TOUGH gun laws brought in after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre have caused “significant financial and emotional upset” to firearm owners, says a group linked to the state government’s gun reform agenda.
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The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Tasmania) sits on the government’s Firearms Consultative Committee, which is pivotal in shaping gun policy in Tasmania.
In a submission to a Senate inquiry exploring gun crime, the association expressed concern that national firearm laws had marginalised gun owners.
It also opposed any increase to gun storage requirements, labelling them a “hindrance”.
“The existence of this hindrance may result in the chances of injury to firearms owners or to bystanders being increased, as (burglars) may resort to other methods such as physical intimidation,” president Andrew Judd said.
Three other groups on the government’s committee, which critics charge of being stacked with pro-gun lobbyists, also made submissions to the inquiry.
All opposed strengthening gun storage rules or more regulation for firearm owners.
The committee’s Cheryl Arnol, who represents the Tasmanian Clay Target Association, suggested scrapping firearm registries for rifles and shotguns.
‘‘On the surface it appears that the illegal trade in firearms and thefts has increased since the registration of firearms in 1996,’’ she said.
‘‘Perhaps it is time Australia abolished the long arm registries as they did in Canada due to demonstrated security issues.”
Mrs Arnol said there was evidence that the illegal gun-related crime came from “Middle Eastern or Asian immigrants” connected to the drug trade.
“There needs to be an analysis of the relationship between this community group and the illegal firearm trade or usage,’’ she said.
The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association also made a submission to the inquiry, which is examining how police can prevent gun-related violence in the community.
The TFGA said the risk of stolen guns being a threat to police or the community in Tasmania was “extremely low to non-existent”.
“Any proposed changes to firearms storage provisions are unnecessary and will fail to deal with the underlying causes of gun thefts,” it said.
The four submissions opposed semi-automatic handgun bans and said the focus should be on criminals, not law-abiding firearm owners.
But a submission by Gun Control Australia said most illegal guns started out legal and it likened gun crime to a public health issue such as smoking.
“In public health terms, by removing or limiting access to the instrument of harm, the risk of misuse is either eliminated or minimised,’’ it said.
Hobart-based spokesman Roland Browne has refused to join the government committee because of its pro-gun stance.
The committee was set up by the former government to consult on gun reform legislation – a process now dragging into its fifth year.