Liberty is an inherently offensive lifestyle. Living in a free society guarantees that each one of us will see our most cherished principles and beliefs questioned and in some cases mocked. That psychic discomfort is the price we pay for basic civic peace. It's worth it. It's a pragmatic principle. Defend everyone else's rights, because if you don't there is no one to defend yours. -- MaxedOutMama

I don't just want gun rights... I want individual liberty, a culture of self-reliance....I want the whole bloody thing. -- Kim du Toit

The most glaring example of the cognitive dissonance on the left is the concept that human beings are inherently good, yet at the same time cannot be trusted with any kind of weapon, unless the magic fairy dust of government authority gets sprinkled upon them.-- Moshe Ben-David

The cult of the left believes that it is engaged in a great apocalyptic battle with corporations and industrialists for the ownership of the unthinking masses. Its acolytes see themselves as the individuals who have been "liberated" to think for themselves. They make choices. You however are just a member of the unthinking masses. You are not really a person, but only respond to the agendas of your corporate overlords. If you eat too much, it's because corporations make you eat. If you kill, it's because corporations encourage you to buy guns. You are not an individual. You are a social problem. -- Sultan Knish

All politics in this country now is just dress rehearsal for civil war. -- Billy Beck

Monday, February 21, 2005

Here's Some Good News!

(Also via KeepandBearArms.com)

I posted on the story back in November about Australian Chris Packer's arrest in Indonesia for "illegal possession of firearms" when Indonesian police, acting on a tip, stopped and searched his boat and found several firearms aboard - firearms that he'd previously used against pirates.

Yes, pirates. They still exist, and they prey on boats like Packer's.

Well, the good news is, he's been released (registration required - use BugMeNot):
Australian yachtsman released

Australian champion yachtsman Christopher Packer was released yesterday from prison in Bali after three months in custody for firearms offences.

A delighted Mr Packer said he would be celebrating on his boat.

Beaming and dressed in shorts and a white polo shirt, Mr Packer was accompanied by his girlfriend Gianna Maria Botto and two defence lawyers as he left Denpasar's notorious Kerobokan prison.

He got into a black four-wheel drive and headed for his converted freighter Lissa, which has been impounded at Bali's Benoa harbour since his arrest last November.

Arriving at the harbour, Mr Packer relaxed with a can of VB beer and a glass of Australian white wine with his lawyer Mohammad Rifan, but said nothing about his immediate plans.
Beer and wine?

Philistine!
He said he would have to stay on board his 55-metre vessel for the time being, as his Indonesian visa had run out and he was unable to celebrate his release on shore.

"It's almost free. It suits me fine," he said

Denpasar District Court on Friday handed the millionaire Sydney to Hobart and Admirals Cup sailor a three-month sentence for failing to declare a stash of firearms.

With time served, he was due for release later today.

Judges also ordered the return of Lissa and his weapons, which Mr Packer said he kept to fend off pirate attacks.

The court decided Mr Packer, 52, of Peppermint Grove in Perth, had not been a gun runner - an offence carrying the death penalty.

Mr Packer was on a round-the-world cruise when he was stopped by Indonesian marine police last November as he attempted to leave Indonesian waters.

Police impounded Lissa to inspect it for drugs and firearms after receiving a tip-off from an informer, believed to be a disgruntled former crewman employed by Mr Packer.

They found around 2700 rounds of ammunition and six New Zealand-registered firearms, including a Ruger semi-automatic rifle, two pump-action shotguns, a revolver and automatic pistol, and an antique rifle.

Mr Packer said he could not say when he would leave Bali.

"The boat is ready. As soon as the crew all arrive and the paperwork is all done and the guns are returned, any time," he said.

Asked if there was anything he would miss about his former prison home, he said only the regular tennis matches with the inmates.

He thanked his family for their support.
Tennis matches at the "notorious Kerobokan prison"? Hasn't lost his sense of humor, obviously. And I'm glad he's getting his guns back. That's a lucky man. Being rich didn't hurt either, I'm sure.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.