There are over a million more registered firearms in the hands of law abiding Australian citizens than there were in 1996. The homicide rate using firearms has continued to decline since around 1980 ( Source: ABS and AIC). There is no positive correlation between the two. The science and data do not support current Labour policy. If anything , many firearms in the hands of legitimate, fit and proper people is much safer for the community than one firearm getting into the hands of the wrong person.
The royal commission into the Bondi Massacre is highlighting the failures by our federal spy agencies and police forces at both state and federal levels. Poor communication, flaws in data management and sharing, and the inability to monitor and prevent firearms getting into the wrong hands are at the root of the problem.
Do our back-flipping Labour politicians just have their heads in the sand, or are they simply using this issue to enhance political ambitions? Every day gangland shoot-ups, fire bombings and violent home invasions are reported in the media. Our leaders appear to be barking up the wrong tree!
Better support for our current legislation with better policing and more police on the streets would be a good start. Preventing access and fear of being caught doing the wrong thing are often great deterrents to would-be criminals.
Continuing to punish the innocent is simply applying death by a thousand cuts to firearm owners and businesses. Caps on ownership and buybacks will likely cause shop owners to go out of business, supply of ammunition and firearms to dry up and we will be left to wither on the branch.
Sign petitions, become active members of sporting shooter groups and send them a clear message.