Australian gun ownership

[220]

Thought this might be of interest to a few of you given how Australia is often held up as the gold standard for gun control.
A well written and researched article, and yes there are 25% more firearms than when they were supposedly banned and more firearms owners.

https://theconversation.com/whats-behin ... _aN7wNLbAg

[CT_Shooter]

Of course, our federal and state laws are unique, so what happening there is not possible here, but it can only help you to have accurate and relevant data to consider when discussing issues as important as this one. I would have liked it if the author had described the kinds of guns that are legally in service in the country along with the reporting increased numbers of new licensees and firearms.

Regardless, thanks for sharing.

[Ernie]

Thanks for the information. I also looked up the Port Arthur Massacre for background.

[220]

Just like the USA our laws are state based so a bit of variation, when they talk about national gun laws it was pretty much a minimum standard the federal government forced on states with threats of withholding funding unless they complied.
Basically if you are a hunter or target shooter, you can have bolt, lever, pump or single shot rifles in pretty much any caliber but no semi autos and also no pump action shotguns. Some state allow 50BMG some dont. Primary production (farming) also allows for semi auto rimfires shotguns and pump shotguns and there is provision for semi auto centerfires for primary production and professional shooter in certain circumstances.
Handguns it is target shooting only, air-38cal on a basic license but 4" barrel restrictions on revolvers and 5" for semi autos, there is provision for up to 45 for certain matches. All target licenses rifle and pistol have minimum club attendance and participation requirements.

It has lead to some interesting firearms to get around legislation, we had 3 barrel shotguns become popular for a while, lever action shotguns become common after that and the current fad is lever release guns. These are pretty much semi autos that lock open after each shot and require a lever or button to be pressed to complete the action cycle pick up and feed the next round.

[daytime dave]

I enjoyed the article. I found it a bit of insight to the way some things are there.

I did not know the total population of the country.

[220]

I enjoyed the article. I found it a bit of insight to the way some things are there.

I did not know the total population of the country.

You can think of us as having the population of Texas but 10 times the land area and far more urbanized.
We have 2 cities with over 5 million people, another 2 with 2-3million 1 at 1.5 million 3 at 500k-1million another 12 at 100k-500k.
Pretty much 80% of the population lives in the biggest 20 cities that amount to less than 1% of the area leaves 99% to the remaining 20% of the population that prefer not to 90% of the population live within 30 miles of the coast.

[daytime dave]

Very interesting breakdown, thank you.

[BrokenolMarine]

Thank you Sir. I often hear my few liberal friends toss Australia or England up as successful countries where banning guns has worked. My friends in those countries often beg to differ. LOL.

[Vaquero]

Of course, our federal and state laws are unique, so what happening there is not possible here.

I don't believe that for a minute, it could very well happen here.
Look at the news right now and the first thing out of the politicians mouth after this and any shooting, is to take away our guns.
They don't want to address the real problem of these mental deranged folks "they've" created, and jump straight to the weapon.
And they continue and purposely misrepresent those also. So don't think for a minute that it can not happen here.
I'll bet the majority of the folks down under thought the same thing at one time.
I don't trust the politicians on either side of the isle.

RP

[CT_Shooter]

Of course, our federal and state laws are unique, so what happening there is not possible here.

I don't believe that for a minute, it could very well happen here.
Look at the news right now and the first thing out of the politicians mouth after this and any shooting, is to take away our guns.

I understand your concern, Randy. I don't share it, but I really do understand it. The guns most people are worried about losing are already illegal in CT. It's one of the reasons I like living here. But, I wasn't talking about gun control. I was talking about Australia's data analyses; since everyone there is Federally licensed and every transaction is recorded, they have current, accurate data regarding firearms and it's uses. That's what can't happen here.

[GunnyGene]

Of course, our federal and state laws are unique, so what happening there is not possible here.

I don't believe that for a minute, it could very well happen here.
Look at the news right now and the first thing out of the politicians mouth after this and any shooting, is to take away our guns.
They don't want to address the real problem of these mental deranged folks "they've" created, and jump straight to the weapon.
And they continue and purposely misrepresent those also. So don't think for a minute that it can not happen here.
I'll bet the majority of the folks down under thought the same thing at one time.
I don't trust the politicians on either side of the isle.

RP

Time to release your inner surly curmudgeon?

[Mags]

... I wasn't talking about gun control. I was talking about Australia's data analyses; since everyone there is Federally licensed and every transaction is recorded, they have current, accurate data regarding firearms and it's uses. That's what can't happen here.

The data collection part is already here in some states. I'd bet that in those states there is analysis behind the scenes too. Just not openly touted.

[GunnyGene]

... I wasn't talking about gun control. I was talking about Australia's data analyses; since everyone there is Federally licensed and every transaction is recorded, they have current, accurate data regarding firearms and it's uses. That's what can't happen here.

The data collection part is already here in some states. I'd bet that in those states there is analysis behind the scenes too. Just not openly touted.

AI is very good at analyzing massive amounts of raw data vacuumed up from the web. And that's what companies and govt agencies at Federal, State and Local levels are increasingly using for a wide variety of purposes.

[220]

I understand your concern, Randy. I don't share it, but I really do understand it. The guns most people are worried about losing are already illegal in CT. It's one of the reasons I like living here. But, I wasn't talking about gun control. I was talking about Australia's data analyses; since everyone there is Federally licensed and every transaction is recorded, they have current, accurate data regarding firearms and it's uses. That's what can't happen here.
[/quote]

We do not have any federal licensing everything is state based, every state has their own individual legislation and just like the USA it differs greatly. There is no central national registry just individual state based registries that all run different systems under different laws.
As I pointed out the national gun laws really are not national and are nothing more than a wish list the gun hating prime minister at the time forced on states and I do mean forced. There were states at the time that objected and indicated they would not be making the changes demanded. They were quickly brought into line with the demands under threat of federal funding being withheld until they complied.

We do not have the level of state taxation here that some USA states have so the states are 100% reliant on federal funding Other that not having firearms ownership as a right written into the constitution I would say the differences pre 1996 and current USA are not that great and certainly pre 1996 were in many cases more relaxed than many USA states.