Handguns down under, an insight

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Dingoboyx

New member
I have been suprised by how many of you guys in the US were suprised we actively shoot handguns here in Oz.

It is very strict over here, but we can get handgun licences, although you have to jump thru many hoops to get there. Here it is a privelage to shoot handguns, we have nothing like the second ammendment to make it a right. We have 5 states and 2 Territories.... oh, and Tasmania. I am in Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) in the nations capital, so I really only am familiar with our licencing (and hoops)

We are only allowed to hold a handgun licence to shoot club competitions. No hunting, not for protection, no carry (open, concealed or otherwise) Our guns have to be kept in safes at all times, unless going to the range and back (then they have to be in a locked container, cabled or bolted to the vehicle, out of public view)

In Canberra, we have one main shooting complex, SSAA (Sporting Shooters Association Australia) range houses everything from 2 Black Powder clubs, Air Rifle/pistol clubs, SSPC (Sporting Shooters Pistol Club) , IPSC, SASA, Cowboy Lever Action, Benchrest, Silhouett, Hunting Rifle and Large Bore Rifle clubs, and a very active Shotgun club (skeet/trap) The range is always humming, thats for sure.

To get a handgun licence, you have to join a club, get a criminal history check, references from 2 folk who you can convince to write a letter saying you arent an axe murderer, do an approved safety course, shoot with your club under instruction for 6 months, then you get a licence. After this, you can shoot at the club and after a 6 month probation period, can buy an air pistol?? and a .22 pistol. I was lucky, shooting black powder, I was allowed a .44 Ruger Old Army and a Vaquaro 44-40. (whew) Here in OZ, you arent allowed bigger than 9 mm/.38 but shooting black and SASA (Cowboy Action) we can have up to .45 (single action revolver) and as many guns as you can justify having.

To maintain a handgun licence, you have to shoot 6 club competitions a year for your first (primary) club, and 4 times a year for each other club you belong to. The firearms registrar (government) has to have proof, and if you have a gun, that it is used. If not, you loose it! When you buy a gun, it has to go thru a licenced dealer, both at the sellers end, and at the buyers end. There is a 28 day waiting period, and the registrar has to be approving (letter from your club accompanies your "permit to Acquire a Firearm") Not so strict for longarms, If you want it for hunting, you have to have a letter from a land owner to say you can shoot on his land... (They (the govt.) check) and you have to do a hunting course.

See, how easy is that?
So, I shoot black powder pistol club, Cowboy action club, and with the local police (Protective Services) pistol club. As well as these clubs, I also am a keen collector, which is another licence again. Collectors are not allowed to display anything, there is no old guns on walls or in cabinets here in Oz.

So my list of shooting toys are: 2 Ruger old army .44's, 2 Pietta .44 (Rem 1858 copy) 1 Euroarms of America .44 (Rem 1858 copy) Uberti Colt Dragoon .45, 2x Ruger Vaquaro's (1x .44. mag, 1x .44-40) Walther P22, Glock 34, Marlin 23" cowboy .44 mag (lever), Winchester '94 "Little Big Horn" 44-40 (lever), Rossi coachgun (with hammers), and an Indian copy of a 2 band enfield smoothebore .662 precussion cap muzzle loader (named "Bertha") made by S.Inisfali & son.

On my collectors licence I have a US revolver break action, hammerless pocket .32 (S&W) a Belgian hammered pocket revolver .320 cal, a Webley pocket .32 semiauto, a Savage .32 pocket semiauto, and an ex Chillean Army 1911 Styer 9mm.

So, its all happening here down under, you just have to keep jumping thru those hoops.... We have lots and lots of sheeple here against guns, like over there but x10. I cringe every time a criminal uses any sort of firearm in a crime, coz yup, we the legitimat shooters get the kicking every time. The sheeple see us firearm owners as criminals waiting to happen, just like over there (but worse)

Hope you enjoyed this (long) read, I just thought you might be interested.

A few pics also
Muzza;):D

Feel free to contact me.
If you are coming down under, you can contact SSAA Sporting Shooters Association Australia for all the info (google it)
 

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Thanks for sharing your experience.

I hope it motivates some more folks over here to support gun rights. Joining the NRA is a good step. They are not perfect, but I don't see many others fighting for 2A issues.

You could easily be describing our own future. We have flipped from a mostly rural farming population, to a mostly urban population over the last 100 years. City folks tend to elect politicians who don't like guns for anyone except their own security details. Almost all of our big city mayors are for strict gun control.
 
I feel very lucky to have been born where I was. Thank you so much for sharing that information! It really helps people like myself understand what it's like for people in other countries. So how are all those strict gun laws working out down there? Is there a lof of handgun violence?

Also, I know you can't own handguns for home protection, but if someone like you owns them legally for competitive shooting, can you also use them to protect yourself in your home? Can you own/use shotguns or rifles for home protection?
 
