Lisa Milat running for ACT Senate seat

I know Lisa, and have known her for a number of years. Although she is a member of the SSAA (target shooting), it is not the reason for her standing. Her main concern, the reason for why she has made the personal effort, is based on the over-regulation of government on the general public. This is a wide-spread ‘malaise’ that has affected all institutions, current policies, the rights of the individual and so on. The LDP is libertarian, and although seen by some quarters as extreme, does shine some light on an over-regulated government and the loss of individual rights.
Let’s not demean the concept of libertarianism as a political philosophy.
If you think of what true individual liberty is, then you’ve got some sense of what the LDP is about.

Seems a bit loopy to me..

[thread drift]

It seems to me, from interaction with many owners of guns of varying types, that gun laws are pretty good right now. People that need, or indeed want them seem to have no trouble getting them (other then prehaps increased costs involved in meeting all the requirements for storage etc), and people who might otherwise just have one cause its “cool” are put off by the “strict” laws. While I think that laws can always be tweeked, I definatly would Not advocate relaxing them.

….if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will accidentally shoot their kids….

[/thread drift]

There was no evidence that Milat’s sister was directly involved in any of his crimes. I believe that she was however fined for retrieving and disposing of one of his hidden handguns at his direction after he had been arrested for the murders. She probably should have been gaoled, but that’s Magistrates for you.

The ACA reporter asked her opinion on euthanasia

The Milat’s only know how to euthanase backpackers.

Guns are very different to drugs. Drugs can be manufactured – guns are quite hard to make. Drugs can be smuggled inside shoes (or people), guns need to go in containers or boats.

Rarity does not breed traffic in items either. Black opals are rare and valuable – this has not increased their numbers on our streets.

And if there are less guns around, making them more expensive on the black market, it will be harder for real nutters to get hold of them.

Tightening gun controls is the one good thing John Howard has done.

Oh, and I absolutely detest their policy on smoking. If this party had its way, not only would bar/restaurant owners have the right to allow smoking, but so too would workplace owners.

I thought we had gotten past the bad old days of the majority suffering for the actions of the few. The idea that someone can simply change job if their fellow employees are smoking is such crap. I’m old enough to have worked in a smoky environment back when I was younger and more desperate for work. It was hell, and I’d never wish that on anybody.

I’m absolutely loving being able to go to clubs and pubs and not be the victim of other’s disgusting habits. The businesses all seem to be doing just fine with these changes too.

I should add that cracking on illicit drugs has really done wonders to restrict their supply, hasn’t it ingee?

The more we restrict the legitimate pool of guns the more we close down the black market … you’d imagine that even someone with a PhD in economics would understand that.

Now you’re just making an idiot of yourself. Anybody who actually knows the laws of demand and supply, and that’s not you, knows that as you restrict the supply of something, the price goes up – making the supply of such goods even more luctrative.

You should also know, that guns laws are actually pretty liberal in a lot of countries, so where do you think the black marketeers get them from?

Stop making an arse of yourself.

I really like the relatively low level of gun ownership and gun worship in this country. The thought that the next crazy person out there is fairly unlikely to be packing a gun is one of the positive things about Australia.

I’m also ok with our tax rates. I’d much rather they were boosted a little and we worked harder on health, education (especially science), water conservation and renewable energy. More ependiture on these things would make our country even better still.

That said, some of LDP’s policy ideas make sense to me.

I also support most of the LDP’s policies, with the exception of the relaxation of gun controls and a few others. They seem to, like most civil libertarians, not be able to find a comfortable balance. Unfortunately for the party, Ms Millat seems to support gun ownership to the extent that I think she would neglect the rest of the parties policies. Thus, I will not be supporting them.

Ralph’s posting in the third person now! Careful people … we’ve got a live one!

I’ve spent some time in the US, New York in particular. You can’t help noticing how polite people are. If someone accidentally bumps you in the subway they almost always apologise – I couldn’t help thinking it was because you never know who’s carrying a gun.

What surprises me is that there are still idiots out there pedaling the old “Criminals are still accessing guns through the black market …” line. What they love top forget about is that without exception, every single black market firearm started life as a legitimate fire arm – belonging to a member of a gun club, a licensed and responsible owner, a cop, a security guard, a licensed dealer – this is where they come from. If its not here, then it’s the same variety of sources in another country. The more we restrict the legitimate pool of guns the more we close down the black market … you’d imagine that even someone with a PhD in economics would understand that.

