dno
> Philip:

> Thanks for your comments about The Great
> Ideas Letter :o)

> Now on to your question(s).

> First, let me say, personally, I have no
> desire to own a semi-auto high-calibre
> rifle. I would never buy a Mini 14, for
> instance.

> As far as I'm concerned, any competent
> rifleman can do as much "damage"
> , if not more, than any old hack with a
> semi-auto. They can shoot a running target
> (wild board) with as much accuracy and
> nearly as fast.

> With semi-auto handguns... there are
> legitimate sporting contests in which the
> semi-auto's are used.

> Eight shot shot guns usually have a short
> barrel designed for use in thick scrub. You
> need the eight shots because the scrub could
> absorb and/or deflect the shot. So multiple
> shots could be needed to take down the
> target - feral pigs.

> Double barrel shotguns have a longer barrel
> and are not suited for hunting in thick
> scrub.

> Even though I do not own a semi-auto, nor
> even desire one, I will defend your right to
> own one because I know that any step in the
> direction of getting rid of guns, is a step
> closer to a disarmed population.

> Look at how Australia did it...

> A combined NATIONAL license and gun
> registration system - even to existing
> licensed firearm holders.

> Also, all future firearm purchases from that
> point on needed a police permit. And the
> purchase was thus added to your
> "file" as a new registered gun.

> Illegal to sell a gun privately. MUST be
> sold to a licensed dealer, or with the
> interaction of a licensed dealer.

> All firearm owners had to do a test - safety
> course - to get/keep their license.

> Together with this... the buy back.

> So now, before a cop visits your house, he
> can check his onboard computer and know
> whether you have a gun or not. And know who
> else in your street has a gun. And what
> types.

> Personal Safety is NO LONGER a legit reason
> to own a gun in Oz. A letter of permission
> from a land owner to shoot on his land, or
> membership to a sport shooting club (with
> compulsary visits) are pretty well the only
> accepted reasons for owning a gun now.

> Chip. Chip. Chip. That's how they did it.
> One small little "it can't harm"
> step at a time. The old frog in boiling
> water thing.

> Continued small sneaky "can't
> harm" steps and suddenly, no guns at
> all. We then become totally defenceless from
> any and all.

> Oh... I love what happened in S.A. With no
> shooters allowed in the crown land, feral
> goats bred like wildfire, then the gummit
> had to hire professional shooters to get rid
> of them. HA!

> Anyway. About the stats. Give me a few days
> and I'll see what I can find.

> Possibly. The onus is on the gun owners to
> keep their guns safe.

> People go through a period of training
> before being let loose to drive a car. I
> have no objection to similar training being
> given before owning/firing guns. After all,
> they can both be a source of enjoyment or be
> used as a deadly weapon.

> Michael Ross