JohnMacca
Bronze Member
I have been a keen sport and target shooter for more than 40 years and have been reading with interest (and amazement) the threads regarding open or concealed carrying of firearms in the US. The common justification to carry a gun either way is for personal protection from 2 or 4 legged feral animals.
I thought you might find it interesting to read about how different the situation is in Australia with firearm ownership and use. The following is a story from a local newspaper.
Border farmer has guns taken after confronting man armed with a knife at his home | The Border Mail
Some background info that will help.
So for waving an empty .22 bolt action rifle at a bloke with a knife bashing on his door at 3AM, he used that firearm not in line with his "genuine reason" for having a shooters licence. His licence is suspended and, because you cannot possess firearms without a licence, his firearms are confiscated.
By the way, handgun ownership for a normal person is only possible if you are a member of a target shooting club and you can only use it at that club at official shoots. Forget about carrying it around anywhere or having fun shooting tin cans off a post in your 1000 acre back paddock!
I thought you might find it interesting to read about how different the situation is in Australia with firearm ownership and use. The following is a story from a local newspaper.
Border farmer has guns taken after confronting man armed with a knife at his home | The Border Mail
Some background info that will help.
- The district where the farm is would be about 10 to 15 miles from the nearest city with a police station (Albury - pop approx. 50,000) It is in New South Wales (NSW).
- Triple Zero is the Australian version of 911
- Before you can own or use a firearm you must obtain a shooters licence. To get one you must have a "genuine reason" for wanting a licence. The law says specifically that personal protection is NOT a genuine reason. (Different states in Australia have their own firearm laws, but they are basically all very similar. For details Google Victorian Firearms Act or NSW Firearms Act).
So for waving an empty .22 bolt action rifle at a bloke with a knife bashing on his door at 3AM, he used that firearm not in line with his "genuine reason" for having a shooters licence. His licence is suspended and, because you cannot possess firearms without a licence, his firearms are confiscated.
By the way, handgun ownership for a normal person is only possible if you are a member of a target shooting club and you can only use it at that club at official shoots. Forget about carrying it around anywhere or having fun shooting tin cans off a post in your 1000 acre back paddock!