MikeAUS
Well-known
We DO care - about people being killed and maimed by lunatics with guns - that's why we did something about it!
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
On Australia, I noted that ex Brit PM Tony Blair's political advisor is in town and I heard him being interviewed on the radio the other day. He thought the current situation in this country was a little bizarre in that we seem so disenchanted with our current government. He actually thought that they've been doing a pretty decent job and also mentioned our economy being the the envy of many other countries who are presently battling with the global recession.
We complain a lot .... but there's plenty of worse places to live!
We complain a lot .... but there's plenty of worse places to live!
Contarama
Well-known
I don't know what you feed those beautiful women you all have over there but I wouldn't mind living in Australia myself!
clayne
shoot film or die
Yep always best to punish 99% of people due to the actions of 1%. We call that "cop-out" legislating and it's just an intellectually lazy way of solving the problem. Fix the cause not the effect, sheesh.
(Note: I'm not a gun freak)
Contarama
Well-known
Well if we are talking about "shooting" cameras in public I would definitely agree with you clayne...now if we are talking guns I would suggest restrictions on firearms is NOT punishing 99% of the people. You say you are not a gun freak so I assume you don't own a machine gun. Do you think it is "punishment" that most folks across the first world countries are not allowed to own full auto guns?
Boy I think we are getting WAY off topic here...I vote we talk more about taking pictures of women from Oz in public and the ramifications of that. If there is a boyfriend around that can beat you up you better not make any snaps of her especially if her dad is a cop or lawyer or magistrate!
Personally I think there is a lot more to the situation described in the OP than we are hearing about.
Boy I think we are getting WAY off topic here...I vote we talk more about taking pictures of women from Oz in public and the ramifications of that. If there is a boyfriend around that can beat you up you better not make any snaps of her especially if her dad is a cop or lawyer or magistrate!
Personally I think there is a lot more to the situation described in the OP than we are hearing about.
mugent
Well-known
I'm a recent immigrant to Aus, less than 6 months, and do think the attitude of the Aussie people is odd, they do seem to complain a fair bit (in the media, not people I've met).
I sometimes think the Aussies feel a bit left out, the economy is in pretty good shape here, when the US and Europe are falling apart...
Indeed the existing government have done a good job, but nobody seems to believe it!
mugent
Well-known
It might be intellectually lazy, but I'd rather a lazy solution than no solution at all.
Like it or not, the US needs gun control. I'd prefer a free world, where people can do what they want, but it's not realistic, people need to stopped from hurting each other.
There's something terribly wrong with someone who thinks it's terribly wrong for a person, (or a population) not to feel a need to surround themselves with as many firearms as possible. I don't own a single gun, I never have. News flash: I'm actually quite happy without one, and have no wish to change that.
Cheers
Brett
clayne
shoot film or die
Dude, should we ban knives too? We all have them and we all might snap at any moment. How about we limit all knives to those with only dull tips as a solution?
I'm saying "control" is not the solution - it's a cop out quick-fix for not wanting to deal with the real problems that make people want to go out and shoot a bunch of people.
I think a compromise solution such as banning machine guns, bazookas, and the like is fair but banning all guns is completely unnecessary.
And this is a leftist Californian speaking who just doesn't buy the "gun control as the solution" hack-fix.
mugent
Well-known
In the UK, carrying a knife is banned (there are exceptions, but generally so). People still get stabbed, but if it saves a life, maybe it's worth it.
I agree, it's not the availability of guns that has made the US a gun crime hotspot, Canada,Switzerland, and other countries have widespread guns, and don't have these problems.
My argument is that until the US can figure out why it's so violent (and careless, accidental gun deaths are also very high), they need to do *something*.
If that *something* is intellectually lazy, restricts freedom, whatever, then so be it, but human life is more valuable.
I don't agree with banning all guns, if you have a legitimate use for one, i.e. farmer , then fine, you should have one, and it should be locked away when not in use.
