A quick, 10 minute de-bunk of the NSW Greens Firearm Policies

The Australian Greens

Never in history has a party been so feverishly opposed to private firearm ownership than the Australian Greens. This is reflected in their policies, and their members actions and speeches. From drumming up media hysteria over a perfectly-legal lever-action shotgun, to pushing their disarmament agenda using the tragic events of Port Arthur, to calling for hunting to banned, restrictions placed on bow-and-arrows, and pushing for a complete ban on semi-automatic handguns, the Australian Greens shouldn’t be anywhere but dead last.

1. Public firearms policy should be concerned with the prevention of firearm violence and be directed towards the removal of objects that cause injury and death;

This has been proved completely false – there are more firearms in private citizens hands now more than ever, and has been no upwardly increasing trend in firearm violence from registered firearms.

2. Public policy should be underpinned by World Health Organisation standards and the resolutions outlined Australasian Police Ministers Council Agreement on Firearms;

The WHO does not dictate policy on a sovereign nation – this point is moot.

3. The availability of firearms contributes to violence in our society;

Already disproved.

4. There must be a holistic approach to preventing gun violence, including:

4.1 tough legislation to reduce firearm ownership;

This does nothing but punish the law-abiding, and serves no purpose to the Australian public

4.2 education on the dangers of firearms;

Like an automobile, or power drill, education prevents accidents. We would encourage a school subject on the matter.

4.3 long term funding for programs that help to reduce gun violence;

A vague statement – how about putting money into mental health?

4.4 support for intelligence based policing to prevent firearm crime; and

Another vague statement,

4.5 ongoing funding for research into preventing gun violence.

5. The aims and tactics of the gun lobby must be publicly exposed

“To stop the ongoing legal vilification of Australian shooters” – There, we did it for you. How about the AG;s aims and tactics publicly exposed – grave-standing, lying, emotional rhetoric..

6. Rural owners of licensed firearms should limit their use of firearms to legitimate farm purposes and minimise disturbance of people on neighbouring properties.

Perhaps the AG’s should push for suppressors to be used by holders of a valid firearm license? Additionally, what if the owners want to try out some target shooting? Must they pay to go to a range? Ridiculous.

7. That personal protection should never be regarded as a genuine reason for owning, possessing or using a firearm.

A complete travesty – and very hypocritical considering several prominant AG MP’s utilize protective services. When seconds count, police are minutes away.

8. Legislation which brings NSW laws into line with the 1996 Australasian Police Ministers Agreement on firearms;

Firearm Laws lie within the state powers – nothing more needs to be stated,

9. A total ban on the ownership, importation and use of semi-automatic firearms;

The AG’s seek to ban security, farmers, primary producers, profession shooters, the police, the military – and of course, normal shooters, for no reason. There is no evidence that removing semi-automatics from the hands of law-abiding citizens has any effect on firearm crime. Examples include Poland, Czech Republic, New Zealand and Canada,

10. An improved firearms registration system in NSW;

The Firearms Register is a waste of time and money, and has not once been used to prevent or solve a crime pertaining to firearms. Use the money wisely, and funnel into more jobs or perhaps a pay rise for police officers? I’m sure that’s something the Police union can get behind.

11. Improved cooperation between the NSW government and other levels of government in Australia to strengthen national uniform gun laws, firearms training and a national register of firearms;
If our firearms laws are the ‘best in the world’ they wouldn’t need strengthening would they? The truth is simple – the laws are too restrictive on private, law-abiding firearm owners.

12. The development (with the appropriate rights of appeal and protection of privacy) of the most stringent mechanisms to ensure that those who are not fit and proper to possess a licence to own a gun do not get a licence;

We actually support this. (Weird agreeing with the AG’s – Pres)

13. Tighter legislated minimum standards for the refusal and cancellation of licenses, including:

13.1 Conviction of violent offences within the past five years;

13.2 Being subject to an Apprehended or Domestic Violence Order within the past five years; and

13.3 Mental or physical fitness.

It would seem the AG’s are happy to discriminate based on physical disability here.

14. The abolition of existing minors’ permits;
Why? What crime would this stop? Perhaps we could call on politicians to abolish the ‘Young Greens’?

15. All persons seeking a licence being required to:

15.1 Have no criminal record involving violence, have a character reference from an authorised member of the community and the right of veto by household (immediate relatives or partners) members;

First two are already in place. Third is a farce.

