"One of the things" the Aussies don't like about us...

"...one of the things I don't admire about America is their ... slavish love of guns. They're evil." Prime Minister Howard during a recent speech in Sydney.

Now, I've lived in Australia, and pretty much everyone under the age of 40 or so detests firearms with a passion. They profess a dislike for the Brits but basically go along with anything Great Britain says or does, including civilian disarmament. And I've met Mr. Howard, once, and he's a down to earth, funny, plain speaking guy that any man would enjoy sitting down with to have a pint or two.

But he's petrified of firearms. This is a country where marijuana is legal for personal consumption, prostitution is okay as long as the prostitutes don't ply their trade on the highways and byways, but try and find a 22 long rifle to plink with and they look at you as if you've just morphed into William Bonney. Even the fellows I knew who were former military didn't quite see the need for firearms in public hands, and of course I am not speaking about every living, breathing Australian, but you get the drift.

Socialism breeds a different sort of man. They literally revel in being protected rather than being the one doing the protecting. When push comes to shove they stand beside us, and we all should be thankful for that, but, and I know this is going to sound strange to anyone who hasn't seen the elephant, they do not have the killer instinct. Nary a one of them I've ever met. As is the case with most modern socialist societies, their armed forces are in dreadful condition, and the prime reason they remain on our side is the fact that they know a large army or navy is unecessary because Uncle Sugar will always be there to protect them so lending a hand when most of the heavy lifting has been done is no biggie, and keeps us pleased to have them as allies.

I'll go back one day, it's a place I highly recommend seeing at least once, but I'll miss my plinking then come back home again. And more than that. I'll miss being a man, so back here I'll come. Was a time I wanted to retire there, even own 2000 acres of scrub brush in the outback, but that's another story for another day.

And you'll excuse me if I have to prep an evil gun for some range time tomorrow? Won't you?

PS: Stop with the emails already. I never said ANYTHING ill-favored about Bondi. On the contrary. I like the place. It is the LOCALS caterwauling that it's gone shabby, or catering too much to the tourist trade, but sweet mother of pearl, what ELSE has Oz besides tourism? Fish & Chips? Good lord of the morning, but you guys EAT your national animals. Build a Disneyworld and they will come. (That ALWAYS pisses my Ozzie friends off to NO end)