Reported last week by numerous outlets but first broken by the Newcastle Herald, was the alleged planning of a mass shooting by a “white supremacist”. This comes just as another person caught with an illegal firearm in Airport West and footage of a shooting in Elsternwick last November was released to the public as the Police ask for help.
Despite looking like Duke Nukem’s illegitimate Australian son, Michael James Holt (obviously all out of bubblegum) is due to be sentenced after pleading guilty over a string of illegal firearm offences and other behaviour including posting online about “threatening to carry out a mass shooting at Tuggerah Shopping Center.”
From the article:
“A radicalised white supremacist who was stockpiling homemade guns and weapons across Sydney had expressed an intention to commit a mass shooting at a popular Westfield shopping centre.
The disturbing case, uncovered by the Sun Herald, has highlighted the evolving threat posed by violent, right-wing extremism in Australia with experts warning against public complacency.
Michael James Holt, 26, pleaded guilty recently to several firearm manufacture and possession charges after police found a large stash across three properties in 2015.”
So this begs the question – why report this now and not back in 2015?
Well, considering that a recent string of events in Australia have embarrassed the anti-gun crowd recently, it’s a fair guess that just about any angle is being sought in a desperate attempt to stem the tide turning against them in the information war.
The main takeaway – Holt was able to manufacture his own firearms regardless of our “tough” gun laws – it may not have been the extent and sophistication of a Sydney jeweller, but it shows you not much is required for a determined individual.
More from the article:
“Holt has Asperger’s syndrome and low intellectual capability yet was described by one friend as an angry “genius” whose homemade guns showed incredible skill. He had several books and diagrams on gun manufacturing and had “liked” many YouTube tutorials.”
Wow, an Asperger’s suffering loner threatening to carry out a mass shooting in Australia. Where have we heard that one before?
Recycled narratives aside, the article also makes an inference about firearm content online and it’s “potential dangers”. Given the current anti-3D printing push in effect by the anti-gun crowd, it’s not surprising that this event is being used as part propaganda for firearm censorship on the internet. However, after the government’s string of IT failures, I don’t think there is much to worry about.
The article also states“ASIO and the AFP recently revealed that they have a close eye on many right-wing extremists.”
Oh well, that’s a relief. They stopped Farad Jabbah, Man Monis, etc so I’m sure they have their finger on the pulse. This comes only two weeks removed from our latest massacre in Bourke Street but remember, that doesn’t count because it wasn’t a firearm.
All this alleged incident does is re-affirm that there is absolutely nothing to stop another large scale mass shooting from happening in Australia, and unfortunately it appears it is a case of when not if.
A few months ago, to prove the point, I downloaded (then deleted) the manufacturing plans for a WW2 Sten Gun, anyone with basic metalworking skills and a lathe could make a crude smoothbore version.
God knows how many criminals have done something similar.