I'm back

Well, I've just got back from Brisbane - with my magazine :)

For those who don't know, I went to Brisbane last Tuesday for a "meet & greet" and induction with my new job.  I'll be working here in Perth but reporting to a manager in Brisbane.

It was a good couple of days.  Met the manager & two team mates.  They all seem lovely and the work environment is very positive.  I'm looking forward to meeting the other members of the company who work in Perth next week.  I'll be working alongside the Perth team and from what I've heard they're really nice too.

Oh and I've got a new iPhone!  And I've almost figured out how to work it!

I did manage - thanks to my new boss, who gave me a lift out there - to get to Qld Gun Exchange before they closed on Thursday evening and I picked up the magazine.

It was funny at the airport as the guy who was checking me in hadn't checked in anyone with just a magazine before and he thought that it didn't need to be checked in as a "restricted item".  However when he rang the baggage handlers "out the back" they didn't know what to do either so it was decided that it was probably best to put it through as "restricted" rather than risk it.  He was fascinated that a female would be interested in shooting and was asking me heaps of questions.  He reckons he would like to give it a go - shame he's on the other side of the country, makes it difficult to take him to a range.

He didn't even charge me for checking luggage (my company hadn't booked any for me, although they were willing to reimburse me if I did check luggage).

The benefit with checking it in as an "restricted item" was that it was the first bag off the plane and hand-delivered to me at the "oversized baggage claim".

Anyway home now - after a 4 and a bit hour flight - at least I had an empty seat next to me so that I could stretch out.

Groan ...

Just heard on the news headlines tonight "Following a haul of firearms in Perth's south, police have called for a review of firearms licensing legislation."

So I went looking for the story.  From today's news:

THIRTEEN firearms, including pump action shotguns and assault rifles, several thousands of rounds of ammunition, cash and drugs were found at a home in Perth's southern suburbs yesterday.

A search of the Port Kennedy home yesterday allegedly uncovered the cache of firearms, methylamphetamine, knives, ninja stars, batons, machetes, laser pointers and just under $18,000 in cash.

Some of the ammunition allegedly found in the home was scattered all over the house police say, some of it in children's bedrooms.

A replica AK-47 assault trifle and four different kinds of pistol ammunition were also allegedly found inside the home.

A 36-year-old man, a former security guard, has been charged over the haul and will face court later this month.

This morning, police laid bare the massive haul of weapons, cash and drugs allegedly seized from the home.

Detective Sergeant Chris Turner from the Peel District Crime Team said although the firearms were licensed and locked away when police found them yesterday, they were seized because of the large amount of unlicensed ammunition allegedly found at the home.

Det. Sgt. Turner said two young children were home at the time police searched the house.

“None of the ammunition, all bar a few boxes were secured, it was all just lying in various areas around the house,” Det. Sgt. Turner said.

“It is frightening that someone who lives in a residential area should have that many firearms.

“All the other weapons were all located in his bedroom. The machete and the baton were all just sitting next to his bed.”

Det. Sgt. Turner said inquiries were still ongoing as to how the man had allegedly obtained the weapons.

The 36-year-old man faces 23 charges, including possessing a controlled weapon, possessing a prohibited weapon, drug possession with intent to sell or supply and unlicensed ammunition possession.

He will appear in the Rockingham Magistrates Court on March 30.


Emphasis mine.


I have bolded the sections of this which are of the most interest to me.  Firstly, the firearms were all licensed and stored in accordance with the legislation (well I'm assuming that what is meant by "locked away").  However they were sieved because of the unlicensed ammunition.


Here you can not possess ammunition (or components of ammunition) unless you have a caliber of that firearm on your licence.


Secondly, and this is the bit that concerns me most is the "it is frightening that someone who lives in a residential area should have that many firearms"!!!!


Why?  What difference does it make if someone has two or two hundred firearms?


