From: SSAA, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Saturday Mercury Tasmania 27/10/00 The owner of the two capgun stalls at the Royal Hobart Show have been swamped by fake-gun fiends wating to stock up on the life-like toys. The stallholder said he had ordered a new shipment from interstate to meet demand on the last day of the show today. The man, from the state's north, said people voted with their feet yesterday, proving it was only a minority who were opposed to toy guns. He said parents and children came with capgun shopping lists yesterday, thinking the toys may be banned. National Coalition for Gun (Fun?) Control chairman Roland Browne said the popularity of the stalls, following The Mercury's story about them yesterday was not a vindication of the toy. "He was doing a roaring trade beforehand." he said. "Those so-called toys are sold at shows and regattas throughout Australia and they always do a roaring trade." He said now was the time for community debate on the restriction of capguns. "I thought we had turned the corner in 1996 about the profileration of the gun culture." he said. Mr Browne has called for a review of the state's Firearms Act to include the possible inclusion of life-like capguns requiring owners to be licenced and aged over 18. "A four-year-old with a gun has no understanding of what it means to point a gun at somebody and say "your deda" he said. "I would like to see those people who sel them such as stall holders, justify their availability." Launceston parent Anne Taylor was furious at the proliferation of toy guns and was starting a petition calling for greater restrictions to present to federal and state parliaments. Miss Taylor, who as a five-year old son, Jordan said parents opposed to the gun culture were the silent majority. "Apathy is a big thing," she said. "What parent would want their child growing up surrounded by violence." "They (toy gun sellers) are not putting the interests of children at heart. "It makes me so angry." -- Tell me this is a wind up! Steve. Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
