mmmmm .....

Thought-provoking:

Just read this: DHS Insider - It's about to get very ugly

Followed by this: Betrayal by Those Who Should Know Better

... worth reading folks.

Send a message to our troops this ANZAC Day - 25th April

ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War (1914-1918). 

While ANZAC day still remembers these brave men, the meaning has been widened to be a rememberence for all those who served and who gave their lives serving.

As a result, this one day in the year involves the whole of Australia in solemn ceremonies of remembrance, gratitude and national pride for all our men and women who have fought and died in all wars.


Last year I linked to news.com.au's memories page; this year they have invited members of the public to post messages which will be forwarded to currently serving members here.

It is interesting to read the messages posted.

Should there be sensible 'gun control'

Following a discussion on this topic - over at Mr Cranky's (initial discussion here) then via email. Mr Cranky left this comment on my last post and I thought it would be good to pull it out and put it in it's own post for (polite & respectful) discussion:

Julie, I lost your email address, I think I owe you some answers re gun control in the US.

According to my friend a semi-expert I could buy an AK47 today in less than an hour (except currently there has been a run on them and the supply is very low). A pistol might take me 2 weeks.

My expert once worked at a sports store that sold guns. One day a person came in wanting to buy a gun. He was very upset and clearly looking for revenge on someone who had beat him up. My friend could not talk him out of buyung a gun and could not turn him down legally. He informed me that he was able to sell him a gun with the wrong ammunition and thinks he saved someones life by doing so.

Personally, living in a country with very strict "gun control" and seeing that it really doesn't make a shred of difference - there are shootings here weekly across the country - I do not see the benefit of it.  Other than it makes it harder for those who choose to follow the law.

Would I be concerned that someone could buy a fully automatic gun over the counter?  Not really.
Would I be concerned that a gun shop employee HAD to sell a gun to someone that was obviously going to use it to kill someone?  Yes, because AFAIK no one HAS to sell anything to anyone.  Shop owners / employees always have the right to refuse a sale.

Maybe that's different in the US?

Food for thought

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/dgreenfield/gun-control-is-evil-misspelled/

I've not posted anything on the tragedy that unfolded in America yesterday.  Mainly because it was a tragedy.  One mad / sick / insane whatever-label-you-want-to-use "person" took the lives of many innocent children and adults.

I don't believe that there is any easy answers here - any easy ways to stop tragedies like this happening in the future.  However, I've posted the link above because I think it echos many of my thoughts much more articulate than I could have done.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were involved in this tragedy.

Be kind to those you encounter you never know the future.

h/t FarmDad

Hey USA - I think you've gone mad

Okay, I know it's not the whole of the USA, but seriously this is idiotic ... even more so than Bloomberg restricting sales of the large-sized soda drinks ...

US town adds sugar to water supply

A TEXAS town has added sugar to the water supply to encourage residents to drink more H2O.

Water consumption in Talon, a small town in Pecos County, is well below the United States average.

So the town's top utility officials decided to add roughly 4 tablespoons of sugar for every 240mLs of the town's water supply.

Talon utility commissioner Hester Griggs told CBC News: "Oh, you can taste it yeah, or otherwise there ain't no point in doing it. It's sweet, sweet water."

Mr Griggs said part of the reason behind the move was that kids are preferring to drink soda and energy drinks to water.

"We decided is there a health element to the amount of water that someone drinks.

"We need to make sure that our residents, our kids... are encouraged to drink water, up to 8 glasses a day as is stipulated by the National Alliance of Health."

The sugary water is also being used in water used in showers and toilets.

Mr Griggs said he there wasn't too much concern in the community about the amount of sugar being consumed.

"The upside overweighs the downside unless you have diabetes," he said.

In that case, Mr Griggs recommended local diabetics restrict their intake to four glasses.

----------------------

It's not April 1 is it?

Now that is good news ....

From today's news:

Government gives up plan for internet filter

LABOR has abandoned its controversial plan to introduce an internet filter, but is banning all websites related to child abuse.

The federal government will use its powers under the Telecommunications Act to block hundreds of child abuse websites already identified by Interpol, Fairfax reports.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said blocking these websites met "community expectations and fulfils the government's commitment to preventing Australian internet users from accessing child abuse material online".

"Given this successful outcome, the government has no need to proceed with mandatory filtering legislation," he said.

Kevin Rudd promised to introduce an internet filter when Labor won office at the 2007 election, but it was always a controversial policy.

Internet lobbyists argued against censorship and predicted a filter would be ineffective and would slow internet speeds.

Both the coalition and the Greens opposed the plan.