15.2 Undergo a 28 day waiting period to enable check for a criminal record (including applications for a second or subsequent firearm);

A proven waste of time.

15.3 Demonstrate safety knowledge;

100% Agree – Can’t believe I just typed that. (neither can I – Pres)

15.4 Establish good and genuine reasons for possessing a licence (e.g. persons with an occupational requirement, e.g. primary producers, other rural purposes, security employees and professional shooters for nominated purposes or a member of an approved sports shooting association);

Sport and target shooting, collecting and recreational hunting are all perfectly legal and valid reasons, and changing them would serve no purpose in stopping crime.

15.5 Undergo tests for licences conducted by the police, or an independent government body, rather than by members of the NSW Sporting Shooters’ Association; and

Why? Will the AGs push for NSWPOL’s numbers to be increased to do this? A waste of time, money and police resources.

15.6 Be required to renew licences at regular intervals with the payment of a fee to cover government costs, with licences to be issued for a period of no more than 5 years;

A revenue-raising exercise. Perhaps if the register was scrapped (as it should be) you;d see a load more funds for the police force to actually use.

16. Sale and purchase of firearms and ammunition only through licenced firearms dealers;

17. Legislation that allows the sale of ammunition only for those firearms for which the purchaser is licensed, with a limitation on the amount of ammunition that can be purchased at any given time;

Contributes nothing to solving firearm crime/preventing firearm crime. What is an acceptable limit to the AG’s? 10 round per year? A farcical statement.

18. Registration of firearms at the time of purchase with details to be sent immediately to police for registration;

Waste of time and money for reasons stated above

19. A ban on mail-order sales of firearms and ammunition;

Again, does nothing to prevent crime. Also, you can;t mail order a rifle to your door, all purchases must be done through a dealer, rendering this policy pointless.

20. A state-wide register of all ammunition bought and sold in NSW;

Does not solve or prevent crime, as evidenced by Man Monis, Jaffa (Parramatta Police Shooter) and the hundreds of shootings that have occured over the last 2 years.

21. A prohibition on guns being stored:
(Oh boy…)

21.1 In rural homes without good reason; and Waste of time and money.

Only punishes the law-abiding for no reason.

21.2 In urban homes, except where a licence is granted for antique gun collectors (defined as manufactured prior to 1920) and the guns have been disabled;

Waste of time and money, only punishes the law-abiding for no reason.

22. All ammunition must be stored in locked containers separate from any firearms;

Already a current law, however, pointless.

23. Guns in urban areas are to be stored at gun clubs under lock and key, with firing mechanisms kept at designated police stations;

A central storage area is again, a waste of time and money, and a lovely shopping target for criminals. This proven quite recently when a paintball facility (that had to store the paintball markers like firearms) was broken into and they were all stolen. The concept that a licensed individual, who by definition, is of good-character has to store their private propriety away from them is disgusting. So much for the pillar of Social Justice the AG’s claim to hold.

24. Regular unannounced checks by police or other enforcement body to ensure that individuals and clubs are abiding with firearm storage regulations;

It seems the AG’s only stand for liberty and personal justice when it suits them. Police/nanny state socialists anyone?

25. Enforcement of regulations requiring guns in homes in rural communities to be kept in a metal box with a combination lock securely bolted to wall or floor, with firing mechanisms and ammunition locked in a similar box in a separate room;

Overzealous storage requirements do nothing to prevent firearm crime, and ultimate punish a law-abiding citizen. The current standards are fine.

26. The immediate and mandatory police confiscation of all firearms from people who show themselves to be unfit to hold a licence, and where a license has been revoked – this is to apply to both interim domestic violence order and those who are subject to a domestic violence order;

Can be easily abused in court.

27. A permanent amnesty for the surrender of unauthorised firearms and strict penalties for those people found possessing unauthorised firearms;

100% Agree (It’s like the twilight zone)

28. The development of a strict new set of training and testing procedures for all security guards with all existing security services being required to meet the new standards.

Slightly agree.

As you can see, the policies are quite dramatic, and would do little to stop crime – the reason for having gun laws. Most of the Green’s policies were debunked in the “Ability of Australian law enforcement authorities to eliminate gun-related violence in the community” senate inquiry.

We think our policies are common sense – now with extra common sense.