the number of gun and knife accessories

[cem]

Does everyone realise this thread is nearly three years old and most thought that it had been swallowed up by the big forum crash awhile back, I certaintly did and was surprised to see it back. Leatheroo has probably found out all the info she wanted to know by now and has moved on. I think everyone just needs to accept although we both speak english, Australia and the US have different cultures and just leave it at that. All us Aussies are worried about at the moment is which idiot is going to be running the country for the next three to four years (ha ha my partner has to vote on his birthday).

[BAD HIDE]

Yeah, I know it's old, but I haven't been here that long and gun control laws are a very hot topic depending on where you live. I have no idea what laws there are in Austraila, but in the past two decades here, and especially after 9-11, have seen 31 states flip from no carry to permitting carry either completely unrestricted or with a license. Only two state governments left that do not allow citizens to carry at all - Wisconsin and Illinois, and a bunch of cities have extra restrictions and bans in effect. We're not really answering the OP anymore, but more or less just getting up on our soapboxes and speaking out to anyone who is listening. As leatherworkers, holsters and belts are part of our business, so like it or not, it effects us. It's one of those topics that will always resurface so we can beat the dead horse a few more times just for the hell of it.

[hivemind]

I stand by the statement that an armed society is a polite society. Throughout history, most people have been armed - it is only the last couple hundred years where this has changed significantly. In the 1800's, most people had a rifle on their horse or on the backboard of their carriage. In the 1600's, everyone carried a dagger, and people of any social status whatsoever also carried swords. These were duelling swords, specifically designed and carried to make people be polite. This goes back throughout history. The first thing any tyrannical regime wants to do is disarm the population. Look how hard the Northern Irish are fighting to keep their weapons as part of a peace agreement there, and I don't blame them. As soon as there's proof they're disarmed, they'll get screwed.

I'm not just speaking from personal belief. I have read on this. Before you retort, go look at information available about the rates of violent gun-related crime in the UK before and after they enacted their draconian gun laws. Then go examine the information available about crime rates in Switzerland for the same years. Note the disparity. Then see that Switzerland not only encourages gun ownership, but after each male citizen serves his mandatory time in their military, he takes his military issue semiautomatic rifle home.

I put forward Kennesaw, Georgia as an example.

http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports-2004/view/crime_report.cfm?state=GA&area=Kennesaw

http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Kennesaw&state=GA

Hell, just do some reading here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=crime+statistics+kennesaw+georgia

This town experienced rapid population growth in the 80's, and with it, an commensurate increase in violent (and other) crime.

The town enacted a novel solution: a law requiring all households to have a gun (with certain exceptions).

Now, their crime rates are lower than both the national average and the Georgia state average by a significant amount:

1981 (Year prior to Gun Ordinance)

Population: 5,242

Burglaries: 54

Total Part 1 Crimes: 228

1982 (Year Gun Ordinance Passed)

Population: 5,308 (+1% )

Burglaries : 35 ( -35%)

Total Part 1 Crimes: 165 ( -27%)

1998 (Compared to 1981)

Population: 19,000 ( +275%)

Burglaries: 36 (-33%)

Total Part 1 Crimes 227(+0%)

There you have it. Ipso facto, we need more guns, not less.

[Jacko P]

This may be an old thread but I'm a new member and it's particularly relevant for me. You might notice in my profile I have an interest in Archery and Lever Rifles and being an Aussie I am deeply affected by a political knee jerk decision to satisfy an ill informed society's fears. I'm not going to go into a political rant - don't despair, the last political word is that Bows or Firearms are nothing more than a tool, they are inanimate and it is the responsibility of the user to do so correctly.

My interest in Leather Craft is directly connected to my enjoyment of my Archery and Firearms. I have the skills to make every item of a primitive Archer / Bowhunters equipment from natural materials. I reload my own cartridges and cast my own bullets. It was only a natural extension of these skills to make Leather accessories that not only function as intended but are beautiful , well to my eye anyhow. Since childhood I have also been developing my skills as a Hunter, I am able to supply meat for myself and my family. I am honest enough that on occasion I do my own killing instead of paying for someone else to it it all the time. This skill has also supplied me on occasion with the raw materials to make my own Leather, more often my own Rawhide for use in the construction of my Primitive archery tackle.

Some folks in society see these skills and the tools required as redundant. I see myself as a self reliant individual gathering and passing on these skills to the next generation as they have been for millennium.

regards Jacko