Between 1997 and 2025 firearms numbers increased from just over 3million to just over 4million. An increase of 33%. At the same time the population increased from just over 18million to just over 27million, an increase on 50%. Effectively there has been a 17% decrease in the number of firearms in Australia.
Currently there are 943K licence holders in Australia owning 4million firearms. That is 4.5 firearms per licence holder. That's less than the NSW Premier is going to cap them at. What's his point?
I believe that permanent residents should not be penalised for holding a fire arms licence. Interestingly the Victorian police commissioner is ineligible to hold a firearms licence because he is a NZ citizen, His position as a police officer allows him to carry a firearm, but he would not be allowed to improve his skills at a non police range. This would also apply to police officers that have been recruited from overseas as well as members of the defence force.
This legislation has been rushed and not properly thought through.