SHOOTING AN INCLUSIVE SPORT

DEAR sir/madam,

I would like to respond to an article in the April 7, 2022 edition of the Townsville Bulletin, regarding the Katter’s Australian Party receiving donations from various firearms associations/ lobby groups.

My first reaction was and still is, so what?

They were declared and above board – more than can be said about some donations others have received.

Let me start by saying, a lot of people own firearms simply for the joy of punching holes in pieces of paper or busting target clays.

This is a very safe and inclusive sport.

I say safe, because it has to be and it is.

If people were injured while participating in a shooting sport at the same ratio as contact sports (think rugby league/union, Aussie rules, among others), can you imagine the public outcry and rightly so.

In those sports I have mentioned, the target is the person with the ball.

Injuries in those sports include death from collision with goalposts and paralysis scrums, without mentioning all the concussion and limb injuries that plague those other sports.

I say inclusive because you will find a lot of families participating/ competing together.

Mum, dad and the kids.

People young and not as young as they used to be, from all walks of life.

And let’s not forget another important factor.

That is able and disabled people can all take part together.

You don’t get that too often in sports.

Then there is another sector of firearms owners.

Those that hunt, and dare I say it, kill animals.

If you’re looking for someone to blame for gun violence, I say turn your focus to the film industry.

It’s no wonder that people abhor firearms, the way gun violence is portrayed on film.

That may happen in some parts of the world but love or loathe our firearms laws in Australia, it doesn’t happen here. I, for one, hope it never does.

Owning a firearm doesn’t necessarily make you any more violent than anyone else in the community.

PETER MCWILLIAMS,

Charters Towers.

Jenny Hill are you kidding us ratepayers. You are going to get microphones turned off in council for people who disagree with you. That is totally unlawful I guarantee. Those people represent us in local government, they have every right to be heard, even when they disagree with you. Ill bet there are only two microphones that will be turned off. JJ, 4814

So Fran has upset Mayor Jenny again, not one of the obedient girls? Perhaps Hill should concentrate on TCC matters and stay out of politics. The rain saved Townsville from water restrictions. OLE GIRL, JENSEN

Oh dear Fran. Will you never learn that with our Jenny it’s my way or the highway. PATRICIA, 4812

Surely Mayor Hill can do more than turning off microphones to silence dissenting Cr Fran O’callaghan. Putin puts dissenters in jail for 10 years. WARWICK, PALLARENDA

A question for our three local government jellyfish, how many billions have been spent in the past seven years on your failed youth justice system? The taxpayers of

Qld deserve an answer but we all know you are too gutless to stand up for your town. SMITHY, 4818

The ALP’S policies are whatever will appease those who they are talking to at the time. REB, KELSO

Have you noticed most of the anti-lnp adverts are authorised by unions and not the ALP. Your membership fees at work. AS, 4814

So the mayor has had a hissy fit about meeting conduct at council meetings. Well while you are throwing your weight around madam mayor how about you give those three lazy muted state members a serve for their lack of action on social conduct by our local lawless kid crims who are wreaking havoc in our community. LEWIS, CURRAJONG

How come mums and bubs are living in cars while thugs who threaten elderly neighbours are living in public housing? A massive failure of the system. Fix it. W, NW

Could the reason a prospective

Labor government would choose pouring millions into the ABC to broadcast into the Solomon Islands be a thank you for their efforts in giving them a free run and a leg in during the election? RON, KELSO

Dear PK, Currajong. The trouble with Townsville drainage is the contractors that are being used around town. When grass is cut it is then blown into the gutter with those leaf blowers and they wait for rain to wash it away. It can only go one place. Into a storm water drain and then to clog things up. DS, OONOONBA

W. Wenck, Currajong. The global coal fleet (excluding China) has been shrinking for four years. Meanwhile China is rapidly shifting to domestic coal supplies. We need a government that acknowledges what’s coming and plans for future domestic industries to replace coal. STEVE, BELGIAN GARDENS

Dear Premier forget about the Olympic Games. Spend the money on the health system, which is in a mess. People are dying waiting for an ambulance to take them to hospital. Let’s get our priorities right. RUSTY, KIRWAN