Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] I didn't write that last e-mail!!!!!!

[Dave Everett <deverett@idx.com.au>]

At 01:00 17-03-00 -0500, D. Blake wrote:
>gun of any type.  Then it occurs to me.  Anyone who has been watching TV
>over the past few months has to have seen the NRA infomercials about the
>Aussies having their guns confiscated and destroyed like so much scrap metal
>(:.<(  No wonder he was put off by our topic of discussion!  All of a sudden
>now I feel like a dirty bird!

I was going to stay out of this discussion, but when I saw this line I had
to respond.
So the NRA has been using the Australian gun buyback scheme for their
political purposes eh?

I don't know the content of this add, but you should be aware that only
semi-automatic and militray weapons were part of the scheme. People still
own bolt action rifles, and people were paid rates determined buy gun
dealers for any weapons that became illegal under the new regulations.

The scheme was introduced after overwhelming public support for action
after a terrible slaughter in Tasmania where a single maniac killed 35
people and injured another 18. This was not the first time a madman had
killed in large scale in Australia, but it was clear that the ability to
get off a lot of shots in a short time helped them achieve their evil aims,
hence the focus on semi-autos.

No one believed it would eliminate these sort of acts, but we wanted action
of some kind and action that recognised there can be some legitimate uses
for guns in society, while acknowledging that safety is increased by
reducing numbers rather than increasing them.

Perhaps I lay myself open to attacks from those who live for guns. However
I have owned guns myself, Mini-14, SPAS-12, a Beretta 76, Walther PPK and a
Desert Eagle. I always treated them as the weapons they were, designed
primarily to end life.

Dave Everett.