Gun Laws and Wasted Resources
The Laws
Banned are all automatic and semi-automatic self-loading and pump action longarms, except where used for military, police or other government purposes, or for certain occupations (such as extermination of feral animals).
All firearms must be registered.
A genuine reason must be provided for owning, possessing or using a firearm (SELF DEFENCE is NOT a genuine reason for owning, possessing or using a firearm).
Particular limited classifications define the ‘genuine reason’ an applicant must show for owning, possessing or using a firearm.
Over and above satisfaction of the ‘genuine reason’ test, an applicant for a licence for a centrefire rifle or handgun must demonstrate a genuine need for the particular type of firearm.
Licence applicants to be over 18 years, be a fit and proper person, prove their identity and undertake adequate safety training.
There is a 28-day cooling-off period before licences are issued and the need for a separate permit to acquire each firearm obtained.
There are also requirements for the security and storage of firearms.
Categories of firearms:
• Licence Category A: air rifles; rimfire rifles (excluding self-loading); single and double barrel shotguns;
• Licence Category B: muzzle-loading firearms; single shot; double barrel and repeating centre fire rifles; break-action shotgun/rifle combinations;
• Licence Category C (prohibited except for occupational purposes): semi-automatic fire rifles with a magazine capacity no greater than 10 rounds; semi-automatic shotguns with a magazine capacity no greater than five rounds; pump action shotguns with a magazine capacity no greater than five rounds;
• Licence Category D (prohibited, except for official purposes): self-loading centre fire rifles designed or adapted for military purposes or a firearm which substantially duplicates those rifles in design, function or appearance; non-military style self-loading centre fire rifles with either an integral or detachable magazine; self-loading shotguns with either an integral or detachable magazine and pump action shotguns with a capacity of more than five rounds; self-loading rimfire rifles with a magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds; and
• Licence Category H (Restricted): all handguns, including air pistols.
The Cost
The cost of the confiscation and compensation to owners of banned firearms has been stated as $496 million and the yearly cost or running the registries at $27 million in 2010. (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2122854)
Individual firearm owners are also subject to fees for licences and permits to obtain firearms. In particular the State of Western Australia has made it very expensive to be a licensed owner. In W.A. in 2019 it cost $268 for an original one year licence with a $56 renewal fee for each year after that. In addition to the licence charge, for each application to obtain a firearm there is a noting fee of $188. (https://www.police.wa.gov.au/en/Police/About%20Us/Our%20agency/Police%20Licensing%20Services/Firearms/Licence%20fees)
Western Australia has also gone to other extreme and sometimes stupid and dangerous lengths to make it difficult for prospective firearm owners. For example, a letter from the W.A. Police Firearms Licensing Services to a firearms owner requested that he provide “a letter from yourself giving yourself permission to use the firearm”. (Page 7, “Australian Shooter” December, 2015) In that same letter it is stated that a minimum property size of 1000 acres would be required for a .223 calibre rifle. Such a requirement is stupid because it ignores the fact that a rifle can be used quite safely on a property of far less size providing the topography is such that an adequate backstop is available. This requirement is dangerous because it implies that on a property of 1000 acres a .223 rifle may be fired without regard to what may be behind the target area.
Dangerous Lost Policing Opportunities
Whilst police resources are being wasted on harsh regulation of law abiding people criminals are not getting as much attention as would otherwise be the case. This can only add to the danger faced by the law abiding. (Australian Gun Laws a Dangerous Waste of Resources)
The Victims
All Australians are the victims of these laws that have been shown by research to have had no result in the reduction of crime. (Australian Gun Laws a Dangerous Waste of Resources)
Many innocent Australians have been murdered in their own homes by thrill killers, rapists and robbers who have been emboldened to attack by the knowledge that their victims were unable to own a firearm for self defence. It can be estimated that more than 25 elderly Australians are killed in their own homes by strangers each year. (Australian Victims of Gun Control)
National Farmers Federation Ridicules the Laws
The NFF in a submission to the Australian Government review of the laws has been scathing in criticising the waste of resources saying:
" the ability of our police agencies to reduce firearm related violence has been seriously undermined and compromised by political actions over the past 20 years or so. Existing strategy has focussed massive police resources into regulating (and consequently alienating) the legitimate users of firearms and neglecting almost completely the criminal misuse of firearms."
www.nff.org.au/get/submissions/5086.pdf
Banned are all automatic and semi-automatic self-loading and pump action longarms, except where used for military, police or other government purposes, or for certain occupations (such as extermination of feral animals).