The internet filter would have required Australian internet service providers to block overseas-hosted "refused classification" material as identified by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

The list of banned websites would have been based on public complaints to ACMA.

Fairfax said Internet Industry Association chief executive Peter Lee welcomed the decision as "a positive step".

But the Australian Christian Lobby insisted a filter was needed because "it is important to prevent unwanted access to pornography".

"We must protect our children from forming unhealthy attitudes towards women and sex," lobby spokeswoman Wendy Francis said.

----------------------

I had blogged about the plan previously here and here and as it had died out in the news I thought it had just been brought in with no-one being any the wiser.  However, I am pleased to read that they've decided to scrap it and allow adults the choice in what they decide to read and parents the responsibility to decide what their children can access.

September 11th

Stop, think, remember ...

It's a start ...

From today's news:

Victims group passes up Qld gun panel spot

A VICTIMS support group says it doesn't mind being overlooked for a Queensland government advisory panel aimed at changing gun licensing laws.

The Newman government initially announced a six-member panel, made up of pro-gun lobbyists and gun shop owners, to look at ways to cut red tape faced by gun owners when renewing licences.

The Queensland Police Union was later invited to join after it criticised the government for stacking the advisory panel with people linked to the gun lobby.

Union president Ian Leavers said he would accept the invitation, but more needed to be done to balance the panel.

He said the inclusion of Pistol Shooting Queensland and Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group would "provide a full spectrum of views".

But the support group's general manager Ross Thompson says he doesn't see a need to be included on the panel.

Mr Thompson said Police Minister Jack Dempsey rang him on Wednesday and explained the panel would not discuss relaxing gun laws, only cutting the bureaucracy around renewing licences for already approved gun owners.

"We don't need to be involved in that part of it, because he (Mr Dempsey) guaranteed me that the laws were not going to be changed, it was not going to soften anything at all," he told AAP.
"I feel quite satisfied with the answer I got."

Premier Campbell Newman said the government would make gun laws tougher, particularly for people who carry concealed weapons or sawn-off shot guns.

But he said the panel's main focus would be making things easier for legal gun owners.
"At the moment there's a lot of red tape and bureaucracy for people who are law abiding gun owners," he told reporters on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
.
Now, unfortunately for me, this is in on the otherside of the country in another State (and gun laws are basically State based), so any changes won't benefit me directly.  But I am happy to see that this is being raised and addressed in this country and hopefully other States will follow the lead in making things easier for "law abiding gun owners".

Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/victims-group-passes-up-qld-gun-panel-spot/story-e6frfku9-1226460794035 emphasis mine.

This does not bode well for the future ...

On Wednesday night at cubs I was doing some "badge work" with various cubs. Our cubs work through three stages of boomerangs - bronze, silver and gold - and each have 14 different sections that the cubs need to complete.

I was reading this section out to the cub, to ask her if she has done anything in this area (this cub, by the way, is 9 years old):

"Demonstrate that you know how to do cleaning around the home, such as vacuuming, sweeping, washing up and cleaning the bathroom."

As I was reading it out - and the girl was shaking her head at each point - her mother came into the room (on some other errand), and said "What?".

I passed the book to the mother to show her what it said and her response was:

"I have a cleaner. Why should my daughter do cleaning if I don't?"

This may have been a rhetorical question by I was so stunned I sort of spluttered:

"Um, because maybe when she moves out of home and can't afford a cleaner she will need to know how to do these things."

Now I have heard of people not getting their kids to do chores before but I have never met anyone who actually lived that. I mean to be 9 years old and never swept?!? or done the dishes?!? To me that is very scary.

Mindset ....

What can we learn from this news article? ...

Women targeted by armed sex attacker in West Perth

POLICE believe the same man is responsible for separate attacks on two women in West Perth.

In the first incident March 30, a woman was sexually assaulted by a man carrying what was believed to be a handgun.

The 19-year-old was walking along Ord Street at about 8.30pm when the man approached her and lifted his shirt to reveal what appeared to be a handgun tucked into the waistband of his trousers.

He then sexually assaulted her in a nearby alley.

On Sunday April 29, a 26-year-old woman walking along Colin Street about 4.15pm and confronted in similar circumstances.

The man also lifted his jumper to reveal what looked like a handgun.

The woman threw her handbag at him and ran away.

Police say the man was seen riding off on a motorcycle which had been parked on Emerald Terrace.

The woman's Gucci handbag has not been found.

Police believe the offences were committed by the same man, who is described as being aged between 35 to 45 years, with fair skin, about 175cm to 185cm tall, and a medium build.

