Latest Measures in Queensland
Over the past five weeks I have been back to Australia and New Zealand to visit family. I must admit, nothing I saw there makes me regret moving to the States for a second.
The big news in Brisbane when we arrived was the arrest of a local high school teacher. Police found explosives at his house, as well as at least one home-made bomb. He had no obvious links with terrorist organizations. If he had any outstanding debts to settle or was merely off his rocker I couldn't say, since the media coverage was heavy on sensation and light on facts. But it took no time at all for the ripple effect to make itself felt.
Two days later the Mines Department sent letters to gun dealers stating that any new customer buying explosives could only do so with permission from their office. Fair enough, you might say, if we were talking C4 or even dynamite. You know, a real explosive. But this directive also covers any form of gun powder.
Admittedly, black powder could be considered an explosive. But any modern smokeless powder (as any shooter knows) is a propellant. It does not explode, it burns. When confined, it burns quickly enough to push a projectile or pellets down a barrel, accelerating as it goes. As an explosive it's probably less impressive than a pressurized aerosol can thrown in a fire. Not the stuff big bangs are made of, and certainly not the stuff our school teacher stashed under his house.
It seems they continue to use any excuse to tighten the noose, to make life more difficult and create more barriers for legitimate sportsmen in Australia. This measure was not reported in the media. Most shooters will first hear of it when they try to buy a can of IMR4064 or WST at their local gun shop, only to find out that their shooters license is no longer sufficient. Now they will need the express permission of Big Brother.
The big news in Brisbane when we arrived was the arrest of a local high school teacher. Police found explosives at his house, as well as at least one home-made bomb. He had no obvious links with terrorist organizations. If he had any outstanding debts to settle or was merely off his rocker I couldn't say, since the media coverage was heavy on sensation and light on facts. But it took no time at all for the ripple effect to make itself felt.
Two days later the Mines Department sent letters to gun dealers stating that any new customer buying explosives could only do so with permission from their office. Fair enough, you might say, if we were talking C4 or even dynamite. You know, a real explosive. But this directive also covers any form of gun powder.
Admittedly, black powder could be considered an explosive. But any modern smokeless powder (as any shooter knows) is a propellant. It does not explode, it burns. When confined, it burns quickly enough to push a projectile or pellets down a barrel, accelerating as it goes. As an explosive it's probably less impressive than a pressurized aerosol can thrown in a fire. Not the stuff big bangs are made of, and certainly not the stuff our school teacher stashed under his house.
It seems they continue to use any excuse to tighten the noose, to make life more difficult and create more barriers for legitimate sportsmen in Australia. This measure was not reported in the media. Most shooters will first hear of it when they try to buy a can of IMR4064 or WST at their local gun shop, only to find out that their shooters license is no longer sufficient. Now they will need the express permission of Big Brother.
posted by Warren at 7:16 PM
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