Occupational Health and Safety

[Lew]

Come on plastic and wooden toy swords! What kind of heath risk are they talking about? Watch out you may give somebody a nasty splinter



Lew

[VANDOO]

CONTACT THE MINISTRY OF SILLY AND ABSURD LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN CARE OF MONTY PYTHON.
SURELY THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF THIS AS WHO COULD IMAGINE A REAL ELECTED OFFICIAL OF DOING SOMETHING SO ABSURD.
NEXT THEY WILL REQUIRE ALL TOOLS, ROCKS AND STICKS TO BE LOCKED UP WHEN NOT IN USE. A NEW LAW THAT ALL CITIZENS MUST WEAR HANDCUFFS AND BOXING GLOVES, LEG IRONS , A PADDED HELMUT AND MUZZLE WHEN LEAVING THE HOUSE WOULD CUT DOWN ON PUNCHING, BUTTING, KICKING AND BITEING AS WELL AS THROWING AND MAKE IT MUCH MORE SAFE AND PEACFUL FOR THE CITIZENS. PERHAPS WEARING THIS APPAREL FROM BIRTH WOULD BE GOOD , AS IT WOULD PREVENT KIDS FROM THROWING THINGS OR FIGHTING AND ELIMINATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE HOME AS WELL.

WHERE WILL IT STOP? IT WON'T STOP! THEY WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED THERE WAS A PUSH TO OUTLAW CAP PISTOLS, WATER PISTOLS,BB GUNS AND ALL OTHER GUN LIKE OBJECTS AS IT TEACHES THE YOUNG BOYS TO BE WARLIKE HERE IN THE USA. IN TODAYS WORLD AS IN THE PAST THE LAST THING WE NEED IS A NATION THAT CAN'T DEFEND ITS SELF AS IT WILL NOT LAST LONG. YOU DON'T SEE AS MANY TOYS THAT LOOK LIKE GUNS NOW, AS A RESULT OF THIS PUSH EVEN THOUGH NO LAWS WERE PASSED, TODAY MOST WATERGUNS ALL LOOK LIKE SOMETHING FROM BUCK RODGERS OR LIKE A BUNNY OR SOMETHING.

[Tim Simmons]

Castration and chipping, followed with radio tagging is the only answer
I do not know why I am laughing chipping is being used in places. It will gain general acceptance through "monkey see monkey do" copying the privileges of the pioneers when there acceptance profile is read at airports and so on. Leading to mass/compulsory chipping.

[A. G. Maisey]

Lew, we can look at this and we can see the humour in it. There is no doubt that it is funny.

However, we have not seen the relevant legislation. It is quite probable that there is a solid foundation for the action these thespians have taken.

The people who draft the laws for politicians to pass are very often 25 year old ladies with a degree in arts-law who are members of the local "Save the Trees" club. Their supervisors who approve the drafts are frequently tired old career public servants who just want to get the papers into the "outbox". Legislation that is considered as being non-volatile from a political point of view is very often passed without being read by any politician. They will give it to somebody on their staff to review and request a precis and a recommendation.

The legislation that seemingly caused this theatre group to lock up their plastic swords was legislation dealing with occupational health and safety. It was not weapons legislation. You can bet on it that from the perspective of a 25 year old female arts-law graduate that legislation makes a lot of sense. You can bet on it that whoever drafted the legislation can defend every clause in it. But that does not mean that it makes any sense.

Prior to the legislation being passed into law, it is probable that it was submitted to interested parties and members of the public for comment. It seems to me to be highly unlikely that anybody with an interest in and an understanding of the issues concerning weaponry would have seen that draft legislation. Insurance companies, unions, employers---these people would have seen it. The Antique Arms Collectors Society of Great Britain would probably not have been aware of the passage of this legislation.

Some years ago legislation was introduced in the state of New South Wales that was targetted at stopping the carriage by persons of offensive weapons, especially knives. The early drafts of this legislation would have made it impossible for a person under the age of 18 years to eat breakfast in a McDonalds restaurant unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

Why?

Because McDonalds would not have been permitted to give, and the person under 18 years of age would not have been permitted to be in possession of, the plastic knife used to eat that breakfast.

We did finish up with good, solid, workable legislation, but that was only because of the review of the drafts carried out by people other than those who drafted the legislation. People such as working police officers and interested members of the public.

