Firearm law consultation opens
Public consultation has opened on the proposed amendments to Tasmania’s firearms act.
Proposed changes include harsher penalties for firearm offences ahead of the introduction of the National Firearms Register (NFR).
Other measures - including the reclassification of straight-pull and button/lever-release (self-ejecting) centre-fire and shotgun firearms to the more restrictive Category C licence, and the introduction of Australian citizenship as a requirement for firearm ownership, with appropriate carve-outs - are subject to a jointly funded buyback with the Federal Government.
The Tasmanian government has committed to the national gun buyback in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack.
The newly proposed laws do not cap the number of firearms a single person can own.
Police Minister Felix Ellis said legislation to implement the National Firearms Register in Tasmania would strengthen law enforcement's ability to share firearms information in near real time across Tasmania and interstate.
“The Bondi terrorist attack showed the devastating consequences of a failure to share intelligence across jurisdictions and agencies,” Mr Ellis said.
“These reforms are about making sure the right information is available to law enforcement when they are making decisions about who should have access to firearms.
“Our reforms put criminals on notice, with mandatory prison terms for firearms theft and possession of a stolen firearm.
"If you steal a firearm, or you're caught with a stolen firearm, you should expect to spend time behind bars.
Mr Ellis said that stolen firearms fuel the black market, empower organised crime and put the public at risk.
"That's why a key feature of these reforms is the introduction of a three-month, minimum mandatory sentence for firearm theft and possession of a stolen firearm.
"This is a reform that should have happened years ago.
“While Labor and the Greens blocked mandatory sentencing more than a decade ago, we're now righting that wrong.”
Consultation on the new firearm laws is open until 5pm on August 7.
“Tasmania was clear from the outset that we would consult with our communities on evidence-based firearms laws rather than rush through a knee-jerk reaction,” Mr Ellis said.
“This is an important opportunity for everyday Tasmanians to now have their say.
“We welcome submissions, and we will continue to genuinely listen as we craft these laws.”
Mr Ellis said the Tasmanian government would continue to negotiate a fair and affordable gun buyback model with the Commonwealth.
"We have committed to compensation of 1.5 times market value for the firearms being reclassified, and any other voluntary buyback at market value.
"The Federal Government announced the buyback six months ago; however, there have been no significant updates since then.
“Our focus is on keeping firearms out of the hands of terrorists and criminals, not penalising law-abiding licence holders.”
Labor police spokeswoman Jen Butler was concerned the amendments have no cap on firearm ownership.
Her party has committed to a cap of 10 firearms for primary producers.
“We remain concerned that at a time when it seems like there’s a shooting or a gun theft in the news every other week, Premier Rockliff and the Liberals want unlimited guns in the community,” Ms Butler said.
“Labor does not support that, and Tasmanians don’t support that either.
“We look forward to scrutinising the Bill and working with the Parliament to deliver practical reforms that improve community safety while respecting the legitimate needs of primary producers, sports shooters, and recreational hunters.”
The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoors (SHOT) Tasmania organisation said it met with Tasmanian Labor Leader Josh Willie and other parliamentary party members, who reaffirmed their desire for caps.
“Labor has not made the case for firearm caps in Tasmania,” a SHOT Tasmania spokesperson said.
“Josh Willie and the Labor Opposition have confirmed they want to pursue caps, but they have not produced evidence showing why a farmer, hunter, collector or sporting shooter becomes a public safety risk simply because they own more than an arbitrary number of firearms.
“That is not evidence-based policy.
“It is a political position imported from Canberra.”
SHOT Tasmania is also against the gun buyback scheme.
“Before Labor commits Tasmania to a Commonwealth-driven buyback or cap scheme, it must release the evidence, the modelling and the costings,” the spokesperson said.
“If Labor wants to spend public money buying back lawfully owned property from licensed people, it must first prove the policy is necessary, explain what problem it solves, and show how it improves public safety.
“So far, it has done none of that.”
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Comments
Firearms legislation
A cap on the number of firearms will achieve nothing.
I should not be penalised for the actions of terrorists.
No change tas
It’s is stated that Tasmania will not change, changing the classifications make little to no sense I do agree with harsher penalties in relation to firearms crimes but refuse changes involving classifications and caps. As always good hunting and responsible shooting to follower firearms owners
General Critic on sentencing and Other Firearm laws.
Okay so first of all, only a 3 months Minimum is a stupid idea as the theft of items that CAN cause bodily harm like any other tool is stupid. If someone is caught with a stolen firearm, Make it a Minimum a year or two as you DO NOT intend on doing anything productive for the community so you should not be apart of the community!