He was wearing a pair of grey knee-length shorts, a dark hooded jumper and a baseball cap during the first attack.

During the second incident, he was wearing a pair of grey knee-length shorts, a grey hooded jumper, baseball cap, and sunglasses.

On both occasions he was carrying a black backpack.

Anyone who saw the man in the area or has any information is asked to contact crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

(BTW this is right near where I work - when I go into work!)

Yep ....

The last few posts have made their way around the internet and gathered various comments which have been interesting to read. 

Firehand made this point in his post:
...

"All anyone has to do to get along in peace with me is leave me and mine alone; it'll all be smiles and happiness. But if they threaten me I'll do whatever it takes; they open the door to violence, they've got no right to whine because more than they expected walks through."


---
 
YEP!

Why do I own guns .... a few more questions

In my previous post I said that there were really only two valid reasons for owing anything - need and want.

However, when we're talking about guns it seems that these two aren't enough.  For some reason we seem to need to qualify our decision further.  Which is fine by me because I've got lots to say on the topic!

(Can you imagine questioning the next door neighbour about his boat in the way we get questioned about guns:

"Hi Bill ... that's a BOAT", "BOATS kill people.  That girl got seriously injured in that boat accident and now the guy wont pay.  You don't want a BOAT.  People can get KILLED by BOATS. Why have you got a BOAT?  You want to kill people."

"Um, well no, I just want to go down the Swan River with my family on Sunday afternoons.")

Can't see it happening?  Nope, nor can I.  But it is true.  People do get killed by boats, pillows, cars, cricket bats, stairs, etc etc all the time.  However, it only seems that guns (and occasionally) knives draw a level of hysteria that is really out of all proportion to anything.

So I guess I'll answer the MAJOR question first:

"Did I buy a gun to kill someone?"

No, I did not.  The fact that I haven't killed anyone should attest to this.

"Would I ever want to kill someone?"

No, I never WANT to kill anyone.  However, when the choice is clearly them or me/my family I would prefer that the one who ended up dead or maimed was "them".  I am not willing to bear violence without defending myself and I am willing to use whatever tool I have to hand to do this.  This does not mean that I go out looking for fights or put myself in dangerous situations.  In fact, if I never work violence against another human being ever I will be extremely happy.

I believe that avoiding danger is preferable, if that can't be done then running away is the next best thing, if you're not going to be able to do that then you fight and you fight to win.

"Why don't you just call the cops if you can't run away?"

To this question I have two different reactions:

a) It takes WAY TOO LONG for the cops to get to you, even if you were right outside the cop shop, by the time you've relayed the information to the 000 operator (yes, folks, it's 000 here in Australia) and they've contacted the cops it will be over (btw if the guy was armed and you managed to mention this to the operator you'll probably have to wait for the TRG (SWAT) and that will take even longer);

b) I don't understand why something people are willing to "sub-contract" out their safety and well-being to someone else just because that guy wears blue.  Sure he's got a job to do, and I wouldn't want their job.  But you can bet your last dollar his job isn't primarily about you.

So let me restate this so there is no confusion.  I DO NOT WANT TO KILL ANYONE EVER, however, if there is no other alternative open to me then I am willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure that I (or my family) walk away.  Whether that involves the use of a gun, a car, a branch or bare hands is irrelevant.

It's not about guns.  Guns are just things.

Why should I own guns when there are no zombies to kill?

This question comes from Ricochet (slightly reworded), an Aussie blogger who has starting to think about guns.

She says:

“The fact still seems to remain that unlike cars, gardening implements, cricket bats and other things that could at a pinch be turned into weapons against the living or the undead, guns were specifically designed to kill or injure.

It isn't a side effect or bonus feature, it's what they're designed for.

Just because you aren't using them for that and God/Gods/Flying Spaghetti Monster/Universe-willing never intend to use them for that purpose doesn't take away from the fact that's what they're designed to do.

So the idea of going out and purposefully purchasing something that could be used to quite easily kill someone... someone who wouldn't have a chance to get close enough to fight back or defend themselves... it doesn't sit quite right with me.”

Now rather than discuss the history of cricket bats, or debate whether guns are actually designed solely for the purpose of killing, I’m going to look at the mindset behind this.

Ricochet is concerned about buying something that is designed to kill.  This just shows how far we have come from our roots - meat is sourced plastic wrapped from the supermarket.  Nothing in our ‘modern day’ environment dictates that we need to be able to kill to survive.  But that's not where things started from.

