Australian Government To Re-Classify Firearms! You Could Lose Your Guns!

YOU HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT KEEPING YOUR FIREARMS

in Featured, Legislation, National, News 7th September 2015 1 Comment 4,310 Views

As you will have seen from our emails over the last few weeks, legitimate shooters are facing what is probably our biggest threat since the 1996 buyback.  This time, however, there will be no buyback because this time, the government will not ban any firearms you have.  What they plan to do is to re-categorize many of your firearms.  Minutes of the National Firearms Policy Working Group from 2005 (yes, ten years ago) indicate that this plan was hatched a long time ago.  And it’s not just about the Adler shotgun.  That was simply the catalyst and had it not been for the furore that surrounded the publicity of the Adler, it is very likely that we would never have been aware of the plan to re-categorize your firearms.

The National Firearms and Weapons Policy Working Group (FWPWG) is currently working on a review of the National Firearms Agreement.  Although consultation has only just begun, the review itself commenced in August last year.  Whilst we have long been calling for a review of the NFA, we had no idea that the review was already under way and that it contained items that we definitely DON’T want to see, like the aforementioned re-categorization.

The consultation is very limited:  only a very select group of organizations or individuals.  Although Federal Minister for Justice and the Attorney General, Mr Keenan told us that Shooters Union would be part of the consultation, that has not eventuated.  Nor have we been asked to make a submission on the review of the National Firearms Agreement.

We decided to do one anyway, and our submission can be found by by clicking HERE

It’s time for YOU to take some action now.  If you don’t there is a very real chance that ANY firearm you have in your possession that has a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds may be re-categorized to Category C. That will include most lever action firearms, nearly all .303s and a whole range of other firearms.  If you haven’t recently applied for a Category C license, you may not be aware that in Queensland, it is almost impossible to get a Category C license, even if you are a property owner with more than sufficient land available.  The reality is that if your firearms are re-categorized, you will be forced to hand them in to police with no compensation, because they haven’t actually been banned and therefore no compensation is payable.  Even Dealers will be swamped with consignment stock for which they have no market so no hope of you getting any return on your investment there.

You might note that there is NO evidence to support the proposed actions, no examples of misuse of firearms based on their magazine capacity and there has been no meaningful consultation at which our views were respected.

So what can you do?  There are a number of things:

1. Do your own submission.  It doesn’t have to be as detailed as ours but you might get some ideas from it.  You have until 11th September to make a submission.
2. Send your submission to NationalFirearmsAgreement.Submissions@ag.gov.au with a copy to the Queensland Premier, Queensland Police Minister and your local member.

Shooters Union members should login and go to the ‘message politicians’ page for emailing Queensland politicians.

3. Make an appointment to see your local MPs, both state and federal.  Tell them that if the proposed review of the NFA contains any further restrictions, you will not vote for them and you will be doing your level best to make sure that none of your friends do either.

Remember, keep it polite and factual.  But let them know.

This is a call to action.  Take action now!

Shooters Union Australia is a not for profit organisation which represents thousands of firearms owners and users across Australia. We are actively involved in the political scene, lobbying against the unfair, unreasonable and unconstitutional vilification of firearms owners at every level of government. Our aim is to work towards a co-operative system of effective gun control, and together we are affecting positive change on firearm legislation in Australia. Help us to change the social dialogue around firearms, firearms ownership and the shooters themselves.

Join us to help make a difference, stop discrimination and create a system of fair policies that support and protect. 

My Submission.

I am against any new legislation that does not help to make Australia a safer place. The government has already proven that present firearms legislation has absolutely nothing to do with public safety. You only have to look at the law regarding primitive muzzle-loading guns to see how ignorant the law makers are. Australian citizens are not even legally allowed to make their own matchlock guns for recreational use, how pathetic is that?
Flintlocks, matchlocks,tinderlocks,wheellocks,miquilet & others all classified the same as modern centerfire arms!!! Now they want to re-classify guns so they can be confiscated, taken from law abiding Australian citizens! This will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Sincerely, Keith H. Burgess.

NationalFirearmsAgreement.Submissions@ag.gov.au

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