An acquantaince who is on Teaching Staff had this to say
"The shooter was an economics honours student who apparently struggled with English and his course. He was due to make a presentation today worth 100%. In a macroeconomics class a few hours before he pulled out a gun and started shooting. His frustration MAY have been a reason for the shooting. After leaving that room, he headed over to the history wing before shooting at people there."
It's disturbing that after this news, an American was being interviewed on tv saying that we shouldn't have banned the general public from owning automatic weapons. (I know not all American's are pro-gun ownership, probably the evil commercial TV station was looking for a controversial angle.)
That saddens me immensely. I think of those things as things that only happen in the US.
Our worst mass murderer killed 35 people in one day with a rifle at Port Arthur, a historic site in Tasmania. Single-handedly increased the country's murder rate for that year by 10%.
There are more murders per capita in the US. I'm pretty sure that there are also more people who one day just start offing random souls with a gun (most of the difference, IIRC, is made up of gun-related homicides). But, sadly, this sort of thing can happen pretty much anywhere.
It's disturbing that after this news, an American was being interviewed on tv saying that we shouldn't have banned the general public from owning automatic weapons. (I know not all American's are pro-gun ownership, probably the evil commercial TV station was looking for a controversial angle.)
I've met (and argued with) a guy who said much the same thing after the Port Arthur slayings. If we come to a situation where people should be expected to take firearms to a family outing or to a university, then I really don't know who's already won, but I'm pretty sure the rest of us have lost.
If we come to a situation where people should be expected to take firearms to a family outing or to a university, then I really don't know who's already won, but I'm pretty sure the rest of us have lost.
Wrod. Although I do think there is a difference between owning rifles for hunting, or even handguns for use on shooting ranges, and owning a gun "for protection." It's the logic of that last one that gets people into trouble.
Wrod. Although I do think there is a difference between owning rifles for hunting, or even handguns for use on shooting ranges, and owning a gun "for protection." It's the logic of that last one that gets people into trouble.
One of this guy's arguments (his weakest one, IMO) in favour of gun ownership was that Australia performed well in sports shooting competitions, eg the Olympics. The IOC being a recognised moral authority and all.
I agree that guns on shooting ranges aren't a problem. For that matter, they're work tools for some people, and not just security personnel; my in-laws have a farm and guns, and they have cause for the latter. Hunting squicks me, but that relates more to the idea of killing creatures for sport. It wouldn't really make much difference how they did it. (My supervisor, BTW, is an avid hunter.)
Yes, I have no problem with farmers, park rangers and the likes having guns. Anyway, many other people have permits to own guns too. Just not fully automatic ones.
Really I can't think of a reason why a regular ol' citizen is ever going to need an automatic weapon.
Buffistas.org - the voice of reason
It's such a relief to be here. {hugs to all}
I was just reading the news and coming here to ask if all the Melbourne Buffistas and their loved ones are OK. It's good to know they are.
The shooting happened on the sixth floor of the Robert Menzies building, which is home to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
I really hate to bring this up, but wouldn't this be where Angus teaches? Has he checked in?
I think Angus is still out ill. I am not, however, certain.