All firearms must be registered.
A genuine reason must be provided for owning, possessing or using a firearm (SELF DEFENCE is NOT a genuine reason for owning, possessing or using a firearm).
Particular limited classifications define the ‘genuine reason’ an applicant must show for owning, possessing or using a firearm.
Over and above satisfaction of the ‘genuine reason’ test, an applicant for a licence for a centrefire rifle or handgun must demonstrate a genuine need for the particular type of firearm.
Licence applicants to be over 18 years, be a fit and proper person, prove their identity and undertake adequate safety training.
There is a 28-day cooling-off period before licences are issued and the need for a separate permit to acquire each firearm obtained.
There are also requirements for the security and storage of firearms.
Categories of firearms:
• Licence Category A: air rifles; rimfire rifles (excluding self-loading); single and double barrel shotguns;
• Licence Category B: muzzle-loading firearms; single shot; double barrel and repeating centre fire rifles; break-action shotgun/rifle combinations;
• Licence Category C (prohibited except for occupational purposes): semi-automatic fire rifles with a magazine capacity no greater than 10 rounds; semi-automatic shotguns with a magazine capacity no greater than five rounds; pump action shotguns with a magazine capacity no greater than five rounds;
• Licence Category D (prohibited, except for official purposes): self-loading centre fire rifles designed or adapted for military purposes or a firearm which substantially duplicates those rifles in design, function or appearance; non-military style self-loading centre fire rifles with either an integral or detachable magazine; self-loading shotguns with either an integral or detachable magazine and pump action shotguns with a capacity of more than five rounds; self-loading rimfire rifles with a magazine capacity greater than 10 rounds; and
• Licence Category H (Restricted): all handguns, including air pistols.
The Cost
The cost of the confiscation and compensation to owners of banned firearms has been stated as $496 million and the yearly cost or running the registries at $27 million in 2010. (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2122854)
Individual firearm owners are also subject to fees for licences and permits to obtain firearms. In particular the State of Western Australia has made it very expensive to be a licensed owner. In W.A. in 2019 it cost $268 for an original one year licence with a $56 renewal fee for each year after that. In addition to the licence charge, for each application to obtain a firearm there is a noting fee of $188. (https://www.police.wa.gov.au/en/Police/About%20Us/Our%20agency/Police%20Licensing%20Services/Firearms/Licence%20fees)
Western Australia has also gone to other extreme and sometimes stupid and dangerous lengths to make it difficult for prospective firearm owners. For example, a letter from the W.A. Police Firearms Licensing Services to a firearms owner requested that he provide “a letter from yourself giving yourself permission to use the firearm”. (Page 7, “Australian Shooter” December, 2015) In that same letter it is stated that a minimum property size of 1000 acres would be required for a .223 calibre rifle. Such a requirement is stupid because it ignores the fact that a rifle can be used quite safely on a property of far less size providing the topography is such that an adequate backstop is available. This requirement is dangerous because it implies that on a property of 1000 acres a .223 rifle may be fired without regard to what may be behind the target area.
Dangerous Lost Policing Opportunities
Whilst police resources are being wasted on harsh regulation of law abiding people criminals are not getting as much attention as would otherwise be the case. This can only add to the danger faced by the law abiding. (Australian Gun Laws a Dangerous Waste of Resources)
The Victims
All Australians are the victims of these laws that have been shown by research to have had no result in the reduction of crime. (Australian Gun Laws a Dangerous Waste of Resources)
Many innocent Australians have been murdered in their own homes by thrill killers, rapists and robbers who have been emboldened to attack by the knowledge that their victims were unable to own a firearm for self defence. It can be estimated that more than 25 elderly Australians are killed in their own homes by strangers each year. (Australian Victims of Gun Control)
National Farmers Federation Ridicules the Laws
The NFF in a submission to the Australian Government review of the laws has been scathing in criticising the waste of resources saying:
" the ability of our police agencies to reduce firearm related violence has been seriously undermined and compromised by political actions over the past 20 years or so. Existing strategy has focussed massive police resources into regulating (and consequently alienating) the legitimate users of firearms and neglecting almost completely the criminal misuse of firearms."
www.nff.org.au/get/submissions/5086.pdf