Anna Reynolds: Greens ban on semi-automatic handguns wins endorsement in Denison

Gun control advocate Roland Browne has endorsed the Greens’ policy on semi-automatic handguns as promoted by Greens candidate for Denison Anna Reynolds.

Ms Reynolds said the recent announcement by Tasmania Police of a gun amnesty on 14 and 15 September in Granton highlighted the need for increased safety around guns in the State and that a spate of gun thefts in recent months had the public particularly concerned, according to media reports.

Mr Browne and his group, Gun Control Australia, have endorsed the Greens’ policy and said that they are the only party that has taken a proactive stance on the growing problem with handguns.

“The guns that have been stolen around Tasmania in recent months are largely licensed firearms but it is time to extend bans to ensure people are not keeping semi-automatic handguns,” Ms Reynolds said.

“One can easily question the need for such a weapon at all, and if a licensed semi-automatic handgun were to fall into the hands of those with bad intentions, it would be devastating for our community,” she said.

The Greens’ plan has been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office at $351.5 million over the next four years and includes a 12-month amnesty, a compensation scheme and a national public education campaign in support of the buy back.

“We can’t tackle gun violence without getting serious about taking guns off the streets,” Ms Reynolds said.

“We need strong action to reduce the number of handguns falling into the wrong hands. They have become the firearm of choice for criminals in Australia, especially in the drug trade and in gangs.

“Police do everything they can to keep gun crime off the streets, but without strong laws to back them up, they are fighting a losing battle.”

The Greens action plan to make our streets safer includes:
– Banning the importation, ownership, possession and use of semi-automatic handguns with exemptions for government-owned guns.
– Implementing a 12-month amnesty and buyback scheme for newly prohibited handguns and an amnesty for already prohibited firearms.
– Implementing a national public education campaign in support of the gun buy-back scheme.

For more on this initiative, see http://greens.org.au/handguns
Greens candidate for Denison Anna Reynolds