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Gun analysis
Aside from the gratuitous sensationalism and veiled innuendo of the headline “Staring Down the Barrel”, Albert McKnight’s article relating to local firearms ownership (BDN, 7/8/15) was both interesting and measured.
Nevertheless, had McKnight further analysed the statistics relating to the recent increase of gun ownership in the Tura Beach/Merimbula areas he would have discovered the following facts.
Both Merimbula and Tura Beach, particularly Tura Beach, have an average age demographic of 57 years.
The majority of inhabitants are retirees.
We are the weary baby boomers who have come here to enjoy our twilight years with rest and recreation.
Many are retired farmers, like me, who cut their teeth on a .22 rifle ridding our properties of feral pests.
We still like to visit our farming relatives and former neighbours to help keep down the foxes during lambing season.
Others of us joined the local rifle club to shoot targets.
Even in my short street I know of four retired farmers and one former Australian champion clay target shooter.
Perhaps these anecdotal statistics might answer McKnight’s question as to why gun ownership has increased in this area over the past five years.
It is also worth noting, and I’m sure our local constabulary will attest, that the Tura Beach and Merimbula area has one of lowest crime rates in the country.
That said, one should consider that the 800,000 plus licenced firearms holders in this country are the largest single group of police-vetted individuals by a factor of around five to one.
In fact, we of the Australian shooting fraternity are now the largest body of confirmed and monitored law abiding citizens in our countries history.
In my 50 years as a shooter of most disciplines, including a term as a Victoria Police firearms safety instructor, I can’t remember an instance where a licensed firearms owner (notwithstanding rare, accidental shootings) has ever shot a member of the public.
I’d like to think that we - generally speaking - are the good guys.
Scott Buckingham
Tura Beach
Slap in the face
I hope that I am wrong but it appears that the Labor-appointed current CEO of Australia Post is following the blue print that has happened to all our great publicly owned assets.
At $5million a year, the CEO is surrounded by newly-appointed $500,000 dollar a year yes people with no Australia Post experience.
All the experienced corporate knowledge people who have turned Australia Post into one of the wonders of the world in public asset success stories are sacked.
Sure Australia Post is facing the challenge of a lifetime with the digital revolution.
But it seems even Labor - who says they trust the Australian work force, one that made a great success out of the organisation - they feel a CEO merchant banker with no experience in running the iconic organisation that reaches into every corner of this huge diverse nation, the way to go?
To me it seems like a slap in the face of the entire Australia Post workforce.
Lee Chittick
Bega
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