Gun control is a solution, it's not a good one, it's not a fair one, but until you think of a better one, I think you should go with it.
The idea that any old idiot, who can't drive home when drunk due to the law, can stagger back to his house and pickup a pistol is unbelievable, insane.
Sparrow
Veteran
One can always tell that a thread is going tits-up when
people start using "dude" and double space their post to emphasise
just how their opinions are actually the laws of nature and as such are
incontestable ... oddly it was probably the girlfriend going tits-up that
started all this off in the first place ... Oh, and I've always carried a
penknife and haven't fallen foul of UK law so far
people start using "dude" and double space their post to emphasise
just how their opinions are actually the laws of nature and as such are
incontestable ... oddly it was probably the girlfriend going tits-up that
started all this off in the first place ... Oh, and I've always carried a
penknife and haven't fallen foul of UK law so far
clayne
shoot film or die
I believe the issues to be rooted in deep socio-economic, dysfunctional atmospheres, and otherwise similar concerns. The mere fact that someone even rumbles home drunk and picks up a gun (or any other weapon) to settle business is a big problem in itself. Yeah I don't want to be shot up by someone on the warpath - but ill take the risk if it means civilians retain reasonable control and their civil liberties. This isn't something that we should just give up in the name of some kind of phantom "safety."
For the most part it's not even the gun freaks who are committing mass murder with weapons as it is. It's people with deep issues. Removing guns won't remove deep issues, but it'll be yet another way of looking the other way at not confronting those issues in our society.
I bet you could reduce more gun related violence by just decreasing overall wealth disparity and increasing financial mobility. The benefits of this wouldn't just stop at violence reduction.
For the most part it's not even the gun freaks who are committing mass murder with weapons as it is. It's people with deep issues. Removing guns won't remove deep issues, but it'll be yet another way of looking the other way at not confronting those issues in our society.
I bet you could reduce more gun related violence by just decreasing overall wealth disparity and increasing financial mobility. The benefits of this wouldn't just stop at violence reduction.
Rodchenko
Olympian
Does everything have to turn into an argument about silly things like guns? You don't need 'em, so it ain't a big deal.
Now, can we talk about photography?
Now, can we talk about photography?
alan davus
Well-known
Yeah, spot on mate. Let's face it, " fools and their guns aren't easily parted". So why waste our time argueing with fools.
MickH
Well-known
It strikes me that the iPhone-ographer in the original post was lucky to be in Aus. and, therefore, only end up in court. Had he tried the same trick on another continent he could have been shot.
Contarama
Well-known
Get a Nikon F, F2, or a Leica M3...if someone accosts you while you are photographing their girlfriend...well...if you are in Florida USA there is the Stand Your Ground Law...you bash their head in and let the judges and lawyers figure it out! I bet that wouldn't fly...or maybe it would???
clayne
shoot film or die
I don't even own a gun. I guess you missed the part where we're basically talking about principle.
See, it's threads like these that actually do reveal a general difference in cultural thinking between individuals from one country to another. Some of you guys seem completely content to let the government decide what choices you're allowed to make.
Has AUS completely banned cigarettes yet?
Australians and Americans talking about gun control.... this is gonna get ugly. Hold on folks, I'm gonna go get some pop corn
tarullifoto
Established
I have to say that I find it pretty rich seeing an American lecture the rest of the world on civil liberties when they've been eroded to the point of being an illusion in the United States.
The right to bear arms does not make you free when your government claims the right to spy on you without judicial oversight, uses an already overzealous tax authority to punish those with whom it disagrees, and criminalizes otherwise innocuous behavior.
MikeAUS
Well-known
You are not capable of legislating to limit guns, the gun lobby is too strong - that's what I call a "cop-out" and a betrayal of the highest order ...
From the Daily Show, Australian Gun Control vs USA no gun control:
http://youtu.be/9pOiOhxujsE
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