Target-rich environment

-----------------------
The content on this webpage contains paid/affiliate links. When you click on any of our affiliate link, we/I may get a small compensation at no cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more info
-----------------------

Last updated on August 9th, 2017 at 02:01 pm

We’re a victim nation:

Australians are more likely than people in any other developed nation to find themselves the victim of a serious crime, including those of a sexual nature, a major international report has found.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, in its annual report comparing the group’s members on a range of issues, found Australia had the highest rate of victimisation.

Between 1990 and the latest available figures, the number of victims of crime increased in Australia.

A possible solution: guns.

Posted by Tim B. on 03/28/2006 at 12:41 PM
    1. Gosh, don’t let your Margo get ahold of this gem!

      Posted by Patricia on 2006 03 28 at 12:57 PM • permalink

 

    1. Now when I think of that tourism commercial- Lara Bingle all by herself on that beach, no assistance in sight, helpless – it will always make me want to be there for her, you know?

      Posted by paco on 2006 03 28 at 02:08 PM • permalink

 

    1. From a 2002 comment at timblair.blogspot.com:

      Veils, or at least scarves, may become popular in Germany, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands once word gets around that it’s a good way to keep from being raped.

      In view of

      Australians are more likely than people in any other developed nation to find themselves the victim of a serious crime, including those of a sexual nature, a major international report has found.

      perhaps it’s time to add Australia to the list.

      Posted by ErnieG on 2006 03 28 at 02:54 PM • permalink

 

    1. It would be interesting to know how they came to these conclusions and what they define as, for example, a crime of a sexual nature. It would be also interesting to know how often booze and drugs are behind such behaviour. For example, a bunch of boofheads get on the piss and end up in a fight or junkies smashing and grabbing.

      Ernie G, this is a quandary isn’t it? Making women wear scarves is undemocratic and blah, but (some) Australian women are rather notorious for not being very subtle in their dress or behaviour. Some Australian men aren’t either, for that matter.
      Personally, I wouldn’t want some of the boofheads I’ve met to be anywhere near firearms. Mind you, they seem to manage to stuff things up in other ways.

      Posted by Major Anya on 2006 03 28 at 04:19 PM • permalink

 

    1. I can see a market here for adrenalin-junkie tourists Down Under – lets see, something like Wolf Creek Tours. Someone stands to make a killing with the victim dollar.

      Posted by EliotNess on 2006 03 28 at 04:57 PM • permalink

 

    1. Far be it from me to slavishly drool over my American guns, but it seems to me that far fewer women in Europe would be raped if they were allowed to carry a smallish pistol in their purses.  I’ve never heard of a rapist being deterred by a scarf.

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 03 28 at 05:47 PM • permalink

 

    1. RebeccaH: Try googling on {rape muslims europe} and {rape muslims australia}. In some places it’s the lack of a scarf that incites the rape.

      Posted by ErnieG on 2006 03 28 at 06:22 PM • permalink

 

    1. A number of the Glocks being brandished that night at Punchbowl Park were probably registered and in the hands of licenced citizens.An easy method of acquiring and being legally permitted to walk around armed is simply to get yourself a Security Licence,not difficult to do and a trade which has proven very popular with the denizens of South Western Sydney for that very reason.Of course you’re not supposed to carry the pistol unless you’re on duty or have it secured in your vehicle unless you’re on your way to or from work.No doubt the Glock carriers on that night had been engaged to provide security for the peace loving members of the assembled mob to protect them from a possible attack by a flying squad of Anglo rascists from Cronulla or Maroubra.

      Posted by Lew on 2006 03 28 at 06:44 PM • permalink

 

    1. i wouldn’t trust me with a gun, let alone my family & friends

      Posted by KK on 2006 03 28 at 06:44 PM • permalink

 

    1. Amen, RebeccaH.  Mr. Howard thinks guns are evil.  As it happens, I think socialism is evil, and I’d a lot rather depend on my gun(s) than on the government to protect me from thugs and rapists.  The possibility that a prospective victim just might be carrying a snub-nosed .38 loaded with hollow-points is a great deterrent.

