Letters - Gun debate
Daily Telegraph, Page: 20. Tuesday, 10 March, 2009
How many serious crimes...
How many serious crimes are perpetrated by people using legally registered firearms? The real problem lies with the criminal element who will obtain a gun irrespective of any laws designed to limit gun ownership.
he answer is to impose statutory minimum sentences on people found with illegal guns and those who commit any offence with a firearm. Teenagers who illegally use firearms should be dealt with in an adult court and face adult sentences.
Alan Farlow, Leumeah
Fact of life
Guns are a fact of life and the only problems with guns are the criminals that use them.
Shooting accidents occur almost as often as a blue moon. It’s certainly tragic, but not enough reason for stricter gun control.
And, yes, I have been affected by an accidental shooting death.
The laws are in place and licensed shooters are not the problem. If you choose to break the law, you must suffer the consequences. The Government ‘s law enforcement should be more focused on illegal gun smuggling, maybe as enthusiastic as they are towards drug smugglers? Annie Murray, Albion Park Rail.
Vote loser
John Howard and his political party lost my vote when he treated me the same as a common criminal and took all my firearms off me, all because of the actions of just one person.
I had built a safe which still today exceeds the current requirements for gun cabinets. I stored the bolts, slides and actions separately from the firearms, as I did with all the ammunition and I was the only keyholder, yet I had to jump through hoops to justify my passion for my sport.
I have friends in the bush who are wealthy landowners and they have surrendered their family heirlooms all because these firearms didn’t comply.
Those friends and I would never consider committing any crime, especially any firearm-related offences, but it seems we are treated worse than those who use firearms to commit crimes. We legal gun owners are not criminals.
Give us a break.
Peter H Prestons.
Gun ownership
I’m not scared about the legally owned guns. I’m scared about the pistol down the pants of criminals on the streets.
Shane, Sydney.
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