SSAA. Lever Actions Under Scrutiny By Legislators

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Taken from SSAA email newsletter 22 July.

The SSAA received correspondence from the Justice Minister Michael Keenan, confirming a review into the National Firearms Agreement (NFA) is currently taking place. Minister Keenan notes that the NFA “was written in 1996 and as such, may not accurately reflect the current operation of the legal firearms market.â€

As the Minister notes, the Department will be consulting with key stakeholders as part of the review process. The SSAA is meeting with the Federal Attorney-General’s Department in the coming weeks to discuss the NFA and other issues.

High-powered shotgun could trigger gun law overhaul amid fears of outdated regulations

A NEW lever action shotgun on its way to Australia could help trigger the biggest overhaul of gun laws since the Port Arthur massacre.

Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan told the Herald Sun while Australia’s gun laws were among the world’s most stringent, they had not kept up with technology.

“We know gun technology has updated and we’re doing the work to ensure our laws aren’t outdated,†he said.

Full story:
/>http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/high-powered-shotgun-could-trigger-gun-law-overhaul-amid-fears-of-outdated-regulations/story-fnkfnspy-1227413930975

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Adler lever-action shotgun hysteria unjustified: SSAA’s Geoff Jones

The recent media-driven hysteria about lever-action firearms and the apparent push to re-examine current legislation is unjustified.

Lever-action firearms have been legitimately used for more than 150 years. They include a simple mechanism and require manual loading. It is not a self-loading or ‘semi-automatic’ firearm by any stretch of the imagination.

Every licensed firearm owner has already been deemed a fit and proper person by the very authorities that are insultingly implying purchasing a firearm made from old technology will somehow threaten society.

The SSAA hosts numerous national and international competitions which see our members use lever action rifles and shotguns. It is a safe and enjoyable aspect of the sport that is popular with both young and older shooters.

Claims that lever-action is “new technology†and capable of “rapid fire†demonstrates blatant ignorance and shows the paranoia of some who clearly don’t understand our sport and pastime.

Further suggestions that firearms legislation is once again under the microscope is irresponsible media rhetoric. Quite frankly, authorities would be better off investing resources in addressing how criminals can obtain firearms illegally and easily through Australia’s porous borders, as found in the recent Senate Inquiry.

New firearms laws would not have stopped terrorist Man Haron Monis enacting the Sydney siege, as stated by those investigating this terrible incident. It is not the laws that are the problem: it is the enforcement of these laws and the failure of authorities who refuse to inform themselves about the reality of illegal firearms.

If the authorities are actually serious about addressing the real criminal threat of illegal firearms, they are heading in the wrong direction.

The reaction in some media has been unjustified and nothing more than a shallow attempt to bully police and authorities into covering for their lack of commitment in dealing with real issues.

Unfortunately for all of us, nothing is perfect and we can’t restrict everything to prevent those in our society who want to do us harm, as they will always find a way.

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SSAA Calls For Mature Debate on Firearms

26 June 2015 / In President's Message

There is no simple answer when it comes to public safety. During the past six months, more than one million licensed firearm owners have been drawn in by selective, sensationalist media reports and certain politicians who think further restrictions will somehow be a quick fix to address public safety concerns. The theory goes that penalising the licensed firearm owner will somehow stop outlaw bikie groups and drug dealers attacking each other, or prevent the actions of bitter and extreme religious-driven terrorists.

Even the conservative side of government and public servants responded to the 2014 terrorist attack in Sydney’s Martin Place by suggesting the fast-tracking of a national firearm registry integration system, even though the firearm used in the incident would never have been on the system.

So, along with the blame falling on the licensed owner, we see the continual dissipation of personal responsibility.

We, as a society, cannot expect the police and laws to prevent us from any or all mischief. In most cases, it may be the actions of a person who is well known with a systematic breakdown of checks and balances; in this case, it is to be agreed with Prime Minister Tony Abbott that our own disposition to give the benefit of the doubt should be questioned.

Port Arthur madman Martin Bryant had a long and sad history of antisocial behaviour and plain illegal activity. The man who enacted the Childers Palace Backpackers murders using only a packet of matches was well known to be criminally and mentally ill. The horrific case of the Cairns mother murdering her eight children and niece with a knife was also known to authorities. Terrorist Man Haron Monis was well known to both the media and police authorities, was out on bail and, to our knowledge, was under no apparent surveillance.

There have been and always will be people who want to cause harm, with often the most dangerous tool in their arsenal being xenophobic, religious hatred or a sense of trying to show the world that they are someone demonstrating their own importance.

Unlike America where the Second Amendment gives their citizens the right to bear arms, Australians don’t have such rights. In a Western democratic system, however, we do have the freedom to own and use firearms. We also have to prove that we are a fit and proper person for that freedom.