We were designed to kill – doesn’t matter how you wrap it, that’s what we’re all about.  So let me reword a sentence of hers:

“Just because you aren't doing what you’re designed to do … doesn't take away from the fact that's what you’re designed to do.”

 Yep folks, we were designed to kill to survive – food and predators.   And if we weren’t living in a “relatively safe” first world country we might actually experience more of this than we currently do.

So guns are designed to kill, and so are we, now what?

Does this mean that we all go and out and kill? No, of course not. 

To me it means that maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question.  Maybe rather than asking “can I own anything that is designed to kill” we need to ask ourselves “why should I own a gun?”  A bit like asking “why should I own a drill?”

So why should you own a gun, or a drill or anything else?

There are only two valid reasons for owning anything – need or want (tempered by the ‘can you afford it’ question).

Assuming the “can you afford it” question is answered in the positive – if you can answer  “yes” to either the “do you need it?” or “do you want it?” question then no further questions need to be asked.

Why do I own guns? Because I want to, and can afford to.

There are a lot of sub-clauses to why I want to own a gun, including:- 

• I enjoy target shooting; 
• I find shooting IPSC matches challenging; 
• I enjoy hunting and sourcing my own meat; 
• I enjoy sharing the hobby of shooting with my family.

Why do you own guns?

Poll on SMH

The Sydney Morning Herald is running a poll asking "Do our gun control laws go far enough?".


Under the poll they have four opinions, one from a hunter, a gun control advocate, a policemen and the mayor of Moree Plains Shire.


Robert Borsak ('the hunter') makes this point "THE spate of drive-by shootings in Sydney is not the result of insufficient gun control laws, or even criminal law, in this state. It is already illegal to shoot an unregistered firearm in a built-up area without regard to human life. There are three or more charges that could arise from this act alone. The problem is that there is a minority of people who do not care what the law says."


Michelle Fernando ('the advocate') seems to want gun laws tightened up so that unlicensed people can not shoot guns. WHICH IS A VERY SCARY THOUGHT and I hope the NSW gun owners fight this tooth and nail.


(Just as an aside, I had a look at a news report on the shooting of her father.  The article I found was here and does raise some interesting questions).


Scott Weber ('the policeman') says "We need a war on guns, with greater focus on stopping guns entering the country in the first place, and schemes in place to get the guns in circulation off the streets."


The one that I found most interesting was Katrina Humphries ('the mayor'), this is her comment:


LOCKS keep honest people out. Signs are for honest people to obey. Rules are for honest people to follow. Gun laws are for honest people and when guns were outlawed the outlaws kept their guns.


Zero tolerance for  illegal gun dealers and users is possibly the only way to clean up this mess, along with sizeable cash rewards for information leading to arrests of persons involved in gun crimes.  Perhaps strong mandatory jail terms for the perpetrators would also be a deterrent.
Some say our jails are overcrowded now; too bad – build more, of lesser quality, so the jail experience is a punishment not a reward. Customs also needs to be tighter.


All these solutions will take a lot of money to fund, but if governments are serious then the proceeds of crime need to be quarantined to help fund these extra measures.


We also need to start properly supporting our police.  Eyewatch is a new type of community watch network that could really take off.  Imagine the benefit to a community if there were six or eight extra sets of eyes and ears in every street. It is a real option and residents can take part without being found out by their  neighbours.


It is my belief that the politically correct and the do-gooders of this country are bringing our fantastic lifestyle and happy-go-lucky nature to their  knees.


Time is of the essence and it is only a matter of time until some poor innocent bystander, even a child, is killed in this gangland-style raiding that is happening night after night.


NSW needs to be the leader in criminal reform in Australia.  If there was ever a time for some gutsy leadership, a strong judicial system and big monetary rewards, it is now.  Lock them up and throw away the keys – there is no room in our precious world for suburban warlords and lawless communities.


Our brave police should be honoured and supported and while ever there is no respect for the law there will be no peace for law-abiding citizens. Fear should not be the burden of the honest and decent majority in our communities; it should be used as a weapon against those who wish to break the law.


If you're in Australia, particularly in NSW please go and vote in the poll and if you want to see the continuation of gun ownership fight against the petitions, like those presented by Michelle Fernando, by supporting people like Robert Borsak and Mayor Humphries.

ANZAC Day - some photos

Today was a good day.  Started early, up at 5am for the local dawn service - here we are waiting for the march to start:

Miss 8 carried one of the flags.

Just after dawn they marched to the local war memorial

Here's a look across the Scouts and part of the crowd

You can see everyone standing in the picture.  When the first veterans in the march entered the park everyone stood and most people remained standing for the duration of the service.

