of the world.

I do state it here: the ire raised by seeing some story blown out of proportion, is a proper response. The ire raised by seeing someones life destroyed over a bunch of toys is a proper response.

Working, functional, replicas are not toys however.

Sigh. I've done a wee bit of digging; but, not much to show for it.

Briefly I wish to draw your attention to (my emphasis):

"267 replica firearms and pistol lighters"

Which is strongly hinting at toys. I'm bagging it for the weekend. Maybe, on Monday, I can put a call in to someone at the customs office with more of a clue.

Reference:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=6207

I'm guessing Australia doesn't have a Paintball League like the US & Canada have then? :confused:

Oh, paintball is totally legal, actually. I'm not sure if we have a "league", but a few people I know play it and there is even a paintball club at my university.


Then why do you care? I mean, it doesn't directly bother you, so why bother? I'm sure that you have more pressing problems.

It has never been about my problems. I'm talking about what I see as problems facing the nation as a whole. And I don't see a ban on slingshots as the number one priority right now. No amount of arguing will get me to change my mind on that. It simply is an irrelevant issue at the moment...not just to me, but to 99.999% of the Australian population.

Rape victims, yes, they're hurt. But what is the difference between sex for pleasure [if you have an abortion from voluntary sexual contact, then it is, by definition, sex for pleasure (here money/power is used as synonymous with pleasure)] and having sling shots?
Neither one is neccessary for me to stay breathing.
Both can be perverted to something that directly hurts people like assault (slingshot) or rape (sex).
Both are largely pursued as a way to goof off.

Like I have said, I don't necessarily agree with the ban on slingshots (though I would support it for under 18 year olds).

I however think your equating recreational sex with owning a slingshot is silly. And i'll leave it at that.

This response makes no sense. Both cases illegal importation is happening. In both cases outrageous penalties are being levied.
So either say "meh" to illegals, or display a bit of concern for the poor bastards who may lose a decade of their life.

Yes, but read that those replica guns were apparently working. If true, that's why the heavy penalty is there. Would make sense then, no?

So then, where is the line? I mean, you have to cross it to know that it is there, so when did I go overboard?

^ see above.

Or maybe Australian prisons are just like an awesome summer camp and the buildings are made of chocolate so people actually like being shoved there for years at a time.

No, that's only where we put lactose intolerant people.

:confused:
Eh? So there is nothing that we can do, and you just have to roll over and take it up the ass whenever a government official gets a bee in his bonnet? You complained about anti-terror laws, but now you're saying there is no point in complaining about abuses of government power, so which is it? Are you anti-anti-terror laws because you want to preserve the freedom from wrongful imprisonment, or are you just pro-terror?
Note, I'm not saying you are a terrorist, I really am confused here. You don't want abusive anti-terror powers, but you want (or don't mind) abusive anti-gun powers. This would imply that it isn't the abusive power part of anti-terrorism that you despise.

No, you misunderstand. While I agree that the government is getting powers it should not have, etc. I don't think individually tackling issues such as this is the most efficient or desirable way to stop that. That's all. You're free to disagree of course.

Actually, unless she was raped then, yes, it is her fault. If I choose to hop into bed with someone of my own free will (thats that thing that lets you do as you please when the government doesn't place its greasy little nose in your business), then it is my fault if I opted to skip birth control, or if the control failed, and conception comes about.

Yes, but my point was, why is it specifically the woman's fault?

Oh, and at last, I would like to say that I don't believe that all gays are rapists or all women are "sluts."
Believe it or not, most people who have consensual gay sex don't rape people, most Gun owners don't actually kill people, and most Popes are actually Catholic:eek:.
Shocking, I know, but that is just the way the world works.

Why is that supposed to shock me? I don't understand what you are trying to put across, here. I never claimed that all or most gun owners kill people. I think our licensing conditions work fine the way they are. You can get weapons if you want them badly enough (just not assault rifles, SMG's, etc.), but it's impossible if you have criminal convictions. If you are responsible enough to be willing to go through the proper channels and get a licence, there is no reason you can't own a gun.

That's a problem.

They are far, far, far from being military assault rifles & such; but, that completely removes them from the realm of toys.

I'm going to do some research here & see if I can get a definate answer. "Replica" is just too vague a term. Means different things in different contexts & different parts of the world.

I do state it here: the ire raised by seeing some story blown out of proportion, is a proper response. The ire raised by seeing someones life destroyed over a bunch of toys is a proper response.

Working, functional, replicas are not toys however.

