A cautionary tale

[Dr. Strangelove]

Amazing...
you judge drunk driving in the same league as a late library book?

How do you feel about kiddy fiddlers? are they just troubled souls who took a wrong path?

I think he was taking the pish!

[Porcupine]

I think the point is that a single drink driving offence is potentially (depending obviously on the severity and circumstances) a pretty minor thing that a very large number of people get at some point in their life. It's not something that legally bars you from owning firearms (maximum penalty is 1 year in prison - only offences punishable by 3 years or more are a bar to firearms ownership). That's not to excuse or belittle drink driving - it's foolish and dangerous and sometimes it leads to tragedy, but none the less giving in and having an extra glass of wine at dinner one time is not something I think people should lose their guns for. And certainly not until they've been convicted!

[Mr_Logic]

You and I will have to disagree then. Slightly over the limit the morning after maybe. Same night, utterly irresponsible and definitely worthy of a revoke.

I do agree no action should be taken without a conviction though.

[M99]

You and I will have to disagree then. Slightly over the limit the morning after maybe. Same night, utterly irresponsible and definitely worthy of a revoke.

I do agree no action should be taken without a conviction though.

I dealt with far more fatal road accidents "The morning after" than same night, involving drink drivers. They feel fine in the morning, think they are fine - driving and reactions impaired and end up killing someone - is that ok?

I recall one week in 2002 when I dealt with TWO fatal RTA's on TWO consecutive days where TWO drink drivers killed a pedestrian on the SAME road between 8-9am

Both claimed they felt fine to drive - both went to prison.

[Mr_Logic]

Key word - maybe.

If someone is still distinctly drunk the next morning, no - they should have thought of it. But if someone is a tiny smudge over the limit, chances are there is no way for them to detect the impairment, they think sufficient sobering time has elapsed. Have to feel for them in that situation.

However, real world it is difficult to prove they really did think about it.

While I cannot condone drink driving at all, doing so that night, while still drunk and having been drinking immediately before, is the most irresponsible - you KNOW you've been drinking so you should not be driving. Purely from a suitability-for-firearms point of view, this is far worse.