I thought the rememberence service itself was really good.  The focus was on those who had given their lives in service, but also those who were disabled as a result of serving were also remembered.  Mention to was made for the families of those who have and do serve and they were thanked for their part.

After the service we didn't stay for the breakfast that was provided but headed up to the Scout Leader's place for breakfast and a chat.  We ended up staying there until about 11am.

[UPDATE] Here is a link to pictures taken at war memorial at Kings Park.[/UPDATE]

ANZAC Day - April 25th

ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War (1914-1918).

While ANZAC day still remembers these brave men, the meaning has been widened to be a rememberence for all those who served and who gave their lives serving.

As a result, this one day in the year involves the whole of Australia in solemn ceremonies of remembrance, gratitude and national pride for all our men and women who have fought and died in all wars.

This year news.com.au has invited people to write in with their memories of their service or of family members who have served.  It is well worth checking out here.

As Scouts are allowed to march in the ANZAC marches we will be at Gosnells at 6am for the girls to join the march to the war memorial and the remeberence service. 

Later in the day we will be going down to Fremantle to have a look at the visiting US Navy ships, including the USS Carl Vinson.

Vocation Vacations

Came across the idea of a working holiday scheme at Maggie's Farm. Sounds like a great idea to me - wonder if there is something similar available in Australia.

Oh and I was disappointed to see that Firearms Instructor wasn't on the list!

Green jobs ....

green jobs (n.): A category of employment properly viewed as belonging to the realm of mythology or fantasy, like the chimera, leprechaun, or centaur; jobs not tangibly observable in the real world but existing in the dreams of ‘progressives’.

(Appropriated from Adaptive Curmudgeon)

10 years on ...

I haven't checked out other blogs today, I guess there are a number who have commented on the 10th anniversary of "9/11".

For me it's an interesting anniversary. You see, Miss 10 was born at 10.31pm on Sept 10th 2001. Therefore my memories of 9/11 are viewed through the eyes of a very tired new-mum.

The overriding memories of that time are "disbelief". I saw a video of the plane hitting the first tower with the sound off on the TV. I had no idea of what I was watching and it wasn't until I saw one of our news reporters, sans makeup, come on that I turned the sound on.

Many people died that day, some basically just going about their normal days work. Others there trying to help. Others standing up against hijackers preventing probably more deaths. Some of those who died were the perpetrators of the horror.

Many also have died since - fighting the threat at the source so that their country can be safe.

Many are still fighting to preserve the safety of those "back home".

Let's hope that their fighting and sacrifice isn't in vain and that we never see another "9/11" ever again!

Homeowner charged with manslaughter ...

It will be interesting to see how this one goes:-

Intruder shot, leaves 50m blood trail on street before dying in gutter

A SYDNEY gangster armed with a World War II pistol has been shot dead in a botched Gold Coast home invasion believed to be linked to drugs.

The man, 34, was shot in the leg with a vintage Luger pistol after a struggle with the homeowner at Silvereye Circuit in Gilston in the Gold Coast Hinterland in the early hours of Tuesday morning.



Sources say the 29-year-old homeowner told police he arrived home about 1.40am to be confronted by four masked men inside the house.

He told police he wrestled with one of the intruders and the gun discharged, the bullet hitting the man's femoral artery.

Bleeding profusely, he staggered outside and into the street where he dropped dead, leaving a 50m blood trail in his wake.

This afternoon, police charged the homeowner with manslaughter. He is expected to face Southport Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.

Sources said drugs were believed to be at the centre of the shooting and the four men who took part in the home invasion had travelled up from Sydney.

Earlier, Gold Coast police regional crime co-ordinator Tim Trezise said said the spate of gun crimes on the Gold Coast, including the fatal shooting in May of police officer Damian Leeding, was upsetting the community and putting pressure on police.

"It continues to be a concern to police and the whole community in relation to firearm offences and offences of this ilk," he said.

--------------------------------------------------

There are two things in this article that I am not comfortable with:

1. The homeowner being charged with manslaughter when it appears that he was confronted with armed home invaders and it was one of the home invaders' guns.

2. The reference to the "spate of gun crimes". I fear that this event and others of a similar nature this year will lead to more calls for increased regulation and legislation.

Source: Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/man-shot-dead-in-house-in-gold-coast-hinterland-house/story-e6frfkvr-1226092957377#ixzz1RtqkBS00

[UPDATE]Well he has been granted bail (against the wishes of the police). He'll be back in court on October 4th. Latest update here: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/man-who-shot-intruder-is-real-victim/story-e6frfku0-1226093741352[/UPDATE]