For the licensed law-abiding firearm owner, our firearms licence represents a good check of character and that we are a fit and proper person who can be trusted by society.

We use our firearms for sporting or food-gathering purposes, whether it’s competing at the shooting range or hunting for the table to the benefit of the environment, as well as removing foxes, feral cats, goats and pigs, and other introduced species. Hunting is Australia’s oldest and safest outdoor recreational activity.

Those against licensed firearm owners like to state that all firearms used in crimes are stolen from the licensed owner. Prior to 1996, around 90 per cent of firearms were not regulated. Criminals already had firearms and still continue to possess and import new ones. The discovery of more than 140 Glocks delivered to criminals through a suburban Sydney post office in 2012 is just one example of how porous our borders are. If criminals can bring in illegal drugs and components to manufacture illicit substances here, such as the methamphetamine trade that has reached epidemic proportions, it is impossible to say we are capturing all - even most - illegal items that are coming through our borders.

Another myth perpetuated by those against private firearm ownership is that the SSAA wishes to see more firearms in society. This is simply not true. We support firearms being in the right hands under sensible regulation, not cumbersome hurdles and regulatory hoops that have little, if any, contribution to reducing crimes involving firearms.

In the past, we have worked with both the Australian Labor Party and the conservative Liberal Nationals side of politics, as well as the government authorities of Customs, the Australian Federal Police and the Attorney-General’s Department, to attempt to reinforce good policy and explain and prevent bad policy that will have negative implications. We will continue to do so to benefit our 170,000 members and all licensed firearm owners at large.

All we ask for in return is that the social, economic and environmental benefits of recreational shooting and hunting be recognised. Discriminating against hunters and sporting shooters in times of tribulation is not the Australian way. As I said earlier, we don’t have a right to firearms ownership in this nation, but I, like many others, want to live in a land of choice and freedom.

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Taken from SSAA email newsletter 27 July

SSAA writes open letter to Minister Keenan about temporary Adler ban

The SSAA has written an open letter, http://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/an-open-letter-to-minister-keenan-about-the-temporary-adler-ban to Justice Minister Michael Keenan about the Federal Government’s decision to ‘temporarily’ ban the importation of the Adler A110 lever-action shotgun.

In our letter from SSAA National President Geoff Jones, we express our immense displeasure with the process and the decision, pointing out that it appears to be a breach of good faith. We assure the Minister that we and the 800,000 licensed shooters and the groups that support them, including the SSAA, will not accept this roughshod treatment lying down.

The SSAA is shocked by Prime Minister Tony Abbotts` decision, http://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/ssaa-shocked-by-temporary-adler-ban and has already spoken to Minister Keenan’s Chief of Staff to express our displeasure, given that no consultation with shooting groups or the importer Nioa has taken place.

We will be raising the issue in our meeting with the Attorney-General’s office, and the Justice Minister again, within the fortnight.

It is shocking that our parliamentarians are once again targeting the law-abiding shooter, rather than criminals who obtain firearms through illicit means, as was found in the Senate Inquiry: http://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/greens-led-senate-report-on-firearms-violence-overwhelmingly-rejected

We call on you, our members, to contact your local politician to express your concerns with this decision

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Taken from SSAA email newsletter 7th Aug 2015

Politicians slam temporary Adler ban

Following the government’s announcement in late July of the temporary ban of the importation of the Adler A110 lever-action shotgun, several politicians were quick to publicly condemn the decision.

Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm http://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/government-curtailing-liberties-by-stealth-says-senator-leyonhjelm said the government was curtailing liberties by stealth, while National Senator Bridget McKenzie http://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/suspension-of-adler-imports-disappointing-says-senator-mckenzie said there had been “a serious lack of engagement†with shooters and Senator Ricky Muir http://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/senator-ricky-muir-opens-fire-on-pms-adler-ban said the ban would only hurt “law-abiding huntersâ€.

The National Firearms Dealers Association also called for the shotgun to be classified as a category A firearm. http://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/national-firearms-dealers-association-on-adler-a110-shotgun-classification

SSAA National has met with senior federal government officials about this issue and the ongoing review of the National Firearms Agreement and will bring you updates shortly.

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Farmers fighting feral pigs welcome move to lift ban on controversial shotgun

Rural landowners and shooters have welcomed news the government will lift a ban on the importation of a controversial rapid-fire shotgun.

Importation of the Adler brand lever-action shotgun, which is opposed by gun control advocates because of its fast firing rate and seven-shot magazine capacity, was suspended last month pending a national review of firearms regulations.

Full story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-14/debate-over-controversial-rapid-fire-shotgun/6697804