      Posted by texasred on 2006 03 28 at 07:06 PM • permalink

 

    1. Kk et al: I wouldn’t trust your or your family (or myself for that matter) or any person who has never been around a gun, has no idea how to handle one, or who does not have the necessary ability to govern their own behavior. The solution, of course, is not to simply pass out handfuls of guns (which the antigun faction seems to think pro-gun people want) but to foster an atmosphere of self-reliance, where people are taught self-control and educated in the correct way to use guns, as well as eliminating the various superstitions and fears that people have concerning guns.

      But none of that will happen as long as people prefer to let ignorance and complacency rule their lives.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2006 03 28 at 07:38 PM • permalink

 

    1. Now when I think of that tourism commercial- Lara Bingle all by herself on that beach, no assistance in sight, helpless

      Where would she keep the gun?

      A question: It seems to me that reducing restrictions on firearms is akin to raising speed limits. Despite all the information to suggest it isn’t a problem, some, including victims will insist it is and effectively trump the debate.

      How would this scenario actually play out in Australia?

      Posted by Dan Lewis on 2006 03 28 at 07:38 PM • permalink

 

    1. Three ‘Men of Middle Eastern Appearance’ carried out two separate holdups in Sydney this week, a service station and a travel agent. They were armed with handguns and a machinegun (they actually opened fire with the machinegun while robbing the service station). Fortunately nobody was hurt although no doubt the staff will be taking stress leave, since its difficult to get over the feeling of having a gun held to your head.

      Its obvious to the most stupid person that law abiding Australians have been criminalised and disarmed while many criminals have virtual arsenals of weaponry. Police have found all kinds of weapons in recent raids. But if you use an ‘illegal’ gun to protect yourself, you are likely to be charged with murder.

      And John Howard thinks guns are ‘evil’ … how would he classify forcing Australians into a position where they have no means to defend themselves?

      Posted by dee on 2006 03 28 at 07:45 PM • permalink

 

    1. Living as I do in the gun-o-phobic state of confusion that is New Joisey, I feel your pain.  A state mandated (non-sunsetting) Assault Weapons Ban, no concealed carry, no state constitution provision to bare arms (one of only 6 in the country), and some legal jurisdictions just pissing their pants to get you in front of a judge on a gun charge…that’s our environment.

      That said, I’ve got guns, my kids have guns, my neighbors have guns, and half the old ladies in this prime retirement area carry guns in their purses.  I got my daughter a snubbie with ‘DAD’ engraved on the side plate, and my boys got AR’s with 911 logos on the magwell. In a town of 20,000 there are 1500 members at the local gun range…and it’s a bit pricey at $400/year.
      I haven’t noticed any blood in the streets; the only murders were committed by cops gone mad, and by an amazing co-inky-dink – not much crime around here.  Gee with 9 million people in the state, and half the households with guns, you would expect a bloody nightmare…nope.

      It’s OK if you guys don’t want guns in your country.  That’s your choice.  Personally, I’ll keep my drooling, slavish love of guns.  They smell like freedom and self-reliance to me, your mileage obviously differs.

      Get someone to take you shooting at a range…you might like it.

      Posted by trainer on 2006 03 28 at 08:37 PM • permalink

 

    1. All this pish tosh and nonsense about naughty guns- what you all need to do is learn the manly art of self defence, then none of those “bullies of middle eastern appearance” will kick sand in your face at Cronulla or elsewhere.

      Posted by Habib on 2006 03 28 at 08:47 PM • permalink

 

    1. Guns? No, the best thing to do is for stricter law enforcement. First off sack the NSW police for their incompetence in dealing with the gun wielding Muslims who went on a rampage after Cronella. Second- put the monsters away for a long fucking time in jail- make “life” life- no ten bloody years. Too often some fuckwit judge, and court doctor imposes lenient conditions on the criminals – allowing them to come out and reoffend after a few years on a “Holiday farm”.

      Posted by Wylie Wilde on 2006 03 28 at 09:04 PM • permalink

 

    1. Guns? No, the best thing to do is for stricter law enforcement.

      It’s not really an ‘either or’ deal.  Stricter law enforcement can go hand-in-hand with armed self-defense.

      Posted by jic on 2006 03 28 at 09:21 PM • permalink

 

    1. #14, Trainer, give everyone in town a gun, and the town will go one of two ways…I am glad your town went the right way…

      … but I have little confidence that the same would be true of all places. Look at nasty parts of LA, look at failed African states, look at the Solomon Islands. I wouldn’t want everyone to have a gun in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, where I live.

