With the tragic events in Sydney and France, I know some people are going to get upset about what I have to say.
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The current gun laws in Australia are not working.
Disarming law-abiding citizens never works and it only allows the criminal element to prosper.
Australian citizens should be allowed to carry concealed weapons the same as in the USA.
Now I know some are going to say, what do you know?
We'll, I returned back to Parkes in July after living in the USA for 13 years; 11 of those years were in law enforcement and private security.
I was shot twice by criminals, but I also came into contact with law abiding citizens on a daily basis with concealed carry permits that were armed with no problem at all.
The concealed carry laws there allow law abiding citizens to carry a weapon.
To get that permit one must pass a background and psychological check, do a certified course and pass a shooting test.
Those with felony convictions cannot have a weapon and there is harsh jail time for convicted felons caught with firearms.
Just think that if in that café or the newspaper office, there were two or three people with concealed carry permits.
The innocent people who got killed and those wounded would be alive and well today.
It's time for the people of this country to stand up and start demanding our rights to protect ourselves and our property.
It's fine to say let the police handle it but what is the police response time?
Even if it's only a matter of minutes some innocent person could die.
Because the Australian public has been disarmed, break and enters, home invasion and other violent crimes were on the rise and will continue to rise because the criminals know they can get away with it.
Even if they get caught they know they are only going to be given a slap on the wrist from the court system.
I will add that in the USA, they have the Castle Doctrine where citizens can protect their homes, property and life by using up to and including deadly force.
Australia really should look at the prison system in the USA as well.
Prison time is meant to be a punishment not a holiday camp.
In the USA, prisoners have no rights; they lose those rights the minute they are found guilty.
You don't see cells over there with a tv or mini kitchen, and most prisoners are locked in their cells for up to 23 hours a day.
Unless they are lucky enough to get a job in the prison.
I know this letter is going to cause some controversy but really Australia, it’s time to wake up and smell the roses and get some people in government not only at the federal level but state and local levels who are going to stand up for what's right and not back down.
People who are going to listen to the citizens and do what the citizens want, and not force their own agenda onto the rest of Australia.
Russell Barber,
Parkes.