Thanx guys

Scorpion, there isnt ALOT of gun violence here (unless you ask the sheeple anti's) there is just enough to keep me cringing a few times a year :( Most of our gun problem is from accidents (kids shooting each other... etc) and usually in rural areas, where there is a .22 rifle, or 410 on the back porch, incase mum sees a fox or snake going after the chickens, or the like. This is highly illegal (to store a gun in the open), but way out west it does happen. Other than accidents (caused by gun owners stoopidity) violent gun crimes are few and far between. The bikies of course do drive by's and try and bump each other off, and in the major metro areas like Sydney & Melbourne they have gang related fights (Lebanese against the Asians or something), but funnily enough, it is nearly always criminals that do gun crimes? Strange, isnt it? What is equally strange, is that when one criminal gun act occurs, we the sporting shooters get all the fingers pointed at us and the gestapo leaning all over us :eek::barf: again!
Most brazen robberies over here are done with kitchen knives, screwdrivers, tire levers..... syringes with red stuff in it (alegedly full of aides), machetes etc... but they all come under the heading of "armed robberies" and and the Sheeples Republic of Australia gives us our share of kicking, again! :mad:

However, here we can walk around the streets (or drive) and be 99 percent confident there isnt a loony with a gun anywhere nearby. Plenty of road rage, but they generally only scream and shout and damage your car (I have an old ute like one of your eldorado's) with a 5 Litre V8, so I just drive off, if their car's in the way.... oh well :rolleyes:

Muzza
 
I'm sorry to hear that you have to jump through so many hoops and deal with all that read tape.
But at least you have some nice single action revolvers to show for it:cool:
 
Thanks Father Time

Yup, I'll jump thru any hoop, even a burning one, to keep my guns.... they are as much fun as you can have with your clothes on :eek::cool::D

A bit hard keeping up with supplies of late, everything is out of stock/back order over your way, due to certain political hassles you guys are having and everyone buying up. I am trying to get some .44 mag brass at the moment.... its rare as rocking horse doo doo at the moment. :rolleyes: lucky I still have a few hundred or so.

Heres a pic of me at one of our club shoots. My alias here in Oz is Cactus J. Slade (yup, out of The Villain, with Kirk Douglas) :D
Our group is called "The Majura Rangers" in Canberra, ACT
 

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Thank you much for sharing your story.

It makes me want to drive over to Larry's Pistol & Pawn and pick up another pistol or revolver. The whole process would not take more than 20 or 30 minutes, depending on traffic on the road and traffic in the store. And I can carry it out of the store loaded and concealed.

I am not bragging. I am simply reminded, once again, of how good we have it here in Alabama....

Boarhunter
 
"not for protection. Our guns have to be kept in safes at all times"

You didn't answer the question.

What WILL you do when the armed criminal breaks your door in and starts shooting your family?

Seems bizarre that a country would allow its citizens to own firearms but "not for protection".

Seems even more bizarre that the citizenry goes along with it.
 
WOW....No ccw.....say it ain't so Sam....

Thank God for those founding Fathers.....land of the free and home of the brave. Whoooooah

1st Marine Division
Vietnam 67-68
 
Knives and tire irons and syringes...this is what I've been saying to the antis for years. In countries where there are no guns, they still have murders and robberies. In Japan, they don't have mass shootings...they have mass stabbings. The worst thing about the mass stabbings in places like Japan and elsewhere is that no one around has a gun to stop them. These places need to realize that if the police are there to protect you, it is only out of luck. Their real function is to find the person who hurt you; stopping that person in the act is only a rare bonus.
 
Dingoboyx,

Maybe just your chosen wording, but your statement
we have nothing like the second ammendment to make it a right.
Click to expand...
is incorrect. The US Bill of Rights does not grant rights, it identifies the born with rights that the various forms of government in this country have a duty to protect :). However, it seems, that even here in the US, many people don't understand this, several of our politicians and law enforcement persons included :o.
 
Sounds like getting a license in New Jersey
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The whole US of A is but a few steps from equal or worse restrictions. Fortunately, The Heller decision, and continuing, may give us some hope.


The US Bill of Rights does not grant rights, it identifies the born with rights that the various forms of government in this country have a duty to protect . However, it seems, that even here in the US, many people don't understand this, several of our politicians and law enforcement persons included .
Click to expand...


