OK, so I've copped a bit of a nailing for typing and running, or at least appearing to - fair cop. Apologies, but I have had my 1 and 3 yr olds today (Mon) and we were out yesterday, no time for sitting at the computer. Most of us have kids so hopefully someone will appreciate the extent to which they, especially at this age can occupy *all* your time!
As mentioned in another comment of mine, there are no easy answers to these questions and we live in an imperfect world - that is true. Not everyone is going to do the right thing regardless of law etc. In addition, I confess to having little deep understanding of the legislation and perhaps even less of the group at nohunting.com.au. Perhaps had I not jumped in so quickly and actually read everything on their site, I might have had a different approach. My bad. So there
However - it is a legitimate debate which may to some extent affect members of this group more than the average Joe. As for me being the OP - frankly, who gives a #$@ what I think? As the OP, my views have no more/less legitimacy than those of anyone else other than I threw something up for discussion. Sadly it does look like I ran in, slapped someone on the arse and ran away... Apologies. It's great to have other views and I hope to get a more balanced perspective (when I have time to go through all the posts!). I try to be open to all sides, for what it's worth.
There was a memorable event which has probably helped shape my views - especially now as a dad - that involved some exposure to a potentially threatening gun/alcohol situation camping at Abercrombie Nat Pk some years ago (near Oberon). Some of you may have been there - you'd certainly remember this event.
Anyway, a bunch of blokes turned up at our campsite after midnight in utes with pigdogs, guns and stacks of grog (most of these blokes were pissed). All the kids in our group were asleep at this time and the boys were having a few and telling silly stories around the campfire as they arrived. These blokes (about 7 or so) imposed themselves on us and tensions rose fairly quickly, especially when one of them decided to wander through our campsite and wake up all the wives/kids shouting abuse. About 2-3 hrs later, they finally drove away firing their guns as they did.
At face value, probably not a terribly dangerous/exciting event but there were some fairly shaken dads and the general view that had things escalated - who knows? I'm assuming they were shooting illegally, so this debate is probably less about them in honesty, but one can't help forming the view that had there been no guns there at all, perhaps a broken nose and a few black eyes were the worst that could have happened (unless some pissed off idiot drove through our tents...).
How would you apprehend such blokes anyway? You'd have to assume there was a possibility they'd defend themselves with whatever means they had available (including a booze-diminished intellect). For interest's sake, how would law abiding hunters deal with them, given that they would be unimpressed by such delinquency?
So where does this leave me? At this point I'm still trying to form a more balanced view - and yes, I have enjoyed shooting on many occasions, including a few rounds of an AK47, a 44, shotties etc. It's a good feeling to hold such power...
Hope I've somehow restored some OP dignity and fairness! For me at this point - maybe I'll say the jury is out on this one... It is good to hear other sides to it I must say.
Cheers and thanks,
Dave (...perhaps a little more confused than convinced now...)
