Guns and Politics - a framework for understanding
To understand gun politics in Australia, we need to understand
our society and the motivations of certain members of it. The Marxist
class-centred view has failed us but that is what informed the educators of
today's citizens. Feminist and other special-pleading groups now
appear to own most of the political spectrum. Rich versus Poor, Black
versus white, Muslim versus westerner... here is a not-so-new alternative
interpretation that makes sense of the Republic referendum outcome, anti-racism,
gun politics and other manifestations of political correctness. Read Article... A Conflict of
Values
When a political act needs justification the politician looks
for a judge who appears impartial. The judge he
appointed this time was not the politician's stooge; this judge was the one who
PLANNED the political act. Read Article...
Science in the Service of Politics
Media Bias - is it just shooting the messenger, or does the profession of
journalism let us down with its prejudice?
Read Article... Spinning a
Tale
How are we to evaluate the confiscation of sporting guns of
1996-97? Despite repeated outbursts of self-congratulation, the evidence
of benefit is arguable, to say the least. Read Article...Study
Shows No Evidence of Buyback Benefits
The 1996-97 confiscation was one of the largest government
seizures of personal property in Western history. It seems to be
taboo to submit it to benefit-cost analysis, as criminologists fail to prove
clear benefits. This article examines the costs it imposed on Australian
society Read Article... Cost Analysis
of The 1996-97 Australian Gun Buyback
The so-called uniform gun laws contain some
inconsistencies and absurdities. In many cases, provisions are founded in
prejudice rather than any kind of evidence that the measures will give a
benefit. Some ideas that sounded great to those without practical
experience act as costly barriers to legitimate participation in shooting
sports.
We think it is time to create a new legal framework based on
evidence of benefit. Proposed article... An Evidence-Based Framework for
Firearms Regulation
Civil disobedience is a common challenge to laws that offend
normal human inclinations. It is legitimised in much left-wing political
activity, in the protests such as those that led to Indian independence from
Britain, and celebrated in modern liberal values on the environment, race and
sexuality. What is the extent and nature of civil disobedience to
Australian gun laws? How much further could it go? Proposed article... Reactance, Civil Disobedience and
Australian Freedoms
Australian police forces have unique cultures and problems.
Law-abiding citizens including shooters see the best of them in most
transactions, and have a very positive view of their role and their integrity.
In politics though, police efforts are reactionary, over-prescriptive and
challenge Australians to defend their freedoms. Proposed article...
Police and Prejudice in Firearms Regulation
The radical activist groups that make up the anti-gun movement
exploit good people's natural desire to be on the side of righteousness.
What the media don't say about them is appalling... Proposed article... Activism and Prejudice:
Self-Righteousness in Gun Control
Human rights include the right to peaceable enjoyment of ones
property, the right to peaceably go about your business, the right to the
benefits of your good reputation, and the right to defend your life and freedom
against unlawful aggression. Falsehoods spread by Australian government
agencies and Australian police challenge these basic rights of Australians.
In 2000, Dr Lech Beltowski wrote this article on self-defense.
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