Aye, and if they were undeclared (as one would assume. If you declare having an unregistered weapon, the police confiscate and destroy it and to the best of my knowledge, you are not punished for it beyond losing your weapon) it is reasonable to assume that they were intended to be sold illegitimately.

The only articles I found online are unspecific:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1471570.htm

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=65238

(Though hello...the weapons were *concealed* in a shipping container containing legitimate goods?)

Sigh. I've done a wee bit of digging; but, not much to show for it.

Briefly I wish to draw your attention to (my emphasis):

"267 replica firearms and pistol lighters"

Which is strongly hinting at toys. I'm bagging it for the weekend. Maybe, on Monday, I can put a call in to someone at the customs office with more of a clue.

Reference:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=6207

Yeah, I just saw that article.

I still find it interesting that they were apparently concealed, though...

Meh...
Replica firearms and pistol lighters have been illegal in Australia for more than 20 years... those people knew what they were doing. The goods were HIDDEN in containers carrying other things.
And note: ANY plastic toys that can shoot plastic darts capable of injuring a child's eye are illegal as well. So what?

[edit]... and regarding how "MASSIVE" the "WEAPONS CACHE" is, that's just journalist-speak for you. Headlines engineered to catch your attention.

Click the link, look at the picture, read the article. I can't beleive that this counts as a "massive weapons cache". Seems more like a massive toy cache to me.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/massive-weapons-cache-seized-in-raids/2005/09/30/1127804631963.html

Every knife on display looks like cheap showy junk made for display rather than actual use, and they consider slingshots and blowguns to be dangerous weapons? I guess I was armed and dangerous as a little kid.
Aww hell! There is a store in most of the malls in my area that sells half that crap over the counter! Good lord if they ever raided my place I would be spending a lot of time in prison!

Yet another example of what happens when there is no common sense.

Some collector with horrible taste accumulates a bunch of cheapo knives and gadgets and he's labeled a threat to the civilized world.
I wouldn't call him a collector. Seems to me more like someone trying to import a load of tat in order to sell it but not declaring it cause it's either illegal or they just didn't want to pay the import fees. I mean, who nwould collect 86 (I assume identical) slingshots? Let alone pistol lighters.

As I said, I have never seen a gun in public. I can walk the streets with complete confidence. It is working.
Soo, doesn't this indicate that you never saw a gun on the streets before the majority of anti-gun legislation was put in place?

Soo, doesn't this indicate that you never saw a gun on the streets before the majority of anti-gun legislation was put in place?


yup, brandishing a weapon is a crime in most places.

I don't own more than a few knives, as I see them more as tools than weapons. I own a short sword. Don't have any blowguns or slingshots - they're useless as actual weapons.

I do own roughly 20 firearms, mostly rifles. Of these, three are .22 rifles, which I do not regard as serious weapons. The rest are centerfire rifles, mostly bolt action sniper rifles.

I do also have tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, stored in accordance with fire code, building code, and ATF regulations (less that 10,000 rounds per caliber).

So I have an amazing "arsenal" by comparison. Of course, I go through about 20,000 to 30,000 rounds per year in personal training, so I suppose I use it all up over time. What? Are you a NAZI is plasitine*? :p

* means I can't spelt for crap :p

Kanabia the good news is that we'll most probably get a change of gov. next election (like anyone will re-elect Costello :p ). With labour we'll get Kyoto ratified, get out of Iraq, hopefully keep around our IR and welfare system and finally start cutting links with the gun toting rednecks (no offence usa) across the atlantic.

Our current government may be a relitively successful one (as shown by their re-election), but it doesent represent the average Australian.

What on earth makes you think Costello will ever get a go? Johnny Howard's in it for life.

Soo, doesn't this indicate that you never saw a gun on the streets before the majority of anti-gun legislation was put in place?

Yeah, but I was only 10 or so at the time, so that doesn't count for much.

(BTW- it doesn't have to be brandished. You can carry them in holsters, y'know.)

Right well good for the austrailian officals then. The interesting thing about weapons is no matter how many you confiscate..more always appear!

Right well good for the austrailian officals then. The interesting thing about weapons is no matter how many you confiscate..more always appear!

There are probably more knives of better quality in a typical steak house.

Are you going to bust the steak house because their cabinets hold "a massive weapons cache"?

Like I said before, if I ever got shot by a blowgun, and I find out about it, they're going to be really sorry.

Good to see customs doing their job!
Now can customs stop Indonesian fisherman camping on our Northern islands - before they bring along an bird flu infected chicken.