If you could move to another coultry - where would it be?

[kishg]

Lawl.

Firstly, guns aren't banned out here. You can still own a pretty serious hand gun/shot gun or rifle. There are also plenty of very active hunting/shooting clubs that go out into "the outback" (lawl x2) and shoot buffalo/feral cats/pigs/deer/camels.

We have violent crime, but not the kind that you guys have. You are mistaken if you think you need a gun to stop 50% of the criminals out here. Want to use a gun to defend yourself in a break-in? Chances are you'll get put on a manslaughter charge as the few people i've known who have had to confront a violent intruder have been able to see them off without resorting to weapons of any kind - and at worst you'll face a knife (which can easily be countered with a swingable weapon with long reach). Violent home invasions are rare and people being bashed to death can happen anywhere - the worst "criminal" deaths of late have been people in fights at nightclubs or outside pubs falling and hitting their heads.

Larger predators in the outback? How will an AK-47 help you against a snake? Crocs, Buffalo, feral pigs and cassowarys are something you could use a gun on but the crocs are a protected species and it's more common sense that you just don't go in areas they are likely to be. Call it "active Darwinism" if you will.

Crime rate stats are full of shit - 90% of the serious gun crime perpetrated in the last 10 years has been gangs and bikies having turf wars against each other, NOT people using firearms on innocents (like in armed robberies). On the most part, Australians are apathetic so if some hyped up scumbag starts waving a piece around and screaming "give me money so I can stick it up my arm" we'll just give it to them rather than going Rambo and defending the right to have $40 in our wallets.

I'm not saying we're a crime-free utopia - far from it- and we have some seriously fucked laws (censorship, road rules, etc) but NOBODY out here NEEDS to carry a gun as a means of self-defence (unless you're in a violent gang or a criminal).

Jeez you Yanks watch way too much Croc Dundee and Wolf Creek...

you mean you don't carry a large bush knife in your rucksack at all times and compare knife sizes on the interwebz?>

[Iain]

you mean you don't carry a large bush knife in your rucksack at all times and compare knife sizes on the interwebz?>

On my way here to post that* I fist-fought a snake, got bitten, had to get a koala to suck it out, then ride me pet kangaroo to hospital where a tribe of aborigines did a tribal dance to make me better before I sucked down a Foster's and went off with me dingo mate to go steal some babies.



* to post things on the internet from Australia we have to dictate to a wombat, who types it out on an old typewriter, gives it to a bandicoot (or numbat if you're in Western Australia) and they then take it to the beach where a cockatoo will fly it over to Hawaii where the nearest Internet station is. Once cocky gives each post to the Aussie Consulate over there, they're refulled with Fosters and sent back. True story.

[dirtysix]

Wolf creek's an awesome movie.

[dirtysix]

And besides, It's much more fun to beat someone to death than it is to shoot them.

[e34john]

Living in Thailand right now, been here for one year, at least one year (maybe two) to go.

Lots of positives, lots of negatives. Difficult and time-consuming to get permanent residence status here.

Great weather this time of year, though!!

Are you there for work? I plan on going this summer maybe, have family in Bangkok.

I'd live in Thailand, or somewhere in the South Pacific. And just be lazy, and eat. Otherwise somewhere warm in South American and be lazy and eat.

[mrsleeve]

Lawl.
Firstly, guns aren't banned out here. You can still own a pretty serious hand gun/shot gun or rifle. There are also plenty of very active hunting/shooting clubs that go out into "the outback" (lawl x2) and shoot buffalo/feral cats/pigs/deer/camels.

Yeah no shit I know all that, I suppose a Ban was not the right word. I will give you that. Lets say severally restrict

We have violent crime, but not the kind that you guys have.

You have 21m people we have 300m You have 13 cites with over 100k people, there are over 40 in CA alone. Yeah your total numbers are lower, but your per capita numbers are similar to the USA

You are mistaken if you think you need a gun to stop 50% of the criminals out here. Want to use a gun to defend yourself in a break-in? Chances are you'll get put on a manslaughter charge

You dont see any issues with that???

as the few people i've known who have had to confront a violent intruder have been able to see them off without resorting to weapons of any kind - and at worst you'll face a knife (which can easily be countered with a swingable weapon with long reach). Violent home invasions are rare and people being bashed to death can happen anywhere - the worst "criminal" deaths of late have been people in fights at nightclubs or outside pubs falling and hitting their heads.

