Two different things Samwise.

Removing semi autos from civilian hands make no change to state violence and as the white supremacist coward stated, he chose firearms for a reason and he has achieved what he wanted to in that respect.

On our own no, hence the need for allies with strong military capabilities, and we cannot expect to totally freeload off them, thus we need our own military. There are also other reasons to support military funding other than war, and the Defence Industry Forum cannot reasonably be categorised in the simplistic way you and the activists protesting it have done.

I’m also not remotely convinced about the claims of police brutality, as the activist group in question has a history of deliberately provoking police to get a reaction for media attention, and making false claims in that regard.

Diplomacy is of course the primary means by which we should negotiate conflict, but as the example of Neville Chamberlain shows, sometimes diplomacy fails, and a country has no choice but to fight.

Yeah, so why add to it with white supremacist cowards who use an arsenal of semi-automatic weapons to mow down unarmed civilians?

Removing these weapons lessens the violence you pointed toAngryl.

State governments have killed and continue to kill more people than any organisation or entity.

Do you really think the NZ army’s capabilities will save us from some Indonesian or Chinese invasion? That’s a fantasy land and world.

Yeah, let’s get the guitar out. Hug thy enemy, haha.

“And yet somehow it’s perfectly acceptable for the NZ police to carry AR -15 semi automatic weapons?”

Of course, for the same reason Defence personnel are. Those weapons can be essential to their jobs. They are not essential to farming or hunting.

“Why are the Police so keen to disarm the law abiding firearms owners of NZ?”

They aren’t. Nothing either the Police of the government have proposed actually disarms anyone. It is only a specific type of firearm that is being banned. People are still free to buy other kinds of firearms allowed by law.

“Why isn’t the role of the Police vetting system under closer scrutiny that allowed Tarrant to get a NZ license?”

It is under scrutiny and will be part of the Royal Commissions inquiry.

“This appalling massacre was not committed by a New Zealander.”

It was committed by someone who bought his firearms in New Zealand, so it is New Zealand’s gun laws that are the issue.

“Why are gun owners being demonised?”

I have seen no evidence of that occurring.

It needs to be repeated: Guns in general are not being banned. Firearms essential to hunting and farming are not being banned. I myself would never support such a move if it was proposed. All that has been proposed is a small tightening of the current laws, and the banning military style semi-automatics whose sole purpose is to kill large numbers of people as quickly as possible. None of this amounts to disarming people, nor is it a war against guns in general or responsible gun owners.

“Waging peace, not war. Cultural diplomacy. Using guitars not guns. Imagine that as a broader foreign policy strategy, and military tactic.”

I would, but it may take some time to stop laughing first.