Monday
(0)We will find any means we can to further restrict them because I hate guns. I don’t think people should have guns unless they’re police or in the military or in the security industry. There is no earthly reason for people to have... ordinary citizens should not have weapons. We do not want the American disease imported into Australia
So said re-elected Australian Prime Minister John Howard, in an interview on April 17 this year. (Audio here). While Howard is certainly America's friend in the war against Islamic fundamentalism, you should actually be careful before assuming that he shares your position on much else. This is after all a man who once introduced a hypothecated income tax specifically for the compulsory purchase of people's firearms.
(Link via Tim Lambert.)
As long as he supports our efforts in the WOT, I have to like him. I think his anti-gun position is ridiculous, but that is really a domestic issue between him and the people. I support Bush 100% for his WOT position. However, some of his domestic stuff is wierd too. Although I think that Bush would have a tough time being elected if he also had strong anti-gun positions.
Posted by EddieP at October 11, 2004 02:17 PM
No one in Australia needs guns except the military, police, security, oh and campers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1217711.htm
Posted by CV at October 11, 2004 02:23 PM
I note the bit about "the security industry". It is OK with Mr Howard to have a gun if you wear a uniform and are licensed by the state, by sound of it, whatever uniform it is. Just don't try having a gun if you are a private individual and not a professional bully.
Posted by Guy Herbert at October 11, 2004 02:34 PM
The Aussies in general support gun control. You can't be asking Howard to commit political suicide!
TWG
Posted by The Wobbly Guy at October 12, 2004 02:38 AM
That's not entirely true TWG. As an Australian who is a recreational, law-abiding firearm owner, I have found out that many Australians see the 1996 and 2002 gun laws to be a heap of shit and they are supportive of the pro-gunners. Another thing is that the people that I talked to were not even firearm owners so it add a bit more weight to what I am saying.
The whole "90% of the Australian population supports the 1996 and 2002 gun laws" is a lie because there are many Australians who are beginning to wake up and smell the coffee on this issue.
I for one support the re-legalisation of all semi-auto rifles, semi-auto shotguns, pump-action shotguns, large-calibre handguns and short-barrel handguns for licenced, law-abiding, recreational firearm owners like myself because it is the recreational LAFO who makes up the bulk and majority of the LAFOs in Australia.
Since John Howard has been re-elected as Prime Minister of Australia and the possibility of another round of gun bans in the immediate future is a major probability, I am prepared to fight against John Howard and his gun-hating ilk on this issue and I don't mean taking up arms.
BTW TWG, John Howard is a staunch hoplophobe and has been one long before he became PM of Australia in 1996. He used the aftermath of both the Port Arthur massacre and the Monash University shootings for his own selfish political gains as well as passing the gun laws that he wanted without any major opposition with him, the media, and the anti-gun movement playing upon people's emotions and fears in the immediate aftermaths of both Port Arthur and Monash University.
It goes to show that John Howard is a dangerous and manipulative man who is willing to get what he wants and that includes milking a tragic event for his own political gain.
The sooner the bans that were imposed upon LAFOs by the 1996 and 2002 gun laws are lifted, the better.
Posted by Roughneck Jase at October 15, 2004 12:21 AM