The time to get involved with any undesirable legislation is during the period prior to it being passed into law. Once it becomes law you will not get it changed.

[A. G. Maisey]

Tim, more than 15 years ago I made a recommendation that certain officers of a semi-government body be micro-chipped for security reasons.

I made the recommendation as a black joke, because of certain other things that were happening in this organisation at the time.

The recommendation was taken seriously but was finally not implemented, principally because of health concerns.

I recently heard that some officers in some organisations in this country (Australia) are now micro-chipped. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this information, but the source was good.

[kronckew]

the world must enact legislation like this for your own good, you are too stupid to be trusted to do what we know is best for you. our goal is to have you placed in a armoured pod at birth, wrapped in bubble wrap, wired up to a virtual reality computer and fed and medicated intravenously (and a nice tube up your bum and whats-it for waste). do not be concerned, we can also remotely stimulate your pain and pleasure centres to enable virtual sex.

you will be able to work tirelessly for the party goals and world peace. surely this is better than having to make decisions yourself. your selfless leaders will forgo this and remain vulnerable and pod-less on our estates in order to ensure your protection at the expense of ours as good leaders should.

as you will all be in a bunker in the rockies, we will be able to cut global warming and protect our fragile ecology and allow a proper balance of nature where endangered cougar and wolves are allowed to roam freely and pursue a more balanced vegetarian lifestyle as they i am sure would prefer in the absence of humanity. i shall remain serving you behind the walls and armed robot guards of my estates (which have been expanded into the confiscated lands you no longer need to ensure your safety and continued happiness.).

enjoy. krill soup is good for you and tasty and nutritious. i will be forced to subside on nasty old fashioned steaks and lobster myself in order to better serve my children.

this has been a public service announcement by the nanny party.
-HC.

note to self, have this published today on the interweb, maybe we should make a movie about this to get people used to the idea. - or have we done that already?

[A. G. Maisey]

Kronckew, I can appreciate your humour.

However.

For those of us who live in societies which function only because of the maintenance of order which permits a viable economic base to exist, that in turn keeps the members of the society employed, and provides the wealth that funds the health care that the society members not only need, but expect, it could be considered as irresponsible for any government to permit the existence of implements that could cause, or be used to cause injury. The treatment of that injury will cost the society, as will the control of the user of the implement.

It would be possible to quantify in financial terms the cost to a society of allowing members of that society to possess personal weaponry.

As the number of people in any societal unit increases, so does the risk of injury from privately owned weaponry.

There are solid economic reasons for the restrictions that we are increasingly having placed upon us.

I do not like these restrictions any more than any of us does, but I do understand the perceived need for their existence. It is no good trying to swim against the tide. We need to recognise that this environment is here to stay and put our minds to finding ways that will enable to live within the restrictions imposed upon us.

All these things that we do not like can be expressed in dollar terms. That's what its all about:- the bottom line.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Department of Justice?

Within the Commonwealth system of government?

Possibly you mean the Attorney-General's Department, Gavin?

Some states have a Department of Justice, but on the commonwealth level the responsibilities for law and justice are handled by the Attorney-General's Department.

Attorney-General's Department is absolutely correct Alan or Dept of Justice, one and the same, any google search will show this relationship.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Perhaps you could explain to me why it would be so desirable for us to have uniform weapons legislation here in Australia. I'm probably little bit slow in my understanding of what the benefits of such legislation might be for collectors and students of weaponry, and for sporting shooters and other users of weapons.

Why would collectors not want the best of all state regulations under the one "Umbrella" so to speak?

Example; In Qld, to import or own a double edged knife under 40cms in length (I am sure some Kris will fit this description) is of no concern to governing bodies, but other states need federal permission to import and a special license to own. Again in Victoria you can own a sword cane on license, sure I can own it QLD but I need a Special license, federal permission to import if from overseas and once I get it here I have to have it rendered inert (Have the timber sheath filled) by a approved Armourer. I know I would like the best solutions to these problems above to make collecting more enjoyable under state laws, which would also make dealing within different states much easier.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

What would be proposed as the normative model?

The moderate legislation of Tasmania, or the draconian laws of New South Wales and Victoria?

Could we expect to see the governments and bureaucracies of New South Wales and Victoria accept the more relaxed regulation of Tasmania ? Could we expect to see these two states relax their grip on the prohibitions that they have taken 50 or more years to gain?

