Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I hope the thread doesn't get locked, someone mentioned there's 10 pages in a week so clearly it's a worthy debate.

I would hope to see some civility shown so it doesn't get locked because it is such an emotive thread. Probably shouldn't be but now we're talking terror, US behaviours and comparisons to Australia which to be honest are just not relevant.

While Australia has followed some US trends our fair land gurt by sea is really nothing like the US.

That aside, I'm really surprised someone said they're on a farm here and can't get a firearm. Are you sure about that? What size is your property....?? If you own 5 acres and you're applying for a .308 ok, fair enough that's overkill (pun intended lol). If you're on 40 acres and applied for a .22 I'd be dumbfounded why you'd get knocked back.

I live in Canberra > a rural capital city for all intents and purposes.
I grew up on a 100 acre property just outside of the border and before Port Arthur we had a unregistered 22 and no one was really licenced back then. As a young teenager I could buy the ammo from the local service station. You know what, people using firearms against each other here was just unheard of, or at least from what I saw as a young person. Happy to be corrected but before Port Arthur I'd never heard of any mass shootings here really. Ned Kelly aside....lol but Martin Bryant came along and BAM now gun owners are the scourge of the earth.

I grew up hunting, I used a few larger calibre rifles that other family members owned. I was supervised until around age 14 where I assume I had shown enough respect and knowledge to be able to go out on my own.

I moved off the farm to pursue a career in the 'city' and my interest in firearms dropped somewhat, although I was never a big 'gun nut' - I've always had a bigger interest in racing/riding motorcycles (Check out Cunningstunts.com as my namesake). I also won the Pro Twins championship last year however I periodically take the dirt bike out and see many vermin destroying our land and placing native species under threat.

Last year some friends managed to get me into Clay target shooting. I've never been interested in shotguns preferring rifles all the way simply as that's what I grew up with however I did enjoy it.

So last year I applied for and obtained my firearms licence for CAT A/B. I have permission to use several rural properties and also joined the local range/club. I know own an O/U 12G and a 223. I'll also buy a .22 and air rifle at some pointm, perhaps even some larger calibre rifles.

In many many ways I completely agree with having some regulations around firearms ownership. If someone has documented or a history of mental issues or a criminal record then I'd agree they should not be able to possess a firearm. Now some ppl in that category (criminal) will obtain firearms one way or another and they're really the ones we'd need to be worried about.

All this jumping up and down about firearms makes me laugh a little - in the news today someone in Western Australia has been arrested for something to do with using explosives/under siege so in some ways it proves the point if someone wants to do some nasty sh2t they can do it in many different ways.

We've had attacks in Canberra of people pouring petrol on someone and setting them alight. Lets ban petrol or maybe just the high octane stuff hey...

We've had ram raids - ban cars.

In my mind - especially in Australia Alchol is by FAR a bigger social issue. I would love someone to dig up the stats of how many drunk drivers have killed people VS deaths from firearms (intentional or otherwise). Yes there are some controls around alcohol but as we all know people will still get hold of it or abuse it. Farm more ppl abuse alchol than firearms lets put it that way yet look at how the prohibition went in the US > did it work or make matters worse?

As per my earlier point, paintball is AOK but Airsoft is banned.
Compound bows have no regulation, cross bows are pretty much illegal yet an air rifle shooting arrows is not.

My only real problem with the regulations of firearms we currently have is the very inconsistent way in which its applied becomes ONE person once did something horrible in Port Arthur so lets ban air soft FFS. If you want to buy a paintball gun you need a CAT A licence so encouraging those who didn't even want to get a real firearm to be able to get one when all they wanted was a paintball gun.........

The US is a different matter altogether and the horse has long bolted so any comparsons to Australia are a waste of time. Doesn't stop stupid being stupid and if someone has ill intent they'll find away around the regulations/laws. An open ban across everything related to firearms is just as bad as trying to ban alchol but yet we don't want to end up like the US where people think it's their right to bear arms and everyone walking around the city is packing a 9m in their pants, concealed permit or not.....there's a balance we need to reach, just because you may not like or enjoy a particular hobby/sport does not give you the right to ban it for everyone else however the more we move to an 'Illuminated' society the more I fear our rights as citizens will be further eroded.

In reality, as a percentage the number of people carrying a gun legally or not is very low. In my state about 6% of people have a concealed carry license and of those I doubt 25% carry on a regular basis (many get them to keep a gun in the car since having them hidden in your car isn't legal and/or keep from having to get purchase permits for every pistol they want to buy.) It's not the wild west over here

Not the wild west? Depends on your point of view, I guess.

