The Blame Game ....

from today's news comes this article:

Dionne Lacey gets 10 years' jail for shooting

A JUDGE has lashed out at Australia's worsening gun culture as he sentenced a Gold Coast millionaire's sons to jail over a shooting death.

Brisbane Supreme Court judge Glenn Martin today handed a 10-year jail term to Dionne Matthew Lacey, 22, the son of Ken Lacey, for the manslaughter of landscaper Kevin Palmer.

Justice Martin sentenced his brother Jade Michael Lacey, 26, to five years' jail after a jury found him guilty of unlawful wounding with intent to maim.

"The carrying of firearms is becoming more frequent in this state and this country," Justice Martin said during the sentencing hearing.

The Laceys intend to appeal their sentences this week and today issued a public apology to the Palmer family.

"They have always maintained the incident occurred by way of self-defence and they still maintain that," lawyer Chris Nyst said outside the court.

"They have asked me to acknowledge the tragedy of this event to all concerned, but most particularly to the Palmer family.

"They have asked me to express their regret at the death of their friend Kevin Palmer and extend to the Palmer family their best wishes and sympathies."

However Palmer's father Shane said no apology would ever bring back his son, who died aged 23.

He urged the Government to introduce tougher gun controls to stop young people believing it was "cool" to be armed.

"They're not cool now. They'll be spending their next 10 years in the big house and that's where they should stay," the devastated father said.

"Where are the two guns that killed my child? That's what we want to know."

The victim's mother Ilaria Legge said she didn't feel any different now that the Laceys had been sentenced.

"Our son is not here. To me it doesn't change anything," Ms Legge said.

Justice Martin directed that Dionne Lacey be deemed a serious violent offender, ensuring he will serve 80 per cent of his sentence.

Jade Lacey will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence.

Palmer, of the Gold Coast, died after being shot in the leg by Jade and the chest by Dionne following an argument at a house party on May 6, 2007.

Justice Martin said Jade's testimony about why he returned to the party after his brother was involved in a prior argument "smacked of fabrication".

"Your words ignited the next stage," Justice Martin said. "You then shot your unarmed friend."

Justice Martin said that while Dionne may not have fired at Mr Palmer intending to cause grievous bodily harm, there was still an intention to fire.

"The jury has rejected that you acted in self-defence," he said.

The brothers' lawyers told the court this week that the pair had promising aspirations until Jade, who goes by the rap name Lace Italiano, went to the US for a year when he was 18 to make rap music.

This introduced Jade to the "stupid concept" of carrying guns, the court was told.

----------

While I can understand the victim's family's grief the sentiment expressed by the father makes no sense to me:

He urged the Government to introduce tougher gun controls to stop young people believing it was "cool" to be armed.

Tougher legislation to change the way people think? eeek!