I rather think not.

In a perfect world, of course collectors would want the best of all current State laws (And Territories too Alan), lets not dismiss it and work towards it as a collective.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

In the event of any uniformity of legislation occurring in Australia in respect of weapons legislation, what would happen would be the adoption by all states of a uniform draconian code which reflected the most stringent restrictions present in all individual states.

In my opinion uniform legislation is the last thing we want.

Sure we can all lay down Alan, it is typical of the Australian populace, no one wants to try. We don't voice our concerns as avid collectors in the right direction, we all just throw our voices to the wind and hope someone will answer our words... we continue to Suck eggs and stay complacent instead of taking an interest in these matters.

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

It would be far more sensible for interested parties to work on a state by state basis to try to bring some moderation and common sense to our weapons legislation. However, in the current political climate probably the best we can hope for is that we do not lose any of the "privileges" which we presently have.

Never forget:- the things that might be considered as "rights" in some other countries are written into law as PRIVILEGES in Australia.

Never a truer sentence spoken above Alan, but does anyone really want to make a difference to these "PRIVILEGES", I mean really want to?

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Incidentally, Australia has six states, not seven. The Northern Territory is a territory, as the name suggests, and so is the Australian Capital Territory; there's another little territory too, that most people tend to overlook:- Jervis Bay Territory.

I'll look into the Hutt river province too and see how their laws stand with regards to these issues, maybe I can buy a knighthood and set up camp in WA and forget the rest of this mumbo jumbo that is Australian law.


On a final note, with regards to mentioning the "economy", grab a copy of "Deer Hunting With Jesus". It is a great read and a great laugh too, it is about this false ecenomy that we all live in, no matter where we live.

[VANDOO]

SOCIETYS TWO GROUPS

1. THOSE WHO ARE LAW ABIDING ARE NOT A DANGER TO SOCIETY AND DO AND WILL OBEY ITS LAWS.
2.THOSE WHO WILL BREAK ALL LAWS AND BECOME CRIMINALS WHO PREY ON THE SOCIETY AND CONTRIBUTE NOTHING GOOD AND DO NOT AND WILL NOT OBEY ANY LAWS OLD OR NEW.

SO LETS MAKE NEW LAWS THAT TAKE ALL MEANS OF PROTECTING THEMSELVES AWAY FROM GROUP ONE. THAT WILL ALSO AUTOMATICALLY PLACE THOSE WHO DO NOT COMPLY INTO GROUP 2 STATUS EVEN IF THEY ARE GOOD CITIZENS.

GROUP TWO WILL THEN HAVE FREE REGIN TO COMMIT ANY CRIMES THEY PLEASE ON GROUP ONE WITHOUT DANGER TO THEMSELVES. IF A PERSON FROM GROUP ONE HAS BROKEN THE LAW AND KEPT THE MEANS TO SUCCESFULLY PROTECT HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCYS WILL MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF HIM TREATING HIM EVEN WORSE THAN THEY WOULD TREAT A CRIMINAL WITH MANY CRIMES TO HIS CREDIT. THIS IN TURN WILL SEND THE MESSAGE TO THE GOOD WORKING PEOPLE IN GROUP ONE THAT IT IS BETTER TO LET THE CRIMINALS DO AS THEY WISH WITH THEM AND THEIR FAMILYS THAN TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

GROUP TWO IN THE MEANTIME ARE JUST MISUNDERSTOOD AND HAVE HAD A ROUGH CHILDHOOD OR BEEN ABUSED IN SOME WAY SO SHOULD BE SHOWN ALL CONSIDERATION SO LAWS SHOULD BE ENACTED TO GIVE THEM SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AND MANY CHANCES TO REFORM IN SOCIETY ON THEIR OWN.

ALL THESE THINGS HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED ALREADY IN THE USA IN CERTAN PLACES WHERE SUCH LAWS HAVE BEEN INACTED. SO FAR THE RIGHT TO OWN ARMS STILL EXHISTS IN MOST OF THE COUNTRY DESPITE MANY ATTEMPTS TO DO AWAY WITH IT. I AM FOR REMOVING THE CRIMINALS FROM THE SOCIETY, NOT REMOVING A MEANS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE GOOD PEOPLE.