One of my first impressions in the US was in NC, while traveling on a Greyhound bus. At a stop there was a small supermarket kind of shop. Inside was a big sign with "Shoplifters will be SHOT on site".

For someone coming from a peaceful country, almost nobody has a gun and nobody cares to have one, it gave some impression. Not a good one.

I wasn't suggesting it is the wild west but considering the topic of asking Aussies to chime in on gun control results - I think my post is relevant.

The point being as I said, concealed permits OR NOT, many many MANY more US citizens carry/own weapons compared to here which is what the topic is all about. It's not an attack on your country at all it's about the differences in regulations AUS VS US. Fact is (and I don't care to delve into your consitution) but I understand there's something in there about your right to bear arms. I am not sure it's relevant in modern times and while it might be an option for keeping a tryanical govt at bay it also comes with other problems. 2 edged sword I guess and that goes for both the US and AUS as I've detailed.

"Shoplifters will be SHOT on site"


Are you sure that didn't say "Shoplifters will be SHOT off site"? Unless they had left the premises how would you know they were a shoplifter?

A sad day today when 4 military personnel were shot in Tennessee.

I see no point in anyone owning an fully automatic rifle, even if you where to use it for self defence they are horibly inacurate that is why most militarys use rifle that can be adjusted most comonly with a switch that changes from single shot to 3 shot lock out. As for semi-automatic shot guns on farms I still see no need but I am a competent shooter even when I was growing up on the farm and am far more acurate with a decent rifle that a shot gun (with a bolt action rifle I can get a shot off every couple of seconds).

On licenses as stated above, it is great that people with criminal record and mental problems cant get a license to own a gun and that anyone wanting a gun has to spend time and effort obtaining a license and weapon. As for saying criminals will always get them regardless of the laws I would be interested to see how many guns taken from criminals where first stolen from someone who had it for self defence and how many of them are carying a weapon because they feel they need to have a bigger weapon than the other guy to defend themselves as you do.

Very cool CS. Love my little S2R800.

One reason I like these venting/political threads is you do get a much fuller, all rounded picture of people.

CCW, concealed carry permit- learn something new every day.

I would most definitely own a full auto or three round burst rifle if possible, not for self defense but for fun. A semi auto pistol/rifle/shotgun is fine for pretty much all self defense scenarios. Unfortunately only full auto weapons registered before 1986 are allowed for civilians so they are pretty rare and expensive here. If you are a federally licensed gun dealer with a 2nd special license you can have new ones as demos and/or to sell to police departments and other authorized agencies.

The Low end Full Autos will still put you back $5,000. Past that you are looking at $15,000+

The best advice that I turned down From someone who knows gun values was. "Don't buy a new car. Buy a Full Auto and get a used car because in 10 years the way things are going you can buy whatever you want to drive if you sell it."

This is also the same guy that believes that that the 2nd amendment should mean that citizens should be able to be as well armed as our own military as long as you keep it legal. Criminals will just manufacture, convert, steal buy legally/illegally what they want anyway.

Sad about what happened on live TV with the presenter and cameraman.

But I suppose an american would say they should have been carrying too.

Of course law abiding citizens do not commit guns crimes, if they did they wouldn't be law abiding.

A few ppl have said restricting gun ownership hasn't reduced crime in US cities. I would expect it to reduce only gun related crime.

IMO the US should consider drug reform and restricting gun ownership. Someone with a military grade weapon poses a much greater danger to society than someone someone smoking a bit of weed. Heaps of guns and draconian drug policies are a dangerous combination.

The problem in the US is the incredible amount of guns, making control very difficult. Also, with 3D printing it won't be long before guns can be made at home, which will really change the debate.

I was actually watching a video on 3d printed guns, and the problem is that the plastic they are made from can't handle heat, or the pressure is too much for plastic, so it's not a practical solution. And on the other side, for somebody to use a metal lathe, some welding equipment, and they can fabricate a basic gun.

I was watching a video on somebody making the main body for an AK47, and apparently everything else can be bought legally (at least in the US). It didn't seem very complicated either.

The 3d printed weapons is a bit of a scare tactic IMO.

I don't know if it was intentional Colum, but that's pretty offensive. I don't want to sound too confrontational, but Would you feel so self righteous if they were killed any other way? do you perceive all people from a certain country as cut from the same cloth?

I respect you guys and feel a strange comradery , but this whole thread is way too polarizing to be productive. We will never find middle ground on certain topics. Should we also start one on pro life v. pro choice? democrat v republican (or the Aussie equivalent)?

I would rather it was blocked/removed because it certainly doesn't mesh with the desired "tone" of the forum