Like Ralph, I have an interest in the LDP’s policies, and I think that if they were to be successful, they might form an interesting ‘third force’ in Australian politics.

But all I know about Lisa is from a brief summary on their website, informing me of her 6 years experience as a swimming teacher. I’m sure nothing would prepare one for life in national politics than being a swimming teacher [/sarcasm].

I also remember thinking that from her flier and web photos she didn’t look like the sharpest tool in the shed. Other people’s comments here seem to confirm that suspicion.

Still, it’s not like she’s actually going to get elected anyway – what with our two whole senate spots up for grabs. So I’m happy to chuck my first preference the LDP’s way to show my support, then decide which of the likely candidates are the next least-worst.

M16, no way!

A pump-action shottie is much better, especially when making pumpkin soup. 🙂

Comparing access to knives and access to guns is a bit silly really, because one idiot with a semi-automatic handgun can take out a hell of a lot more people in a very short period of time, rather than if they were running around with a carving knife. That’s the majority of mass murderers who go on a killing spree choose to use semi-automatic weapons rather than Mum’s lovely set of Mundial knives!

Anyway, whenever I take one look at most of the pro-gun lobby I instantly see why we should keep the current restrictions on the access to guns.

Regardless of this Thumper, most Politicians can come up with 2 minutes of decent material!

Her appearance on aca last night was hilarious. I would have thought an ounce of confidence in public speaking was a must for someone seeking public office. For once the snippy little comment from Tracy at the end of the story was justified!

Less guns…less chance of being shot by a gun.

Kramer,

Criminals out there are still accessing guns through the black market – restrictive gun laws aren’t going to stop that, and they aren’t going to stop psychopaths from obtaining a gun if they desperately want one.

By liberalising gun ownership I doubt we will see an escalation in gun crime, as most sane people aren’t likely to go up the street firing off their gun, as at the moment they aren’t pulling their knives out of the kitchen drawer and going on stabbing frenzies.

Kramer,

We by no way have guns everyone. Most people don’t own guns. But for those few of us who value the precious touch of those silent double barrels of steel, a gun is more like a lover.

I love my hardware and I wish that all Australians could feel the love I feel right now.

Australians for the betterment of shotties!!!

Most americans aren’t worried about defending themselves against the govt, they are too worried about the other people walking down the street legally toting full auto handguns.

I would change my last name if I didn’t want attention about dastardly things a family member may have done if I was really keen to try out politics and didn’t want attention from that.
They certainly have some wacky ideas!
She is none too bright to say the least. Must be publicity driven.

“The last thing we want is guns everywhere like the US.”

But then, how will we defend ourselves from the evil Govt????

Gun control in the ACT (or even Aust wide) should be under a ratchet system – if it is not already. Just keep tightening the controls and raising the requirements. The last thing we want is guns everywhere like the US.

“I’m all for guns”

Yeah me too – just not in the wrong hands!

“euthanasia”

she was probably confused and was struggling to talk about “youth in asia”

pretty sure the sister disowned ivan.

“I would hate to think people would form an opinion of her based on her surname and relatives by marriage.”

No, I just waited to hear what she had to say once she opened her mouth, and she managed to confirmed to me that she is an idiot.

ACA had a segement about her too, and the little bit I saw while channel-surfing reinforced my opinion of her garned from the news. The ACA reporter asked her opinion on euthanasia, and she made a real mess of answering it because I don’t think she knew what such a big word meant!!!!

I’m all for guns

According to news.com.au she lives in the Southern Highlands, yet is running here in the ACT. It seems probable that the LDP were banking on using her connection with Ivan Milat to gain media exposure that a minor party candidate would otherwise be unlikely to get.

It certainly seems to have worked.

I would hate to think people would form an opinion of her based on her surname and relatives by marriage.

There was a documentary on the backpacker murders a few weeks back on Foxtel… they seemed to think his brother was involved somehow, but no real mention of his sister.

Formerly known as the Liberal Democrats, who have been talked about on here numerous times before, particularly one John Humphries, who once pulled a political stunt of smoking marijuana outside the Legislative Assembly.

Ralph supports their lassiez-faire policies of small government, lower taxation, free markets and individual choice.

The sister they thought was involved in the murders died didn’t she? They always thought one of the siblings was invovled.