I'm certainly hoping that this doesn't prompt a review of firearms legislation as I'ld like to get a new one in the very near future.

New category ...

I've decided to create a new category for some of my blog posts, namely "Newbies on the Range".

I've not finished going through all my past posts yet to put them in this category but there are quite a few posts already in there - the newest addition is the post below this one ....

It's great getting folks who have never shot (or in most cases never seen a gun) up to the range.  Even better when they go onto become club members and shooters themselves.

Newbie on the range

Last year we took a group of scouts to the range.  One of the Leader's partners didn't come.  I didn't actually realise she wanted to, but couldn't, until a discussion last week.  Once I found out that she was interested I organised another trip - for tomorrow.  However, work intervened again so we went up yesterday.

After watching the ICORE competition that was running, for about half an hour, we found an unoccupied range, set up two targets and got the guns out.  Now she had shot as a young adult but hadn't touched a gun in years so I started with my Ruger 22/45.  We then moved onto my 9mm Springfield and then as the ICORE guys were packing up I asked a friend if she could have a try of his "fully decked out and worked" 38 super Revolver.  She had a lot of fun with all of the guns (and her partner also had a few shots - he is annoyingly accurate).

We then put the handguns away and got out the rifles.  I had two with me, a single shot Stirling (.22lr) and a lever action Winchester.  The Stirling had iron sights, the Winchester had a scope.  Unfortunately, she didn't feel comfortable with either rifle - we tried freehand and resting - but it just didn't work for her.

I then got out my Tuffy .410 shotgun and she had a shot of that off the shoulder.  I did tell her to told it tight and pull it in but she did get quite a kick :(  She enjoyed it more shooting at arms length.

By this time the range was empty, but luckily the stages had been left up.  So we went down to an all steel range which was quite a challenging shoot and used up the rest of my 9mm (unfortunately I only took a 100 rounds with me).  I then shot the steel with the .22.

All in all a fun day.  Will have to get her up to the range again with a few different rifles to see if we can find one that she's happy to shoot.

Oh, and I'm still going up the range on Monday - with more newbies - so stay tuned!

I like this kid ...

Discussion with Miss 8 in the kitchen this morning, she's (very competently) helping me cook.  Dad walks in ...

Me: "Dad, isn't it good that Miss 8 is so competent in the kitchen"

Dad: "It is, she'll be able to look after us when we're old."

Miss 8: "That's not long off."

Me: "Gee, thanks!"

Miss 8: "I was talking to dad!"

Me: "Lol, thanks."

Miss 8: "Yes, Dad wants me to push his wheelchair for him ... " pause "into a ditch."

I certainly hope there's more to this story ....

From today's news:

A 27-YEAR-OLD woman was stabbed with a screwdriver and bitten during an attack in Cooloongup overnight.

A police spokeswoman said the woman was sitting in her car in a friend's driveway in Park Drive chatting at about 12.30am when a group of juveniles approached her and asked for money.

When the woman said she did not have any money, her friend went inside the house to get some and, upon returning, discovered the 27-year-old had been stabbed in the face, arms, chest and leg, and had been bitten several times.

The police spokeswoman said the woman managed to escape from the car and run inside the house to call the police.

When police arrived at the home, they saw the car being stolen and after a short chase the car was stopped in Calista Road, Wellard.

The police spokeswoman said four juveniles, three females and one male, were taken into custody and are assisting police with inquiries but that no charges have yet been laid.

*Emphasis mine

I sure hope there's more to the story as this absolutely amazes me - "her friend went inside the house to get some [money]" - they were in a CAR, why didn't they just start the engine and drive away? or lock the car when they saw the bunch of kids approaching (I mean it was 12.30am) ... must be more to this than is reported ...

Not sure whether I should be proud or concerned ..

When my girls ask "What calibre for this?" while walking through the clothes section at the local department store whenever they spotted an animal print / "fur" item.


[Update]Horrific grammar corrected somewhat[/Update]