Letter to the editor

A civilian in Cairns carrying a military-styled replica rifle was detained after a dumb member of the public complained to police this week.

The officers charged the man for carrying a replica in public although it was inoperable and not a real firearm.

A cadet unit getting shooting instruction. In the 60’s and early 70’s young cadets took their rifles home on the train or bus among the public without a second look or problem. Today the police para-military SWAT squad would surround the bus or train, shut down three blocks, call the bomb-squad robots, isolate the bus and get a negotiator in to disarm the poor cadet. These unnecessary antics are thanks to Whitlam and today’s ALP.

What would today’s paramilitary police have done 40 years ago when Army cadets between the ages of 14 and 18 carried home from their school units SMLE .303 rifles that could be fired if the cadet had any ammo.

I remember when I was at school in the army cadets and was a member of the shooting team. In the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s there was no paranoia about guns as we have now.

I would carry home a SMLE .303 from the school armoury on the bus ready to go on bivouac for the weekend at Greenbank or Canungra army training reserves.

People remembered then it was guns that kept the Japanese army from invading the north through New Guinea. The mischievous media today aided by the Labor and Liberal parties have demonised guns to the extent that they make it a great big deal if a house is raided and guns are found. Guns take precedent over dangerous drugs according to the media.

We can thank God there are still a few million unregistered guns in existence around the country because the only thing separating runaway government and citizens is guns.

When the trouble starts I would not like to be a member of the media or ALP or Liberal politician.

Has any Labor politician ever seen a gun fire of its own volition? No and they never will. It takes two to tango Mrs Premier.

When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have them!

-from a burnt out digger