Caps on firearms will only hinder businesses like the paintball business in Launceston and anyone who wishes to work in the security line of work. Only Australian citizens should be able to have firearm licenses while GUESTS to the state who wish to hunt should be able to have some kind of guest pass if they are hunting for our Feral Deer or other feral animals.
Any attempt at pushing restrictions only comes at punishing law abiding firearm owner which is what you guys claim not to be doing.
Now onto another thing: Paintball and another sport, Airsoft. We are FAR too strict on paintball as a licensing and ownership related issue. We should look into lowering what Paintball is and have a catagory that allows people to own and possess their own Paintball rifles. As for Airsoft, this is a ridiculous law and that we are not allowed to have it as a sport here is stupid. For crying out loud the nanny nation United Kingdom allows it and they have a ban on most firearms.
Paintball and Airsoft/Gel Blasters
If a licence owning citizen wishes to buy these, they should. This law makes absolutely no sense, I own a .357 magnum, but can't own a weapon that may leave a tiny bruise and grafitti a wall? Put them in Cat A. Will still agree for non-licensed ownage, they can look identical to the real thing.
Firearms laws
Much Tougher penalties for stealing firearms are needed or being in possession of stolen firearms. Only Australia citizens can own. Law biding citizens that pass background checks have not been a problem in the past and I can’t see them becoming one in the future. The limits on ownership makes no sense. Stop the political correctness and look at groups who are known potential problems.
Gun laws
Keep existing laws, only changes needs are, harsher penalties for being in possession of stolen guns, harsher again if that individual has a criminal record, and added penalties if that individual was apprehended whilst the stolen weapon was used for gun related violence.
That idea achieves nothing, it's completely void.
I'm sorry, what? What terrorist takes 10 firearms to a mass-shooting, let alone are feasibly able to carry them all? Although I still disagree with the following - a cap of magazines per firearm model makes far, FAR more sense. The thought process behind this is simply asinine. How about proper background checks? Maybe even not supplying firearms to known associates of terrorists or terrorist organizations? At the end of the day, a criminal will still procure a firearm, licensed, or not.... How about a minister that owns and actively uses firearms (and, indeed own and actively use a brain) make the call?
Do not change gun laws
There is no need for further restrictions, law enforcement can't keep up already with the illegal firearms.
Changing gun laws
The only change required is to fix the intelligece sharing between all levels of government to prevent thjs from jappening again.
Laws for nothing.
What a joke. You’ll change nothing. You and all your political parties want to do nothing but push laws on everyday Aussies. None of you care about the average Aussie who has built and is still building this country, only for you to suck the life out of it and import more foreign strangers. Our children will have no freedoms and a very bleak future left. The country is becoming very overreaching and communistic due to cowards and traitors who have taken control.
Fix intelligence sharing
The only change required is to fix the intelligence sharing so a tragedy like Bondi can be stopped before it happens.
The current gun laws are highly effective.
It isn’t the law abiding gun owners that are the problem. It’s the criminal elements and the proposed reforms will bring no change to that.
Proposed Firearms Changes
No need for change, no benefit to the community by the proposed changes
Firearm legislation
I do agree with harsher penalities.i dont beleive caps on guns are required i wont make any difference!! Im a club shooter and a hunter and a primary producer and the money we put back into the ecomomy is staggering !!
Firearm Laws
I lead, work and live in a small community. A community with over 160years of history, with generational families. An essential element of this work is consultation to listen to the need’s of everyone, and act upon them, advocating for everyone.
Get these rushed legislations have done none of that, and hurt the livelihood of so many. Within my community, licence holds range in diversity. Young upcoming shooters, doctors, teachers, farmers, ministers and business owners. All well respected citizens that contribute to the success of our little space. Yet they are the ones being targeted ( pun intended).
For individuals that have done the right thing, complied to laws, paid their ongoing licensing requirements, and never caused an issue, why are they now being targeted for the wrongdoings of just a few unhinged individuals. With limits, with finger points and with framings that implies gun owners are criminals.
It’s a disgusting abuse of leaders on so many fronts.
My position on new changes to gun laws
Buy back voluntary & property valuation pay out
No cap at all That does nothing but frustrate licened shooters
Gun control for law abiding citizens
I do not support any cap on number of gunns owned, I also do not support reclassification of current gun types.
Stop
Stop penalizing the law abiding citizen for criminals. The gun laws in this country are pretty ridiculous already.
Firearms Caps
Like usual the governments are using smoke screens. The only issue here is terrorism, law abiding firearms owners are being punished in a move that will achieve absolutely zero.
Leave the system as is. No caps are necessary. Stop the cancel culture on everything in Australia and start punishing the people who need punishing. Not every day Australians
Proposed new gun laws
We need harsh penalties for those who are in possession of stolen weapons, even more so if the individual in possession also has a criminal record.Farmers need guns for pest control, leave those existing laws in place.