Yeah and you cant be maimed or killed by a knife:roll: . A swing able weapon means you have to get with in the red zone of the crazy guy with the knife. Killed with a knife gun or pillow still = dead.

Larger predators in the outback? How will an AK-47 help you against a snake? Crocs, Buffalo, feral pigs and cassowarys are something you could use a gun on but the crocs are a protected species and it's more common sense that you just don't go in areas they are likely to be. Call it "active Darwinism" if you will.

UM protected or not if its attacking you, and you can, YOU KILL IT. No while I concur you do what you can to stay away from said animals, but when you live in the sticks or enjoy the out doors and the back country you may run into said critters. Ferrel pigs are dangerous as all hell, I would rather shoot the snake out of his striking range than to risk getting close to it and get bitten.

Crime rate stats are full of shit - 90% of the serious gun crime perpetrated in the last 10 years has been gangs and bikies having turf wars against each other, NOT people using firearms on innocents (like in armed robberies). On the most part, Australians are apathetic so if some hyped up scumbag starts waving a piece around and screaming "give me money so I can stick it up my arm" we'll just give it to them rather than going Rambo and defending the right to have $40 in our wallets.

Ahhh what do you think the bulk of our gun crime stats stem from???? And whats to say that after you give them the 40 bucks they wont kill you any for the fun of it????

I'm not saying we're a crime-free utopia - far from it- and we have some seriously fucked laws (censorship, road rules, etc) but NOBODY out here NEEDS to carry a gun as a means of self-defence (unless you're in a violent gang or a criminal).

Jeez you Yanks watch way too much Croc Dundee and Wolf Creek...

I will concur with this you have some fucked up laws and restricting ones ability to defend your self from harm at the hand of others and punishing one for doing so is the biggest crime of all. It goes against the most basic freedoms of your RIGHTS to LIFE


Edit: I love your guys national net nanny, you guys have something in common with red china. I bet you just have to say all that stuff, or the net nanny wont let you post it right????

[Iain]

Yeah no shit I know all that, I suppose a Ban was not the right word. I will give you that. Lets say severally restrict

The only things that are restricted are the hugely powerful assault weapons and the stuff that nobody really needs. If you need an AK-47 or a Barret to defend yourself you must live in a 3rd world shithole.

You have 21m people we have 300m You have 13 cites with over 100k people, there are over 40 in CA alone. Yeah your total numbers are lower, but your per capita numbers are similar to the USA

Yes, there are huge population differences, but just like you guys don't live in the wild west (or on route 66 eating at drive-in burger joints) we don't live in some crime-riddled slum waiting for Mad Max (or as you blokes know him, the "road warrior") to save us.

I'm not saying we don't have truly horrific crimes committed out here - we sure as shit do just like any other country - but we certainly don't rely on weapons for personal security/safety. For the majority of the population, the need is not there.

You dont see any issues with that???

Yeah, I have issues with it but it is what it is and I do my best to get on with my life regardless. If you actually do kill someone coming onto your property with the intent to rob you and you kill them, then that is manslaughter. Sure, it is justified, but it is still manslaughter.

UM protected or not if its attacking you, and you can, YOU KILL IT. No while I concur you do what you can to stay away from said animals, but when you live in the sticks or enjoy the out doors and the back country you may run into said critters. Ferrel pigs are dangerous as all hell, I would rather shoot the snake out of his striking range than to risk getting close to it and get bitten.

Sure, but the issue is if you were in the wrong area to start with. You can enjoy the outdoors and live in the bush (as I did for the last 20 years) perfectly fine without having a gun. Seriously, there is so much bush/outback/whatever you want to call it that you can walk and drive for days without seeing a dangerous animal.

Feral animals are dangerous, but rather than going into dangerous areas and risking it, most Aussies just stay out of there and save themselves the hassle. If they/we get the blood-lust, then its danger time for the pigs/foxes/etc.

I will concur with this you have some fucked up laws and restrictingones ability to defend your self from harm at the hand of others and punishing one for doing so is the biggest crime of all. It goes against the most basic freedoms of your RIGHTS to LIFE


Edit: I love your guys national net nanny, you guys have something in common with red china. I bet you just have to say all that stuff, or the net nanny wont let you post it right????

