Australian Gun Culture, Climate of Fear : Part 3

By Dean Weingarten
Read : Part One & Part Two

Australian Farm Guns
Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona -(Ammoland.com)- -One of my hosts in Australia gave me a lead for a story.  They knew someone with an extensive gun collection. Directions were given; the collector had been called and was waiting.  A local who was known to the collector would drive me there and make introductions.

The directions were complex, typical rural directions: follow this road; go up this hill; make a right, then go a ways and make a left. Look for the long drive with such and such a fence..

My driver understood them perfectly, and we arrived at the correct place.  The collector had a nice display, similar to many I have seen in the United States. There were deer rifles, shotguns, and a .22. There was a reloading bench and empty cases.

I asked if I could take pictures.  No problem, said the collector. Knowing a bit about Donald Eykamp’s case, I was not so certain.

The collector was adamant. His set-up had been approved by the police. There was nothing to worry about. Donald Eycamp’s case was a rare exception.

To my untrained eye, there were a number of “gray” areas. The fact that I could see several firearms on display was the most obvious.

We talked about guns, and legislation, and hunting. The collector was a strong supporter of the existing system. He saw no practical use for pistols. He had never been interested in them. It was clear he was an accomplished marksman.

The next day, Donald and I were performing some chores for the Eykamp farm. A part was needed for a critical piece of machinery.  As we drove to get it, I expressed misgivings about publishing an article about the collector. It seemed far too risky.  Why put an innocent man at risk for what was a plain Jane story of gun ownership?

A couple of hours later, we arrived back at the farm. A phone was in the hands of one of the Eykamps. I was called over. Had I published the story? No.

The Collector and his wife had thought it over. No, please do not publish the story, they pleaded. Her voice was frightened.  Please do not publish any pictures, any names, or any thing that might identify where I had been and who I had talked to. It was simply too risky.  Having come to the same conclusion, I attempted to reassure them. I suspect they are anxiously wondering if this Yank can be trusted.

Later, I visited a local gun store.  This one, the first Australian gun store I visited, reminded me of gun stores I have seen in large urban centers. The name was non-descript, and had nothing relating to guns about it. No signage indicated anything to do with guns. The shop was part of another building, with parking in the back. Once parked you approached a formidable door with a buzzer and an intercom.  To enter, you buzzed the shop, and stated your name and purpose. I had a local customer with me for an introduction, so we entered without a problem.

This is in rural Australia, which has a crime rate similar to Vermont; which is to say, almost none.  The owner was clear: he did not wish to be photographed.

Australians on the Internet tell me there is no problem having guns in Australia.  The local police are not bad blokes, and inspections are not common. But when they have time to think of potential consequences, the fear becomes apparent. Many of these gun owners are prosperous. They have a tremendous amount to lose, not just in money, but in reputation, and in lifelong heirlooms and treasured hunting guns.

I wasn’t too surprised the collector and his wife had second thoughts about featuring him in a story made public to half the world.  It was not safe.

The Australian police forces are structured differently than police in the United States. Most police functions are done by state police. These police may view a posting to rural Australia as a punishment. This means new and young police officers may not have strong ties to the community that they police. It is these officers who are most likely to find irregularities in gray areas of the law.  A large “bust” with the confiscation of an “arsenal” could be a ticket to a more desired assignment in a large city.

Crime has generally been low in Australia. Several studies have shown that the gun laws made no difference in the Australian crime rates.

The “crimes” committed by legal gun owners in Australia are so rare as to be nearly undetectable.  But the purpose of the gun law in Australia is not to reduce crime. It is to reduce the number of gun owners. The number of legal Australian guns has increased, once people became used to the byzantine twists and requirements of the strict Australian laws put in place since 1996.  Those who want a disarmed Australia say that is proof the gun laws are not strong enough.

Australian gun owners have good reason to fear strict enforcement of their laws.  It is far too easy to violate them, even with all the common sense and good intentions that can be garnered in rural Australia.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch

 

About Dean Weingarten:

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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craig McCartney

Now Australia has Classified the TOY gel blaster guns as real firearms that you need a licence for, this place has gone to shit. Nerf guns will be next,
I really hate what Australia has become.

Wild Bill

And it could happen here. A new set of government leaks just exposed what the CIA is really up to. They’re monitoring us in more ways than we ever imagined. Through your smartphone, your TV, and even in your car, and you can not avoid using those things. I have discovered this new resource. Frank Mitchell’s book ‘Wire Tapped America’ shows you how to become invisible.

Gil

Oh noes. Joining the Amish is you’re only hope.

Silence Dogood

Welcome to another Socialist Paradise.

Gil

Socialism is now where you don’t the have the right to shoot others?

Jim

Socialists shoot their citizens, over 100 million citizens murdered by Socialists in the past hundred years Gil,.

Dave in Fairfax

I have to ask. Why did you mention the name of the farmer who took you to see the man with the guns? We’ve had cases in this country where a major paper published a story, and gave away enough information that the Taliban was able to figure out routes and decimate the villages along them that they suspected of helping the people fleeing them. Aussie police aren’t stupid. They can sweat the people named to get the people they want.

dbm

After the initial gun confiscation rapes in Australia doubled.

Gil

Nope.

DoctorWho9143

I was going to move to AUS after retiring from the Air Force……… now I am so very, very thankful that I did not. Instead, I settled in NM near the TX border. Australia, a once great country, home of the famed Lighthorse mounted infantry has now become a pathetic cluster of liberal worthless cities (except for the folks in the Outback). If the cities all fell into the ocean, it might become a great country once again. The same goes for the coastal libtards in the US…. if they got swimming lessons, we would be better off. With luck,… Read more »

Gil

Because law enforcement is supposed be made up of the volunteer militia force as it would have in the late 1700’s and 1800’s? A real man protects himself from criminals than calling 911? And so forth?

UCSPanther

Still whining about your archaic and useless knife laws going bye-bye?

B Jones

Too right. I am Australian and wish I could get myself and all my stuff to the US. Australia has no future as we once knew it.