Who here is playing the piper's tune?

Poker machine industry sponsors a campaign but we are not allowed to see to what extent until six months after the election

CAP IT: Elections - state, federal, local - should have capped campaigns, a reader says. Picture: David Nielsen

THE current removal of illegal guns by law enforcers, netting hundreds of illegal arms, is a ploy to make our visitors to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games feel confident and secure. It is shocking that so many were discovered and retrieved in an matter of one month.

What of drugs and weapons kept as security by criminal elements? Don't expect things will change all that much, especially with the ease criminals can obtain weapons for their underground activities from others in the black market trade of illegal accessories. Gangs are now more prevalent and crime is escalating because the money is better than working for a living or welfare.

They need the tools of the trade to enforce their control. No-one is fooled into thinking criminals will just hand in their weapons. The haul is the tip of the iceberg.

Farmers and remote properties need guns for their work and livelihood. But criminal elements live in our cities, targeting other gangs in territory disputes.

The ease by which one can obtain a gun, even those under the legal age, is a stark reminder that guns do not discriminate between the good and the bad, or age.

Without weapons, there would be no war. Removal of a few hundred will not prevent these criminal wars to cease.

The Government has to be seen to be tackling crime, especially on the Gold Coast. But the reality is that crime pays and those invested in it, won't let up simply to suit the event.

There are no guarantees. Without risk, there would be no progress.

E ROWE

Marcoola

Who here is playing the piper's tune?

AT WHAT point are we when government becomes a servant to lobbyists, foreign nations and big business?

The Australian Labor Party, former prime ministers, current opposition leaders and unionists have been subject to royal commissions, federal raids, and ministerial sackings all in the hope that corruption can be proven either personal or institutional with former senator Sam Dastyari being the casualty of basic stupidity he will probably admit to.

We witness the poker machine industry and the gun lobby sponsor a campaign but we are not allowed to see to what extent until six months after the election. So what was the deal struck? No one gives money without payback.

Chinese government investors have pumped cash into South Australian Liberals for the upcoming state election for the same offence MrDastyari got rolled for and the media is silent.

The media become very vocal if union cash from Australian workers want representation. And nothing more has to be said about where the fossil fuel industry's cash ends up.

My point is all elections state, federal, local should have capped campaigns, full live political donations broadcast across all media outlets not just web site releases available only to those who are tech savvy.

The world is witnessing the extent of power the NRA has over politicians in the US and it's going that way here if we do not act now.

I'm sure all parties will give lip service to the above but the extent they act is totally dependent on what extent our government and media are committed to the real deal or are playing their piper's tune.

WAYNE OFFER

Thagoona