We have no rights in Australia. There is no bill of rights. Also, we don't NEED to have guns to defend our right to life.

The net nanny hasn't been implemented - it is still a draft proposal at this stage and politics will ensure it gets shot down. Yet more wowsering from the media with not one iota of credibility behind it - just like those crime stats.

[mrsleeve]

We have no rights in Australia. There is no bill of rights. Also, we don't NEED to have guns to defend our right to life.

The net nanny hasn't been implemented - it is still a draft proposal at this stage and politics will ensure it gets shot down. Yet more wowsering from the media with not one iota of credibility behind it - just like those crime stats.

No you dont but it makes that nasty job a whole hell of a lot easier and less dangerous to your self.

Oh good for you guys, I thought I read somewhere that it got though and had gone into full effect.

[Iain]

Oh it was written up like it was a sure thing. Of course, this prompted outrage from 99% of the population and its been ping-ponged around parliament ever since.

Stephen Conroy (the bloke trying to get the system up) is one of the most unpopular people in Australia...

[kishg]

On my way here to post that* I fist-fought a snake, got bitten, had to get a koala to suck it out, then ride me pet kangaroo to hospital where a tribe of aborigines did a tribal dance to make me better before I sucked down a Foster's and went off with me dingo mate to go steal some babies.



* to post things on the internet from Australia we have to dictate to a wombat, who types it out on an old typewriter, gives it to a bandicoot (or numbat if you're in Western Australia) and they then take it to the beach where a cockatoo will fly it over to Hawaii where the nearest Internet station is. Once cocky gives each post to the Aussie Consulate over there, they're refulled with Fosters and sent back. True story.

pics of said dingo? :) fosters? c'mon mate, castlemaine XXXX is where it's at ;)

[Iain]

XXXX Gold or nothing from there.

Fosters is utter shit. i don't know how anyone can think a supposed nation of beer drinkers would embrace that as a national brew.

Coopers...

http://www.coopers.com.au

... or Little Creatures...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_Bay_Brewing_Company

http://www.matildabay.com.au/

FTMFW.


PS - this is the pic of me and the dingo, just after I rolled off, bruddah.

[Dave]

Iain,

People here are way too cowboy and over-compensate. For most of our society, there is no need to have a gun to protect yourself or home.

Quite frankly, unless you are poor and minority, your chances of having any issues with gun violence involving a non-family member are virtually nil. Most all of the gun violence in people's homes happens between family members. Its along the same lines as our overcompensating "Megan's Law" sex offender registration. Serves no real deterrent purpose. Most kids that get diddled get diddled by a parent, sibling, unle, or mom's boyfriend. And the sex offender registration and limits on where they can live serve no real deterrent effect.

I live in a nice neighborhood. And I am secure in the size of my dick. Hence, I own no guns. I dont have a problem with people that do own guns - just realize that they are ridiculous about the "need" to have a CCW, etc.

America - FUCK YEAH!

:shrug:

[kishg]

little creatures looks interesting..

ps : nice pic, you don't look like a convict at all :)

[kishg]

I live in a nice neighborhood. And I am secure in the size of my dick. Hence, I own no guns. I dont have a problem with people that do own guns - just realize that they are ridiculous about the "need" to have a CCW, etc.

+10

like iain said, it's entirely about being aware of your circumstances and avoiding unneeded risks. sure there's always the risk of some loonie trying to kill you but flying has risks as well, yet we don't all pack parachutes when we board an aircraft do we? I have no problem with guns, i have friends that collect them and i think they are inherently cool devices but i don't feel the need to own one to protect myself. if i decide to walk into newark, nj at 2am then i'm asking for trouble is the way i see it. ironically, some the very same people who think they need a firearm for self protection (including my friend) won't buy health insurance because they don't think they need it

seems like the risk management priorities got mixed up somewhere in there..

[Iain]

Dave, i kinda suspected as much.

Freedom isn't free, it costs a hefty fuckin' fee, etc.

little creatures looks interesting..

ps : nice pic, you don't look like a convict at all :)

Got a dollar, bruddah?

:p