Australian PM slams US "Gun Culture"

Heibges · 04-30-07, 07:06 PM

SYDNEY, Australia —
Australia's prime minister on Tuesday said the Virginia Tech shootings showed that America's "gun culture" was a negative force in society, praising his country's efforts to enact tough gun laws after a similar massacre 11 years ago.
John Howard staked his political leadership on pushing through the strict gun ownership laws after Martin John Bryant, armed with a bagful of automatic weapons, went on a killing spree in the tourist resort of Port Arthur in southern Tasmania state on April 28, 1996. Thirty-five people died.
The conservative Howard, a strong ally of President Bush, said the Virginia Tech shootings were the kind of tragedy he hoped would never be seen again in Australia.
"You can never guarantee these things won't happen again in our country," Howard told reporters.
"We had a terrible incident at Port Arthur, but it is the case that 11 years ago we took action to limit the availability of guns and we showed a national resolve that the gun culture that is such a negative in the United States would never become a negative in our country," he said.
The new gun laws in Australia, which banned military-style weapons and toughened licensing and storage restrictions, were unpopular among farmers and other gun owners that are key supporters of Howard's conservative coalition. The government paid owners to take more than 600,000 firearms off their hands in a national buyback scheme.
Experts say the laws have probably helped keep violent crime rates down, though gun ownership advocates say there is no proof the laws have made Australia safer.

baggygreen · 04-30-07, 07:12 PM

sourcey source??

the last line or 2, 'no proof' my ass. there has never been the enormous gun culture here that there has been in the states, and so there is nowhere near the same amount of gun-related crime, even taking into account ratios of population. if a crime is comitted here with a gun, it is national news. they're rare here, and howards helped that a lot!

Heibges · 04-30-07, 07:39 PM

Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...orld/australia

baggygreen · 04-30-07, 07:46 PM

ta - im surprised it hasnt been widely advertised down here....

ASWnut101 · 04-30-07, 08:02 PM

Sorry, but that guy can just kiss my butt.

SUBMAN1 · 04-30-07, 08:56 PM

What a dumbass. Might as well glam on to any political gain you can find. Losing respect for Aussies gov now.

-S

baggygreen · 04-30-07, 09:08 PM

I will say that again, his comments may have been taken a tad outta context. Remember this follows close on the heels of the whole snoop dog banning.

Howard will be referring to the gun culture amongst gangs primarily, of which mr snoop has given us a good example. howards policy has always been to counter weapons like assault rifles etc. and other weapons that we probably dont want to be in the hands of just anybody.

Lets be honest, the media are jumping on him pretty damn quick for anything, and its gettin to be a bit nuts.

It is important to understand again, having looked into the context that he was answering, it was a question of the type "in your opinion..."

P_Funk · 05-01-07, 02:53 AM

I think he's got a point. And his point isn't any less meaningful just because crime levels and population proportions aren't identical.

I hate the fact that people that diagree with him are saying "well he's a moron, now I hate that entire country!". So defensive.

fatty · 05-01-07, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P_Funk

I hate the fact that people that diagree with him are saying "well he's a moron, now I hate that entire country!". So defensive.

People who love their guns will vehemently defend them, even if it means refusing to adhere to any kind of logic. That's just how the world turns.

Sailor Steve · 05-01-07, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatty

Quote:

Originally Posted by P_Funk

I hate the fact that people that diagree with him are saying "well he's a moron, now I hate that entire country!". So defensive.

People who love their guns will vehemently defend them, even if it means refusing to adhere to any kind of logic. That's just how the world turns.

I'm glad you're the smartest person here, and can tell us what to think.

tycho102 · 05-01-07, 01:03 PM

News flash:
When your entire country is surrounded by water, you can, like, control the borders. Decide who you let in, and who you don't. And stuff.

Also, Chunnels.

Yahoshua · 05-01-07, 05:42 PM

Injecting my 2 cents, and we'll see how well the proposed policy will work (if it passes).

http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/86649.html

04-30-07, 07:06 PM	#1
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Australian PM slams US "Gun Culture" SYDNEY, Australia — Australia's prime minister on Tuesday said the Virginia Tech shootings showed that America's "gun culture" was a negative force in society, praising his country's efforts to enact tough gun laws after a similar massacre 11 years ago. John Howard staked his political leadership on pushing through the strict gun ownership laws after Martin John Bryant, armed with a bagful of automatic weapons, went on a killing spree in the tourist resort of Port Arthur in southern Tasmania state on April 28, 1996. Thirty-five people died. The conservative Howard, a strong ally of President Bush, said the Virginia Tech shootings were the kind of tragedy he hoped would never be seen again in Australia. "You can never guarantee these things won't happen again in our country," Howard told reporters. "We had a terrible incident at Port Arthur, but it is the case that 11 years ago we took action to limit the availability of guns and we showed a national resolve that the gun culture that is such a negative in the United States would never become a negative in our country," he said. The new gun laws in Australia, which banned military-style weapons and toughened licensing and storage restrictions, were unpopular among farmers and other gun owners that are key supporters of Howard's conservative coalition. The government paid owners to take more than 600,000 firearms off their hands in a national buyback scheme. Experts say the laws have probably helped keep violent crime rates down, though gun ownership advocates say there is no proof the laws have made Australia safer. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

04-30-07, 07:39 PM	#3
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...orld/australia __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

04-30-07, 08:02 PM	#5
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Sorry, but that guy can just kiss my butt. __________________

04-30-07, 08:56 PM	#6
SUBMAN1 Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,866 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What a dumbass. Might as well glam on to any political gain you can find. Losing respect for Aussies gov now. -S __________________

05-01-07, 02:53 AM	#8
P_Funk Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 2,537 Downloads: 129 Uploads: 0	I think he's got a point. And his point isn't any less meaningful just because crime levels and population proportions aren't identical. I hate the fact that people that diagree with him are saying "well he's a moron, now I hate that entire country!". So defensive. __________________

04-30-07, 07:12 PM	#2
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	sourcey source?? the last line or 2, 'no proof' my ass. there has never been the enormous gun culture here that there has been in the states, and so there is nowhere near the same amount of gun-related crime, even taking into account ratios of population. if a crime is comitted here with a gun, it is national news. they're rare here, and howards helped that a lot!

04-30-07, 07:46 PM	#4
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	ta - im surprised it hasnt been widely advertised down here....

04-30-07, 09:08 PM	#7
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	I will say that again, his comments may have been taken a tad outta context. Remember this follows close on the heels of the whole snoop dog banning. Howard will be referring to the gun culture amongst gangs primarily, of which mr snoop has given us a good example. howards policy has always been to counter weapons like assault rifles etc. and other weapons that we probably dont want to be in the hands of just anybody. Lets be honest, the media are jumping on him pretty damn quick for anything, and its gettin to be a bit nuts. It is important to understand again, having looked into the context that he was answering, it was a question of the type "in your opinion..."

05-01-07, 01:03 PM	#11
tycho102 Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,100 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	News flash: When your entire country is surrounded by water, you can, like, control the borders. Decide who you let in, and who you don't. And stuff. Also, Chunnels.

05-01-07, 05:42 PM	#12
Yahoshua The Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,493 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Injecting my 2 cents, and we'll see how well the proposed policy will work (if it passes). http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/86649.html __________________ Science is the organized unpredictability that strives not to set limits to mans' capabilities, but is the engine by which the limits of mans' understanding is defined-Yahoshua