Yepper, one of the most serious problems in the world today, IMO.
 
uponthestair

In Australia, if someone breaks into your house with an axe or a chainsaw, you are not allowed to shoot him. He might be there to ask if you have a chain sharpening file he could borrow, or a stone to sharpen his axe. Once the axe or chainsaw is embedded in your head, you may now go and get your gun and defend yourself without getting into too much poo. If you defend yourself and shoot him first you are in deep doo doo, jail time for murder :confused: You lose your guns, will never get another licence. The laws in Oz are FOR the criminals. A friend of mine in the town of (believe it or not) called "Gunning, NSW" had an antique shop in the main street. One night, 3:00 am sunday night/Monday morning, a burglar went up on the roof of the shop, lifted some iron off, climbed down a rope to steal stuff. He slipped and broke his leg. Steves insurance (public liability) did not cover the amount the theif sued him for and Steve went BANKRUPT! :mad::barf:

Guns in Australia are for Hunting (long arms) and target shooting. Handguns are for club competition shooting ONLY. No carry, No defence.... just target comp. If you have a tire iron beside your drivers seat (or baseball bat, steel pipe, large screw driver, hammer or other "weapon" and the police stop you and see it, you will be arrested for carrying an offensive weapon. If you are a licenced shooter, you will loose your guns. Tire levers, tools or sports equipment should be in the trunk, not in reach of the driver. It is so bad over here, if anybody gets an A.V.O. (Apprehended Violence Order) against you for whatever reason, deserved or not, you lose your guns. IE, if your ex wife who lives even in another state, rings the cops and says she "feels scared of you" you loose your guns. If you are siting or just looking thru a scope out of your shed down the driveway, even with no bolt or mag in it and a person walks or drives past and see's you, you loose your guns. If you show a mate your pistol in your loungeroom and someone see's it thru the window, you loose your guns..... its that simple. Ovr here you have to be so careful, there are sheeple everywhere.
Funny tho, on Sunday coming (15th March) our range is having an open day. Thousands of sheeple will come for a look and have a shot or 2 (and probably enjoy themselves) before going back to be sheeple anti's agin on monday :confused:

Muzza
 
Wdelack

Ok, we have nothing like your second ammendment to allow you to exercise your born with right to arm yourself for your and your families protection.

If a woman can prove (even if its not true, she has just been telling friends) a man has been beating her for years, if she stabs him in his sleep, she will probably get the public sympathy thing and get off lightly. But if he shoots an intruder who wants to kill him and rape her, the guy Will go to prison. The sheeple dont have any simpathy for gun owners, right or wrong.:barf:

Muzza
 
Over here, we can still even order the black powder replica guns thru the mail. Criminals apparently do not have the skills to operate them and show no interest whatsoever in aquiring them. Never read of someone shooting at each other with 1860 Colts or holding up banks with a flinlock rifle! Probably no one anymore has a clue to the power of a .44 Remington pistol loaded to a max charge! Although alot of hunters take advantage of the black powder rifle hunting seasons. Probably larger percentage use modern inlines with shotgun primers instead of caps. But many insist on traditional styles. I have a Parker Hale Enfield replica musketoon that is capable of firing a .58 cal. slug and I think it would be comparable to a modern shotgun firing a 20 ga. slug. Not low power at all. Friend, the arguements here are that if a criminal has a knife, club, sword, tire iron, etc. it is much better that way, as you can always escape from those! As if they would stand far off and warn you! Just the other day some buggar stabbed 4 people dead in their home. Did they have an excellent chance to escape the violence? Apparently not, and apparently had nothing to fight back with. Policies based on fallicies.
 
Hi Tom

In Victoria (the state south of New South Wales) until a few years back, black powder pistols were the same, in fact, they still arent classified as "firearms", they are classified as "lethal weapons" Many people used to drive down to Vic. and buy black powder revolvers, my guess is there are heaps still out there (or been handed in in the buy back.) Any firearm pre 1900 even now is not required to be licenced, but I am sure if someone was cought with one, big brother would find a way to step on them. The only reason a pre 1900 firearm would have to be registered is if you can buy factory ammo (in production) if factory ammo is not available, it doesnt require licencing.

Nearly everything over here is illegal now, crossbows of any size, double edged knives, swords (sharp or dull) bayonettes, stun guns/tazers, laser pointers, fire crackers (especially bangers and sky rockets) orange cannons (PVC tubing, capped end, hairspray, stuff in orange, aim at something, light hirspray....boom.... cannon) nun chucks, chinese throwing stars, butterfly knives, knuckle duster knives, switch blades (flick knives), scuba/snorkling spear guns, blow dart guns, slingshots....... its a wonder, but you still are allowed to have darts (that you throw at dartboards) steak knives and most kitchen knives and cleavers

Muzza :D
 
And I suppose the darts are regulated to have tips that do not extend more than 35mm. beyond the nose, perhaps? I had read about someone getting severe punishment for having a potatoe cannon made from plastic pipe. Probably could be in trouble in the US for indiscrete use of one also, such as shooting out a window with an Idaho spud, but it certainly would be a nuisance complaint probably. Nothing to get you sent into prison with the axe murderers. Can you imagine explaining to an axe murderer cellmate, that you are in for making a potatoe shoot across a field?:( Seems that our "civilised" societies are now responding to the madness of a few miscreants by compounding the madness. Fighting insanity with stupidity. May lead to the new dark ages?
 
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