Canberra's recreational shooters are warning the Australian Capital Territory government's looming changes to gun laws will have unintended consequences for law-abiding owners. They want to see improved background checks and information sharing between jurisdictions rather than a cap on the number of weapons an individual can own. The government says reviewing and updating gun laws in all jurisdictions is necessary in the wake of the Bondi attack.
00:00When it comes to the ACT's gun laws, Shane Stroud knows better than most what works and what doesn't.
00:09You know what Canberra's like, everybody knows each other, so we self-regulate and self-control.
00:15He concedes the system isn't perfect, but insists Canberra still boasts a safe, coherent and cohesive gun culture.
00:23There are 7,000 licensed firearms owners in the ACT and 5,200 plus of them are part of our association here.
00:31He's concerned likely changes to the ACT's gun laws, including caps on the number of firearms an individual can own,
00:39and categorisation will have unintended consequences, particularly when licences cover recreational, hunting and professional uses.
00:48Most people don't bat an eye when you tell them that a golf bag contains about 14 different clubs to play one round of golf. Shooting sports are very similar.
00:57The ACT government acknowledges a proportion of local law-abiding residents will be affected.
01:03Who have, say, six, seven, ten firearms that may be impacted. It depends though.
01:09There will also be exemptions for sports shooters, for farmers, similar to what New South Wales has done.
01:15The government also needs community and parliamentary support to strengthen the ACT's anti-vilification laws,
01:22which generally punish hate speech with civil penalties like fines.
01:27There is a live question in light again of recent events as to whether, in extreme cases, criminal penalties should apply.
01:36MLAs will sit for the first time this year on February 3rd.
Be the first to comment