      The day my country becomes a corrupt despotic police state, I’ll rethink my position…

      Posted by closeapproximation on 2006 03 28 at 09:31 PM • permalink

 

    1. Look at nasty parts of LA, look at failed African states, look at the Solomon Islands.

      Where everyone obtained their guns legally, of course…

      Posted by jic on 2006 03 28 at 09:34 PM • permalink

 

    1. #11 my dad took me to the elsternwick gun club, in the days when there was such a thing, & duck shooting. with a bit of luck i could probably hit a piece of paper with a bullseye on it using a shotgun, but with a handgun i’d probably shoot your granny, or some other innocent bystander (unfortunately not leunig’s duck).  a lot of people have hopeless hand-eye co-ordination & should not be trusted with a shanghai, let alone anything deadlier

      Posted by KK on 2006 03 28 at 09:38 PM • permalink

 

    1. Why won’t you gun-nuts, nazis and law and order freaks give reasoning and polite discourse a try, man?

      The world would be a real blast if everyone could just get along- now be nice, or I’ll turn Charlie Manson on your asses.

      Posted by Habib on 2006 03 28 at 10:12 PM • permalink

 

    1. #3 Being raped.. etc and being covered.etc.

      Western women might/should feel confident with or without the scarf to report the rape to the crime authorities, therefore appearing to be on the increase as opposed to Third world countries who may not report the crime at all due to suppression etc.

      Posted by 1.618 on 2006 03 28 at 10:53 PM • permalink

 

    1. Sorry therefore, that country looks squeaky clean, as none of the women feel they can come forward inrelation to the abuse.

      Easy problem solved for these countries, and put it down to the wife not following her man’s orders or duties.. etc.

      Posted by 1.618 on 2006 03 28 at 10:55 PM • permalink

 

    1. Google “John Lott” sometime. He ended the debate on concealed carry, but HCI still insists on playing the man and not the ball.

      Posted by De minimis on 2006 03 28 at 11:15 PM • permalink

 

    1. In some places it’s the lack of a scarf that incites the rape.

      Hence the usefulness of a smallish pistol in one’s purse.

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 03 29 at 12:03 AM • permalink

 

    1. In the USA the people who are most enthusiastic about strict gun control are also most opposed to criminals doing serious time.  Part of the reason for the expansion of gun ownership and the rise of concealed carry laws in the US was the explosive rise in crime from the sixties onward.  This crime wave has been controlled now (that is the rate is back to what it was 40 years ago, when it was considered intolerably high).  The reason is strict punishment and long incarceration of criminals, something the New York Times is too dimwitted to understand.

      Americans use guns a couple of million times a year to foil crimes, such as holdups.  Usually it amounts to nothing more than pointing the weapon at the perp, who runs away.  Sometimes they shoot the perp.  Curiously armed citizens have a much lower rate of shooting innocent bystanders than the cops do, their rate is about one-fifth the percentage of cases of hitting bystanders as those hit by the cops.

      As for depending on Constable Plod to protect you, the National Rifle Association (America’s oldest civil rights organization as one columnist called it) has an entertaining observation.  It goes “Call for a cop, call for an ambulance, call for a pizza.  See who gets there first.”  It is by now a well-established principle of law in America that the police are not obliged to protect you.

      Posted by Michael Lonie on 2006 03 29 at 12:18 AM • permalink

 

    1. Many sex crimes are committed against children too young to even comprehend what is happening to them. It happens with all groups of people (paedophiles who are convicted are predominantly white males in Oz.)
      However indigenous communities are a special case where toddlers and little kids seem to have mysteriously contracted sexually transmitted diseases.
      This is in the extraordinarily disfunctional communities in Northern Australia across the states.The numbers are massive , chances something like 800 times more likely to be sexually assaulted there than anywhere else in Australia.

      Posted by crash on 2006 03 29 at 09:17 AM • permalink

 

    1. Closeapprox 18

      The day my country becomes a corrupt despotic police state, I’ll rethink my position…

      “Some day I’m gonna fix this barn door, but not while I still have a horse.”

      Posted by Stoop Davy Dave on 2006 03 29 at 03:19 PM • permalink

 

Page 1 of 1 pages